Summer solstice is a time of celebration and joy in many cultures around the world. It marks the longest day of the year and the arrival of the summer season. Different cultures and traditions have their own unique ways of celebrating this special day. One such tradition is the ancient pagan celebration of the summer solstice. Paganism is a broad term used to describe various pre-Christian religions and belief systems, and the summer solstice is a significant event in many pagan traditions. In pagan cultures, the summer solstice is seen as a time of great power and energy.
My Summary: (reposted from my 2016 favorites post) Nigerian American (Igbo) 12-year-old Sunny was born in the U.S. but moved to Nigeria at age 9. Sunny has a hard time fitting in at school because she’s American-born (“akata” is a pejorative/slur Nigerians use for Black Americans and foreign-born Black people) and an albino, to boot. Then, her life takes a dramatic turn when she finds out that she’s a free agent Leopard Person, someone with gifted magical abilities. Alongside three friends, she learns about magical history, juju, and more, all while trying to hide this other life from her parents. But her magical powers aren’t just for fun and show, and she’s soon recruited to track a serial killer.
Sunny has a hard time fitting in at school because she s American-born akata is a pejorative slur Nigerians use for Black Americans and foreign-born Black people and an albino, to boot. Their use of magic is very much personalized and unique, so no two people perform the same exact magic, and there is more than one way to achieve a goal.
In pagan cultures, the summer solstice is seen as a time of great power and energy. It is believed to be a time when the veil between the human world and the spirit world is thinnest, allowing for easier communication with the divine. Pagan rituals and ceremonies are often performed during this time to honor nature, fertility, and the cycle of life.
Review for Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Note: I read this book as part of the #DiversityDecBingo reading challenge. You can find my list of books that I read and the links to the reviews for those books here.
My Summary: (reposted from my 2016 favorites post) Nigerian American (Igbo) 12-year-old Sunny was born in the U.S. but moved to Nigeria at age 9. Sunny has a hard time fitting in at school because she’s American-born (“akata” is a pejorative/slur Nigerians use for Black Americans and foreign-born Black people) and an albino, to boot. Then, her life takes a dramatic turn when she finds out that she’s a free agent Leopard Person, someone with gifted magical abilities. Alongside three friends, she learns about magical history, juju, and more, all while trying to hide this other life from her parents. But her magical powers aren’t just for fun and show, and she’s soon recruited to track a serial killer.
I’ve had all of Nnedi Okorafor’s books on my TBR for a while and decided to pick up Akata Witch for #DiversityDecBingo.
Some people have compared this book to Harry Potter, but that’s like comparing apples and oranges and doesn’t do Akata Witch justice. Sure, there is friendship and magic and a dangerous villain, but its approach to magic is vastly different and doesn’t follow a Eurocentric tradition.
Before I go into depth about the magical elements, I’d like to talk a bit about the characters.
Sunny, our main character, is a second generation Nigerian American, and I totally relate to her experience as a second gen person going back to the motherland. I’m decently fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese, but whenever I visit Taiwan, I always feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, from my fashion sense to my not-quite-fluid speech (I still talk to my family in Mandarin/Taiwanese, but not enough these days). Sunny’s issue of being “too American” for people back in the motherland is both frustrating and relatable.
Sunny also appeals to me as a fellow nerd, if I may call her that. She enjoys learning about magic and is energized by learning, which is totally me. Her mundane school assignments bore her, but her extracurricular magic lessons engage her interest and are among the bright points in her life. School was okay-ish for me as far as being interesting, but I did a lot of extracurricular reading for leisure, especially during college, before I added Asian American studies as a second major and was silently suffering through engineering. My extracurricular reading during those years was largely non-fiction and academic texts, and while that probably sounds extremely dull to most people, it was what kept me going and led me to finally admit that I wasn’t happy with my major and needed to change something.
Aside from being a nerd, Sunny is also a good soccer player. She squares off against boys and proves that girls can do as good as or better than boys.
Sunny’s three friends and fellow students are also Nigerian or Nigerian American. They have their own distinct personalities and specialties/talents that create a unique dynamic for the group. They bicker and tease but they also have one another’s backs and learn to work together. I really liked the portrayal of their friendships.
The four of them also get paired up romantically, two sets of girl-and-boy couples, which is kind of heteronormative, but that’s not a huge part of the story, which focuses more on them developing their powers and sense of maturity and responsibility. However, the narrative did get sexist and cisnormative during certain scenes.
