The summer solstice, sometimes called Litha, is the day of the year with the most daylight. Many cultures have celebrated this time, seeing it as the opposite of the winter solstice, or Yule. Across the world, people have honored sun deities during the solstice. Here are some gods and goddesses from different traditions who are connected to the summer solstice.
Amaterasu is the Shinto sun goddess of Japan. She is the sister of the moon and storm gods and is known as the source of all light. Amaterasu is loved by her followers and is celebrated every July in Japan.
Aten is an Egyptian sun god. Unlike other Egyptian gods, Aten is shown as a sun disc with rays, not as a human figure. Aten was once a local god but later became known as the creator of humanity. In the Book of the Dead, Aten is praised as the “lord of beams of light.”
Apollo is a Greek god, the son of Zeus and Leto. He is the god of the sun, music, medicine, and healing. Apollo was sometimes identified with Helios, another sun god. As his worship spread, Apollo took on traits of Celtic gods and was seen as a god of both the sun and healing.
Hestia is a Greek goddess who protects the home and family. She receives the first offering at any household sacrifice. In towns, the main hall is her shrine, and when a new village is founded, a flame from the old hearth is brought to the new one.
Horus is an Egyptian solar deity. He rises and sets each day and is linked to Nut, the sky god. Horus later became associated with Ra, another sun god.
Huitzilopochtli is the Aztec sun god and the patron of Tenochtitlan. He fought against darkness and required regular sacrifices from his followers to keep the sun alive for another fifty-two years, a number important in Mesoamerican myths.
Juno is a Roman goddess, also called Juno Luna. She is connected to women and marriage, and the month of June is named after her. Because of her link to marriage, June is a popular month for weddings and handfasting.
Lugh is a Celtic god, similar to the Roman Mercury. He is known for skill and talent. Lugh is sometimes linked to midsummer as a harvest god, since crops are growing strong at the solstice and will be harvested at Lughnasadh.
Sulis Minerva is a blend of the Celtic sun goddess Sulis and the Roman goddess Minerva. When the Romans came to Britain, they combined these goddesses. Sulis Minerva watched over the hot springs and sacred waters in Bath.
Sunna, or Sol, is a Germanic sun goddess. She appears in the Poetic Eddas as the sister of the moon god. Sunna drives the sun’s chariot across the sky each day, pulled by two horses. She is also seen as a healer.
