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Of Holidays Past: Summer Solstice

Posted June 29, 2021, 6:38 p.m. by Civilian Runa Siff Edman (Counselor / Education Specialist) (Jennifer Ward)

Summer Solstice was celebrated differently on Bømlo. There were no bonfires or feasts or gatherings of the clan. Not together anyway. Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, started earlier than any other day on the island. It was a day to celebrate life and it’s exuberance. The sun represented masculine energy and so the village was left to the men.

The women rose early, packs and saddle bags bursting with food and drink and made their way quietly to the stables. The men and children were woken up by the sound of hooves thundering across the village center as more than 30 horses galloped out of the village to meet with the women of the other villages across the island, racing the sunrise.

Helka and Aunt Trine looked at Revna and Runa and smiled. This year would be the first year that they would join the rest of the women. There was no need to wake them, the girls were up before anyone else, waiting by the door, like two little children trying to catch Julenisse (Santa) coming down the chimney. “Alright you two, time to go.” Runa was almost bouncing as she led the large bay out of the stall. She was a mild mannered mare, docile, but full of life. She was a good fit for Runa who tended to run off without a pause. She was mounted and urging the mare closer and closer to the door. Revna walked to the very back of the stable and lifting the latch, she slid it back opening the door. “Ah there’s a good lad,” she laughed as the large ebony Shire stallion pushed his way into the opening and nudged her hand with his muzzle. “Are you ready to chase the sun Ravan?” The stallion tossed his head and stomped the ground. He was wild and hard to handle but for some reason he was like a lamb with Revna. The only other person who could work with him was her Aunt Trine.

At first it was the soft rumble of distant thunder across the sea, the sound traveling unobstructed over the sea, and then it grew louder as more and more women joined them from the other villages across the island. Their destination Goddo, the next island over. When the tide was low there was a wide sandbar that could be ridden across. “Revna, we wait here,”Helka reigned next to her eldest. “I am Klanmor and you, one day, will be chieftess. We wait till the last person crosses. Trine and Runa will go first. That way if anyone gets hurt over there, we have our doctors.” Helka nodded and Trine and Runa raced across the surf, Runa laughing loudly the whole way.

Goddo was smaller and once across at the end of low tide they were there for the whole day until it went back out. There were moon pools, lakes, meadows, trees, it was idyllic and they celebrated the longest day of the year swimming, eating, laughing, and basking in one of the warmest days they would see all year. Here, so far north the day lasted almost the entire cycle. The tide still went out like clockwork, and the thunder could be heard returning across the island.

Runa and Revna Edman


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