The June Solstice or the Summer Solstice marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. In most places across the world that experience the Solstice, the day is often the longest and hottest day of the year. Despite the day still having 24 hours, the amount of time that will compose daylight would be at its highest and hence the reference. During the Summer Solstice, the midnight sun can be seen throughout the entire night, if the weather permits, from all regions from the south of the Arctic Circle to the North pole. In numerous cultures globally, June Solstice plays a significant role and marks the start of various festivals and rituals. For instance, in Europe, the June Solstice marks the middle of summer and is known as Midsummers while in other parts, it marks the start of the summer season.
The term Solstice is a Latin word that is derived from the words Sol which means sun and the word Sistere which means to stand still. The summer solstice refers to a period when one of either the North or the South Pole has a maximum tilt towards the sun. During the period, the sun’s Zenith is at its furthest from the equator. Unlike some of the holidays, the ceremony does not fall on the same day across different years since there is a difference of 0.2411 days between the actual time it takes the sun to orbit the earth once and the number of days in the Gregorian calendar. Unlike most normal days, the sun seems to descend slower as compared to the other days. However, this phenomenon is associated with the angle of inclination that the sun has in relation to the tropic of Capricorn or the tropic of Cancer. Notice that the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere results in a winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. This means that at the exact date the summer solstice will occur, the regions at the opposite tropic will experience their shortest day. To explain the phenomenon, folklore has been narrated on where the origin of the solstice might have begun. After the Summer Solstice, days begin to get shorter and the nights get longer.
The Summer Solstice takes place twice a year. The Solstice on the tropic of Cancer takes place between June 20th and 21st depending on the year. During the day, the sun is at the northernmost point and the North Pole tilts directly towards the sun at an angle of 23.4 degrees. The summer solstice on the South Pole is normally celebrated around December 20th to 23rd depending on the orbit of the earth around the sun. The variation in dates is a result of the use of two different calendars. For instance, Western countries use the Gregorian calendar. In Europe, the celebrations are referred to as the Midsummer since they mark the end of the first phase of summer in which the length of the day is significantly longer than the length of the night. This period is followed by a decreasing length of night, which is considerably shorter than the day. Using the orbit of the earth around the sun one can be able to calculate the days the summer solstice would fall on in different years. This is essential as it allows one to prepare amply for the celebration. This system of calculating was used by the Egyptians in ancient times to describe when their year would start and what was expected of the flow of the Nile, which was and still is a big part of their lifestyle. The calculations can also be used to determine when the winter solstice is likely to occur on the opposite pole as well.
During ancient times, people were aware of the fact that the sun’s path, the length of daylight and the location of the sunrise and sunset changed regularly throughout the year. For instance, Stonehenge in England was constructed in the 2500 BCE, which to date plays an integral role in the celebration of Midsummer's Day. According to some historical accounts, Stonehenge is proof of the fact that ancient civilizations relied on the June solstice. During ancient times, the Summer Solstice was used as an indicator for planting and harvesting crops as well as organizing the calendar.
The summer solstice is celebrated since it marks the beginning of summer. A ritual that is associated with this period is visiting Stonehenge in the U.K.. The ancient ritual usually involves standing inside the Stonehenge monument on the day of Summer Solstice. Generally, you are expected to see the sunrise directly above the heel stone, which stands outside the circle to the north-west. To mark this important ritual, thousands of individuals flock to the ancient site to witness this amazing spectacle. During the ceremony, the white-cloaked and hooded druids stand among the standing stones with the intention of welcoming the first rays of the sun.
In most societies observation of this holiday is grounded by different purposes ranging from religious to pagan traditions but generally, revolve around thanking god for the fertility of both the people and the land that is under their care. Summer Solstice is not observed in the tropics since this region receives almost the same length of day as night and therefore do not get the chance to experience Summer Solstice in its expected magnitude. Below is a list of countries and their respective Summer Solstice traditions:
Latvia
In Latvia, a ceremony referred to as Jani is observed. During this ceremony, women wear wreaths on their heads. Additionally, people in the Baltic regions of Estonia and Latvia use this period as a chance to go and visit the countryside and interact with nature. At night, the lighting of bonfires and staying up all night for the purposes of merry-making, singing and dancing is also very common.
Estonia
In Estonia, a similar ceremony is observed but it’s referred to as the Jaanipaev or St John’s Day. The ceremony is carried out with the aim of changing the harvest of the farming year.
Poland
In Poland, the Wianki is observed in celebration of the roots of this pagan religious event. The event is meant to celebrate the Pagan tradition that is thought to have its origin in the country.
Russia and Ukraine
In Russia and Ukraine, a popular tradition involves people jumping over flames of bonfires with the aim of strengthening the bravery and faith of the people. The acts of jumping over huge fires are meant to test whether an individual has the ability to jump over the fire and overcome fear.
The Greeks observed this ceremony as the beginning of a one-month long countdown before the start of the Olympics, which was a very important part of their culture. Additionally, this holiday marks the start of the Festival of Kronia, a celebration that takes place in honour of god Cronus, the god of agriculture. However, most Greeks do not believe in the god Cronus but they still observe this holiday in celebration and thanksgiving for the harvest granted upon them. This day was also considered as a day for equality as the slaves were allowed to participate in some of the ceremonies.
Egypt
In Ancient Egypt, Summer Solstice was associated with the rise of the River Nile. Considering the impact of the flooding of the Nile, Egyptian New Year began during this solstice.
Europe
Across Europe, many communities hold midsummer celebrations during the Solstice. Some historians in England pointed out that ancient humans used the June solstice as a way of trying to organize their calendar. Other believers hold the notion that this observance is significant as it assists in the start of counting the days of the year. In other regions, the celebration was seen as the time where themes of religion and fertility are effectively highlighted through performing holidays, rituals and festivals. Traditionally, songs and dances are popular and have been passed down through generations.
China
In China, celebrations were carried out as a way of ensuring the celebration of the earth’s femininity. The festival also served as a crucial way of ensuring the Yin and the Yang forces remained in equilibrium since the shortest shadows were associated with the holiday.
France
In ancient Gaul, which is in modern-day France, the holiday was carried out midway through the summer and was referred to as the Feast of Epona. The celebrations were meant to celebrate the god in charge of fertility.
Nordic countries
In the new age, several celebrations are held to mark the coming of the Summer Solstice. In countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, the midsummer festival is commonly celebrated. The festivals held are similar to festivals observed in ancient times with themes revolving around welcoming summer and thanking god for the fertility of their people. Dances around Maypoles are common in countries such as Sweden and Norway.
United States
In the United States, events that concentrate on the theme of the summer solstice are held, including local festivals that consist of music and art.
Despite all the celebrations that are associated with the ceremony around the world, it is not a public holiday in any of the countries.
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