By Forrest Brown | CNN
Are you in search of long, sunlit days and short nights? Then mark June 21 on your calendar, because it’s the summer solstice — the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere and the official start of summer.
Our ancient ancestors were keen observers of this annual event, with some monuments like Stonehenge being strategically aligned to capture the summer solstice light. Modern-day celebrations of the solstice continue, including gatherings at Stonehenge, Midsummer Eve celebrations in Sweden, and Ivan Kupala Night in Eastern Europe.
Aside from the cultural significance, the summer solstice is historically linked to fertility, both in terms of plant growth and human procreation, across destinations worldwide.
Let’s explore the science behind the summer solstice and some fascinating traditions associated with it.
Summer solstice science
Is the summer solstice observed worldwide? No, it’s exclusive to the Northern Hemisphere, where around 90% of the world’s population resides. In the Southern Hemisphere, locations such as Chile, South Africa, and Australia are experiencing their winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.
When precisely is the 2023 summer solstice? The summer solstice will occur at 14:58 UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) on June 21. The local time and date of the solstice depend on your time zone in relation to UTC. For example, it will be 7:58 a.m. in Los Angeles, 10:57 a.m. in New York City, 3:57 p.m. in London, and 11:57 p.m. in Tokyo. Use Earthsky.org’s convenient time zone conversion tool for precise timings.
Which locations receive the most sunlight? The amount of daylight varies significantly as you move closer to the poles and farther from the equator. In Quito, Ecuador, just north of the equator, the difference in daylight is a mere six and a half minutes. However, Helsinki, Finland, will witness a sunrise at 3:54 a.m. and nearly 19 hours of daylight. In Fairbanks, Alaska, the daylight hours extend to almost 22 hours, requiring blackout curtains.
Why don’t we have 12 hours of daylight all year? During the spring equinox, different parts of the Earth receive nearly equal amounts of day and night. However, as the Earth orbits the sun, its tilted axis always points in the same direction, resulting in varying direct sunlight. The tilting of the Earth’s axis at an angle of 23.5 degrees leads to the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, where the sun reaches its peak.
Is the summer solstice the hottest time of year? Typically, it is not. According to CNN Senior Weather Producer Taylor Ward, the warmest temperatures in the majority of the United States are experienced in July or early August. The accumulation of warmth continues after the summer solstice until the daylight becomes short enough to change the temperature trend. The only exception is certain regions of the Southwest, where the warmest temperatures coincide with the longest daylight due to the timing of the monsoon season in July and August. This temperature pattern also holds true for countries like Japan and Europe.
Celebrating the summer solstice
What is the significance of Stonehenge during the summer solstice? The ancient stones of Stonehenge in Southwest England, dating back to around 2500 BC, were carefully aligned to the sun’s movements during the solstices. The central axis of Stonehenge aligns with the sunrise during the summer solstice and the sunset during the winter solstice, allowing the stones to frame the rising and setting sun on the longest and shortest days of the year. This alignment still functions accurately today.
The English Heritage society organizes gatherings at Stonehenge for the summer solstice and offers a livestream of the sunrise, allowing people worldwide to witness this magical event.
What other cultural traditions are associated with the summer solstice? In Sweden, the Midsummer Eve celebration, held on the Friday falling between June 19 and June 25, is closely tied to the solstice. This celebration involves maypoles, folk dancing, and romantic rituals. In Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe, Ivan Kupala Night is celebrated on the summer solstice with dancing, flower wreaths placed on water, and bonfires. In India, the birthplace of yoga, the summer solstice is marked by mass yoga sessions held throughout the country, and it coincides with the United Nations’ International Yoga Day.
Embrace the magic of the summer solstice and partake in the various events and traditions associated with this ancient phenomenon.
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