A Midsummer's Pride

It's no accident that the celebration of John the Baptist's nativity takes place at this time of year. It is six months prior to the celebration of his cousin's birth at the time of the Winter solstice. It coincides with the concept that The Baptist heralded the coming of the Messiah. The Baptist is patron of more than one Italian city and is celebrated in Northern Europe with much fervor.



The Baptist, from what we know, spent much of his time calling for repentance (change of heart) and he railed against the hypocrisy of those who had religious authority (brood of vipers). He was eventually martyred for his honesty. Salome and her seven veils saw to that.



Back to reality, the celebration is about light in all of its manifestations and what going toward the light is all about.

en·light·ened
Adjective:

Having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook.
Spiritually aware.

The etymology of the word to enlighten is obvious. In a great deal of religious celebrations, humans seem to be pointing to the lack of or abundance of light. Gay pride or lack thereof also seems to point to a lack of or abundance of light.

Pride, before it became something like Mardi Gras, was about the acceptance of human beings. It is something that rails against the hypocrisy of religious leaders and points us toward enlightenment.

We are those points of light.