Summer Solstice Explained

Summer solstice in short is the longest day of the year as well as the shortest night. Solstice is derived from the Latin words sol which means sun and sistere which means to stand still, thus the literal interpretation means the sun stands still at its highest point (Source: National Geographic and The History of Pagan Europe).

According to National Geographic, the solstice is an astronomical event that occurs once a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined towards the sun and each year it falls between June 20^th and 21^st. With the axis changed, there is more sun in the Northern hemisphere while the Southern hemisphere experiences winter conditions. You can check out www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/seasondate.htm to see exactly when and what time the solstice will occur for the next several years.

The solstice is connected in ancient times, according to Crystal Links (www.crystalinks.com), to seasons although they vary be culture and country. Some will see the solstice as a starting and stopping of the seasons while another, such as the Northern hemisphere, will consider the solstice the center point of the season, which is where the term Midsummer comes in.

According to National Geographic, each country celebrates the Summer solstice differently, but they all start on the eve of the summer solstice and continue until the sun rises on the start of the longest day. A few of the more unique celebrations include: Poland: where the men dress up as pirates and the girls throw wreaths of flowers into the sea, lake or river; Sweden: they decorate a may pole, raise the pole and dance. The most popular dance is called the frog dance; United Kingdom: with feasting, bonfires and general merry-making; and even the pagan religion celebrate and believe that it is the strongest night of the year, thus good for performing rituals. However, most of the bygone celebrations have been replaced with parties within the cities. Those who study and practice druidism make pilgrimage to Stone Hedge to watch the sun rise and welcome in the new season.

Pagans call the Midsummer's (Summer solstice) moon the "honey moon" for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of their celebrations. They also thought it was a time for magic and that evil spirits would walk the earth, thus they would wear garland made of flowers and herbs for protection. The most powerful herb they used was called "chase devil" which is more commonly known as St. John's Wort which is used today by herbalists as a mood stabilizer.

However you celebrate the Summer solstice, it is the start and the middle to the summer fun that comes but once a year.