Why is it called 'Midsummer'?

In the Celtic world, Beltane is considered the first day of summer. There were two seasons -- summer and winter -- which began on Oct. 31st. Lammas in English, and Lughnassadh in Irish, was celebrated around August 1st. That was the day for paying rents, making good debts, and kicked off the grain harvest. It was one of the four quarter-days. Therefore, June 20-21, the summer solstice, was considered to be the midpoint between the beginning of summer and the start of the harvest season. In the Norse / Danish areas, it was called MidSommer. Cymric / Welsh people said Gwyl Canol Haf, the start of summer, or Alban Hefyn, the Summer Solstice.

One of the ceremonies is the Gardnerian Wiccan representation of Summer and Winter, the Oak King and the Holly King, duking it out to see who will have dominance. This was likely derived from the many folk-plays, or ritual theater performances, where a villain representing Death / Winter battled a hero representing Life / Summer, such as the Robin Hood plays and other mumming performances.

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