Ironically, there is a named non-binary character in the book, who is genderfluid between male and female with alternating she/her and he/him pronouns, but she is only mentioned in passing and isn’t even human but rather a giant, intelligent, and magically gifted spider. I’m leery of the fact that the only non-binary character is non-human, but at the same time his character’s concept is also intriguing to me, and I wish the author had given more information on her. I’m hoping he appears in the sequel.
Now, for the magic. Although there are rules to how magic operates that govern everyone, there is still a lot of room for individual style to show through. Different Leopard People approach magic differently and have different proclivities and innate talents.
Instead of the classroom setting like in Harry Potter, the students have individual mentors. Their learning process is much more organic, the pace set by each individual’s own progress rather than by some arbitrary standard, which feels more like my ideal type of learning environment. Their use of magic is very much personalized and unique, so no two people perform the same exact magic, and there is more than one way to achieve a goal. For assignments, they’re sent to complete various quests and tasks that test their mettle and their skill on the fly.
On top of having very hands-on assignments, they are not given grades for what they do, nor do they take standardized tests. Instead, they earn and collect chittim, rods made of various kinds of metals, which materialize out of thin air and can be traded for various things. Chittim can only be gained through learning. For this reason, money and material things do not rule the world of Leopard People, knowledge does. I thought this was a wonderful concept, though I’m biased because I happen to love learning a lot.
The one thing that did bother me about the fantasy elements was that magical disabled person trope was used. Sunny’s power is tied to her albinism, and her photosensitivity due to albinism is also magically cured. In general, a Leopard Person’s disability reflects their power. There’s a more thorough and nuanced review of these elements and the representation of albinism in the book written by a POC with albinism here.
Recommendation: Recommended for the strong and likable heroine, the realistic and touching friendships, and the highly original fantasy worldbuilding. Would not recommend it if you are looking for accurate albinism/disability representation.
One common tradition during the summer solstice is the lighting of bonfires. These large fires are symbolic of the sun and its power, and they are believed to bring good luck and protection. People gather around the bonfires to sing, dance, and celebrate. It is also common to jump over the flames, a practice thought to cleanse and purify the soul. Another popular tradition is the gathering of herbs and flowers. Certain plants are believed to have special powers during the summer solstice, and they are collected and used in various rituals and spells. For example, it is believed that gathering St. John's Wort on this day will protect against evil spirits and bring good luck. In some pagan traditions, the summer solstice is also associated with the fairy realm. It is believed that on this day, fairies and other magical beings are particularly active and can be seen by those with special sight. People often leave offerings of food and drink for the fairies in hopes of gaining their favor and blessings. Overall, the pagan traditions surrounding the summer solstice revolve around the celebration of nature, fertility, and the power of the sun. They are a way for people to connect with the natural world and honor the cycles of life. While these traditions may vary from culture to culture, they all share a deep respect and reverence for the earth and its natural rhythms..
Reviews for "Hiking to the Sun: Outdoor Activities for the Summer Solstice"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Summer Solstice traditions paban. The event felt disorganized and chaotic. There were long lines for everything, from food and drinks to activities and performances. The lack of proper organization made it difficult to enjoy the event and take part in the traditions. Additionally, the price of the tickets was quite high, considering the overall experience. I expected a more festive and enjoyable celebration of the Summer Solstice, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - While I appreciate the effort to host a Summer Solstice traditions paban, I wasn't fully satisfied with my experience. The event lacked variety in terms of activities and entertainment options. It felt like there was not much to do besides watching a few performances and browsing through a couple of stalls. The limited food options were also disappointing. I expected to taste a variety of traditional foods, but the choices were limited and ordinary. Overall, it was an average event that I probably wouldn't attend again.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - The Summer Solstice traditions paban didn't live up to the hype for me. The event felt overcrowded, and it was hard to navigate through the crowds. The lack of clear signage and directions made it even more challenging to find the different sections and activities. Moreover, the quality of the performances was subpar. Some acts seemed unprepared, and the sound system didn't work properly, which made it difficult to enjoy the music and presentations. The event had potential, but it fell short in execution and overall experience.
4. Michael - 2 stars - I found the Summer Solstice traditions paban to be underwhelming. The advertised traditions and rituals were not properly showcased or explained, leaving me confused and disconnected from the event. The overall atmosphere lacked the enthusiasm and magic I expected from a Summer Solstice celebration. The lack of shade and seating options made it uncomfortable to stay for an extended period. Overall, the event felt disorganized and did not provide an immersive experience of the Summer Solstice traditions.