SUN-seekers will be alarmed to know that the summer solstice is just around the corner. The pagan celebration falls in June every year.
Even though the midsummer date is when we get the most daylight of the year, it also marks the time where the days start shortening ahead of winter.
The summer solstice is considered to be the longest day of the year because it’s when we get the most daylight. Getty Images
Here’s everything you need to know about summer solstice 2021…
When is the summer solstice?
The midsummer date is set based on the planet’s rotational axis.
It’s decided based on the sun’s tilt towards the sun, which hits its maximum at 23° 26′ and falls between June 20 and June 22 in the northern hemisphere.
The date is decided based on the angle of the Earth’s tilt. Getty Images
What is the summer solstice?
The ‘longest’ day of the year marks the middle of summer.
This is because the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most aligned with the sun, providing us with the most daylight of the year.
After June 21, the nights will began to close in as our planet rotates away from the sun.
The date where Earth is the furthest from the star is marked by the winter solstice.
What’s the summer solstice got to do with Stonehenge?
The day is celebrated by pagans and druids, with rituals of rebirth performed throughout history on the day.
One of the biggest celebrations in the UK occurs at Stonehenge with crowds gathering to watch the sunrise.
The tradition sees revellers waiting by the Wiltshire monument on midsummer, facing towards the north-easterly direction.
Crowds of devotees, often dressed for the occasion, regularly gather to watch the moment the sun rises above the Heel Stone.
It’s just one of the many pagan festivals, which include midwinter and imbolc – the day that traditionally marks the start of spring.
Revellers face the sun as they watch it rise up around the Wiltshire monument
How else is the summer solstice celebrated?Midsummer festivities are held across the world in many different cultures.
In many cases, the rituals are linked with themes of religion or fertility.
Wianki celebrations in Poland are similar to those held in Britain, as the day is largely considered a pagan religious event.
There are different traditions across Europe, with Estonia using the day to mark a shift in agricultural patterns.
In Russia and Ukraine, it’s tradition for revellers to jump over bonfires to test their courage and religious faith.
Article source: By Sophie Roberts The Sun News
Cross it off your bucket list this year and join our Stonehenge Summer Solstice Tour. Guided tours with luxury transport depart from Bath and London on 20th and 21st for sunset and sunrise.
Stonehenge Guided Tours
The Stonehenge Experts
Established 1995
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