Some days take longer than others, and no, it’s not because time is slowing down. Instead, it’s because of the summer solstice.
Astronomically speaking, it marks the first day of the summer, which means vacation time for some, especially kids.
However, the summer solstice is about more than just transitioning from spring to summer.
So, join us in a fun-filled journey with these 21 facts about the summer solstice!
The summer solstice is one of the two types of solstice. During this event, we experience the longest day of the year. The other solstice is the winter solstice.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 20, 21 or 22. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs on December 20, 21, 22 or 23.
The Earth’s axial tilt during the summer solstice is 23.44 degrees, which makes the North and South Poles point as close as possible to the Sun.
During the summer solstice, people flock to Stonehenge to witness the Sun rise over this ancient monument. In addition to tourists, modern-day druids and pagans gather to worship the special occasion.
Every year, two weeks after the summer solstice, the Earth reaches its furthest point from the Sun.
Some ancient civilizations had only two seasons, summer and winter, explaining why the summer solstice is referred to by other countries, such as Northern European countries, as midsummer.
Sweden and Finland consider midsummer a public holiday. The former celebrates it on a Friday, around June 19 to 25, while the latter’s midsummer holiday falls on a Saturday, between June 20 to 26.
The summer solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere) also marks the beginning of Cancer season. According to astrologers, this season can be an emotional roller coaster!
Every summer solstice, yoga enthusiasts fill the streets of New York City’s Times Square for the free yoga classes annually hosted during the astronomical event. They also livestream the classes, so yoga enthusiasts worldwide can also participate!
The hottest day of the year occurs a month or two after the summer solstice. It doesn’t happen in the summer solstice because our ocean absorbs and releases heat slowly, causing a delay.
Xiàzhì is an ancient Chinese festival which also refers to the summer solstice.
Ħagar Qim is a tourist site in Malta often visited during the summer solstice. During sunrise, the temple’s “oracle hole” aligns with the Sun’s rays, casting a disk onto one of its stone slabs.
On the summer solstice, a beam of sunlight aligns with a boulder containing a spiral petroglyph at Puerco Pueblo, Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, USA. This continues for two weeks, with the sunlight pointing at the center at 9 am local time.
While the summer solstice typically happens on June 20 or 21, an exception was the summer solstice in 1975, which occurred on June 22.
In San Juan, Spain, people celebrate the arrival of summer during the Night of San Juan, a few days after the summer solstice, by going to beaches and making enormous bonfires. They believe that doing so drives evil spirits away.
For meteorologists, the summer solstice isn’t the start of the summer season. They base seasons on the annual temperature cycle rather than Earth’s position relative to the Sun.
After the summer solstice, the North Pole gradually tilts away from the Sun as the Earth orbits around it.
According to Chinese traditions, the summer solstice is believed to be the day with the strongest yang energy. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe that one must do yin-related activities to balance both energies, as too much yang energy can lead to negative emotions, such as anger and stress.
It’s a tradition in China to eat noodles on the summer solstice. Because it’s so hot, cold sesame noodles are the most popular. Meanwhile, during the winter solstice, the foods traditionally eaten are dumplings.
The summer solstice in Quito, Ecuador, is just like a normal day because only six minutes of daylight are added due to the country’s location on the equator.
In Fairbanks, Alaska, there has been a traditional baseball game called the Midnight Sun Game every summer solstice since 1906. It starts at around 10:30 pm (AKDT) without using artificial light, as there is 24-hour sunlight during this day.
The summer solstice is one of those mesmerizing phenomena that will make you wonder what other amazing things happen within our solar system.
It’s used to indicate the start of summer or the longest day of the year. However, the summer solstice is also celebrated for its cultural and historical significance.
So, make the most of this day by trying out summer solstice traditions or visiting some places associated with the astronomical event!
