Midsummer - Celebrated in Real Life and in Fiction

Today is Midsummer - the longest day and shortest night are leaving us and we are on our downward slope toward Yule. Today, however, is Litha, the Summer Solstice. Whenever the Summer Solstice arrives my mind always turns to Tolkien because it was an important lynchpin in the history of Middle Earth. Long before the hobbits became a people, and long before Rivendell and other areas known to most readers and watchers of the "Lord of the Rings", there was a great migration across the sea and the ice that brought the elves to the shores of Middle Earth. 

"Finrod Crosses the Helcaraxe" by Wisesnail Art
on DeviantArt. 

The early history of the elves in Middle Earth was a history of exploration, small settlements, forays against Morgoth and battles, large and small. Two times major battles occurred on Litha, resulting in the decimation of the elves and strong victories for the forces of evil - the black and white, good and bad, so often the focus of Tolkien's writings. Because both of these major battles occurred long before the "Lord of the Rings", in "The Silmarillion", casual readers are often unaware of them. 

I own this version of The Silmarillion, although
my copy is heavy with post-it notes and heavily
creased and used. Copyright 1977, so I've
had it for a while. 

The first major battle that was named the "Nirnaeth Arnoediad" or "Tears Unnumbered". This fifth and more ruinous battle in the history of the Wars of Beleriand, took place on Litha, and ended in a mountain of dead. Turgon, now the High King, retreated to his hidden city of Gondolin, "The Hidden Rock" where he ruled for a few more years (exact count a bit loose). Gondolin, was brought down by the treachery of Maeglin. 

Gondolin was a city hidden in the mountains, surrounded by
nearly impassible peaks, with a single highly-guarded
entrance. I've always loved this piece by John Howe, depicting
Gondolin in the morning's light. 

In the first instance, Maedhros and Fingon blew trumpets of challenge toward Angband, trying to defeat Morgoth. In the second instance, Morgoth attacked over the northern hills, crossing them during the night while the people below had gathered for their annual ceremony called the "Gates of Summer". Instead of the dawn's light, it was the red light of war that met the sun that day, and Gondolin fell to the forces of Morgoth. 

I'm hoping that your Summer Solstice will be less fraught with danger and that you celebrate this turning of the year with friends and family. The light will now begin it's slow fade toward the cold of the the year and we, once again, will celebrate the joining of friends and family in celebration. Happy Thursday to all! Happy Litha!