The Summer Solstice: Myths and Mayhem of Midsummer

The Summer Solstice: Myths and Mayhem of Midsummer

Friday 24th June 2022, 6pm BST

Speaker: Icy Sedgwick (podcast host, folklore researcher, and author)

24 June marks Midsummer Day, not to be confused with the summer solstice (which this year falls on 21 June). Whether midsummer is an ancient festival or not, people have been celebrating it in Britain since at least the late 14th century. It's a time of divination for the remainder of the year, summer parades and bonfires, casting spells, and community celebrations. This talk will explore the plants associated with Midsummer, the long-running link with fire, and the magic most often discussed at this time of year—including love magic!

Icy Sedgwick is the host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast, investigating European folklore and its appearances in popular culture. In case she tires of research, Icy also writes dark fantasy and Gothic horror fiction.

This talk will be hosted via Zoom webinar. Please book your place using an email address you will check, as the Zoom link will be sent to that address shortly before the event (remember to check spam/junk/other folders in your inbox). You will not be seen on camera or heard on microphone during the session, but you will be invited to ask questions via the chat function on Zoom.

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