The Midsummer Solstice As It Was, Or Was Not, Observed in Pagan Germany, Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England.

From records of pagan Scandinavia, Germany, Anglo-Saxon England, the Mediterranean countries and early Christian influence, the attempt is made here to assess why it could be that ancient sun-worshipping communities in north-western Europe did not commemorate the summer solstice. The paper addresses the following questions: What were the survival needs of these early societies? How did they perceive and use the summer season? What is the significance of midsummer as historically recorded? What effects did calendar changes have on the observance of seasons? What effects have nineteenth-century mythologists had on our perception? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]