Let's Celebrate Summer Solstice
Summer is the time of energy and abundance. Let's take some time this week to celebrate it!
Editor Note: This post is an update from last year’s summer solstice post, with new information reflecting 2024 dates and lunar events.
This year, summer arrives officially in the northern hemisphere with Summer Solstice on Thursday, June 20.
The Summer Solstice marks the sun in the highest northern point in the sky for those of us living in the northern hemisphere, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year.
The changing seasons provide an opportunity to more closely observe the relationship between the sun and the earth, and how the earth’s tilted axis affects our daily lives.
They are also times of reflection, and often offer guidance from the non-human world on how to approach the cycles of nature with grace. So let’s take a moment this week to pause and celebrate.
If nothing else, these seasonal changes give reasons to step back and see ourselves as part of something that exists on much much much grander scale than whatever we are thinking about or doing right now.
We are but mortal beings here on these fairly small planet created and transformed (time and again) over billions of years.
Below are some ideas for celebrating Summer Solstice. I’ve also added this fun little illustrated guide that we made a while back through my work at Art Nature Place, 1which you can download below to print, share, or use as you see fit.
The Longest Days of the Year
In Summer (and in Winter) we experience a Solstice, which marks the moment the sun reaches its maximum or minimum declination, marked by the longest and shortest days of the year (around the 21st of June and December, respectively).
The length of daylight changes more slowly around this time than they did during the Vernal Equinox a few months ago. In fact, the word “solstice” is a combination of Latin words that mean “sun” (“sol”) and “to stand still” (“sistere”).
The Solstice (and the Equinoxes as well) exist because of the tilting of the Earth’s axis at an angle of approximately 23.45 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. That axial tilt is core to our very existence as we know understand it - to the variety of our habitats, plants, animals, invertebrates - as well as the seasons we experience throughout the year.
Here are a couple ways to tune into this grander scale of things over the next few weeks as we lock into this time of summer stillness:
Plan a time to get up early to watch the sunrise, or plan a place and time to watch a late sunset.
Where is the sun rising and setting on the horizon right now where you live? Did you check back in March during the Spring Equinox (see this post for tips)? How have things changed?
It’s a great time of year to go stargazing either on your own or at a planned program. Look around to see if there are any events in your area; astronomy clubs will often host free programming and have telescopes available during the events.
This year’s June full moon (the “Strawberry Moon”) occurs right after solstice and will be the lowest on the horizon all year long. It’s a great time to plan some moon gazing in honor of solstice.
Observing the World Around Us
What is happening outdoors right now where you live? For the next couple months, everything around you will affected by the longer daylight, its heat, and the energy it provides.
The extended daylight period during the summer solstice provides plants with ample energy for photosynthesis. This can result in increased growth rates (depending on water supply), blooming of flowers, and the production of fruits and seeds.
It is a time when many fruits and vegetables begin to ripen. Summer brings the bounties of such produce as tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, many kinds of berries, and stone fruits (like peaches and plums).
‘Tis the season to be active and get outdoors often. Take in that sun’s energy!
Here are a few easy ways to take a little time each week to connect with nature this summer:
It’s not too late to begin gardening, even if the time to plant many vegetables has passed. Visit a garden center to find summer bloomers to enjoy in the heat of later summer months.
Or visit a farm near you to see what’s growing there. Many local farms have “u-pick” seasons throughout the summer. You can often find their schedules for what’s available on their websites.
If you are too busy to garden or take a trip to a farm, simply buying and eating seasonal produce is another way to enjoy Summer’s bounty. What kinds of foods are showing up at the farmers markets or in grocery stores right now? It’s a great time to make something easy with those foods and take them out for a picnic.
What are the animals doing right now? Take time to watch and listen to the squirrels, birds - and bats, for all you night owls (corny pun intended, I confess).
Have you seen any new insects as of late? Now is a great time to visit a prairie or meadow to see how many butterflies, moths, and dragonflies are there. And for the lucky ones reading this who live with fireflies in your region, take advantage and stay up late one evening (or two or three) to watch their beautiful mating ceremonies.
Summer Traditions and Celebrations Around the World
For thousands of years, Summer Solstice has been honored around the world. Many of the festivals, events, and practices connect to themes of sun and light.
Stonehenge, in England, is among the most famous sites associated with Summer Solstice. Every year crowds visit the Neolithic stone circle to witness the sunrise aligned with the structure's central axis. It is believed that Stonehenge served as a ceremonial and astronomical site.
In Scandinavian countries, “Midsommar” festivities that include feasts, dances and singing, and bonfires celebrate the start of summer. In France, the Feast of St. John is celebrated around the Solstice, similarly with bonfires, dancing, and singing.
Many local communities have their own kinds of festivals celebrating the beginning of summer, which may include a religious celebration, an outdoor concert or other event, or a picnic or barbecue. Why not spend a little time this week looking for summer events to see if one fits into your schedule?
How will you be celebrating Summer Solstice and the season ahead?
How about you? Do you have any plans in store for celebrating the Summer Solstice (and this season of bounty and sunshine)? Have any yearly traditions you’d like to share? Is there a local festival in your community that you’d like folks to know about? Go ahead and share them in the comments below!
Art Nature Place was called Super Nature Adventures until the fall of 2023, hence the Super Nature Adventures copyright on the image.
The yoga studio I go to has a summer solstice meditation and relaxed yoga on an outdoor patio from which we can see the moonrise. That will be Thursday evening. On 20 June.
I am looking forward to that. I have spent a lot of time sitting out on my deck, watching the sunset and the stars gradually come out. It has been a spectacular spring, and I am looking forward to the summer.