If you thought the days couldn’t get any longer this summer, gear up for the longest day of the year, as the summer solstice dawns upon us on 21 June.
The summer solstice occurs when the earth’s axis tilts the most towards the sun, with the Tropic of Cancer in direct alignment with it.
While the summer solstice has tremendous astronomical significance attached to it, countries around the world also celebrate the solstice with various rituals.
The Stonehenge in England is a very popular haunt on this day, with modern-day druids assembling in large numbers to celebrate what they consider ‘the most auspicious day’ of the year. Perceived as a sacred site, the monument is honoured with pagan rituals to mark the solstice.
In Latvia, the locals commemorate the day as Jāņi, where people travel into the countryside to eat, drink and revel in celebrations in the open-air. In Estonia, the day is marked as a change in the farming year.
In Poland, people gather by the shore of lake Wisla in Krakow, and let wreaths flow in the water. Called Wianki, a mass cultural event is organised on this day, with music concerts and stage plays. The evening then culminates into a grand spectacle of fireworks.
After the summer solstice, the days will gradually begin to shorten as the sun begins its journey southwards – marking the onset of winter.
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