Community Connection ~ June 22, 2025: Midsummer Prayer Boats

While we are in for many more months of heat here in Phoenix, according to the calendar we have officially reached midsummer. In fact, Friday was the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, while Tuesday is Midsummer, associated with the solstice and also with the celebration of St. John the Baptist in many denominations of Christianity. Over the centuries, the traditions associated with all of these celebrations have mixed together in some fascinating ways, so this week, we encourage you to incorporate midsummer into your prayer life, and create a prayer boat. 

Before we describe the activity, we’d like to share some resources where you can read more about the intersection of festivities occurring around the world this week. For an overview of Midsummer and the Feast of St. John the Baptist, check out the Farmer’s Almanac. For a deeper dive into Midsummer traditions in Scandinavia, where it is widely celebrated and full of rich history, read this article from Polartours (From burning boats to national day oddities: Midsummer traditions in Scandinavia and The North). For an incredibly detailed account of Midsummer traditions around the world, immerse yourself in the holiday’s extensive Wikipedia page. These web pages are just jumping-off points, so feel free to let your curiosity take you where it will! 

Many Midsummer and solstice celebrations revolve around our relationship with nature, which is a part of St. John the Baptist commemorations as well. It’s common to see traditions involving flower crowns, medicinal herbs, and bonfires. And in some places, little paper boats are part of the festivities. Filled with flowers and sometimes set on fire, these boats are thought to carry our prayers with them. You can make a paper boat using this tutorial from The Spruce, which also includes a short video. Be gentle with yourself if it’s more challenging than you thought it would be, or if your boat doesn’t look exactly like the example. Before you start folding, write your prayers on your paper, so they become part of the boat’s structure as you go. Place some flowers or leaves in your boat, and you’re ready to place it in water and let your prayers go! You might choose to float your boat in a pool or other contained water source; you can use whatever paper you’d like if you’re doing that. If your prayer boat will be staying in nature, be sure to use a waste-free, eco-friendly material like seed paper. 

Arizona summers can feel punishing, so we hope your prayer boat helps you connect to a sense of joy at the gifts of nature, and an appreciation for the long days of summer as the cycle begins shifting the other way. And we’d love to see your prayer boats as well - share them with us in person or on Facebook or Instagram.