Celebrate Summer Solstice

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and September.” – Jenny Han

Summer is here! It’s time to enjoy longer, warmer days . . . in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway!

And how does it all begin?

With summer solstice, of course!

Summer solstice—also called midsummer, June solstice, and estival solstice—happens between June 20 and 22 (it’s on June 20 this year). It’s considered to be the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the sun takes its longest path through the sky, resulting in the longest day of the year.

In the days around summer solstice, you’ll notice a few things:

• Days have at least 12 hours of sunlight (often more)
• The sun is at its highest point in the sky
• Your noontime shadow is the shortest it will be all the year

June solstice kicks off summer celebrations across the Northern Hemisphere. Here are a few!

St. John the Baptist Day

Summer solstice coincides with a Christian holiday: June 24 is a day to honour the birth of St. John the Baptist. Many celebrations combine the rituals of solstice and Christian St. John’s traditions.

On St. John’s Eve (June 23) in many countries, especially across Europe, bonfires are lit and friends eat and drink together. Some celebrations are superstitious. In parts of Spain, for example, during La Noche de San Juan, one ritual is to put nine flowers under your pillow to dream about your future!

Sankthansaften

In Denmark, June 23 is Sankthansaften. During this celebration, people gather around giant bonfires. The fires are often topped with a puppet shaped like a witch to symbolize the burning of evil.

Midsommar

In Sweden, they celebrate Midsommar. Many people wear crowns of flowers while dancing around a decorated pole (called a “maypole”) and drink schnapps.

Stonehenge

It’s believed that Stonehenge was built to track the path of the sun through the year; it’s an important symbol of summer solstice.

On June 20, thousands of people travel to Stonehenge to watch a special solstice event: At sunrise, the sun’s rays shine into the centre of the prehistoric monument.

For many, summer is a time to rejoice! Do you have any solstice traditions? 

Summer Solstice Comprehension

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