How the summer solstice lights up celebrations all around the world

Each June, the Northern Hemisphere tilts closest to the sun. At this time also a magical event occurs.

This is the summer solstice or the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The event has been celebrated for a long time all over the world with ancient rituals and ceremonies back then and with modern-day festivals in our time.

Summer solstice and science

The word “solstice” literally means “sun stands still.” It refers to the seeming pause in the Sun’s movement before it reverses direction. But that doesn’t happen when the Earth is closest to the Sun, at least not astronomically speaking. That actually happens in January.

Summer solstice is when the planet tilts as it orbits the Sun. This means that it will take the highest and longest path through the sky. The highest point is directly at noon when it hits the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° north latitude).

Cultural significance through the ages

The summer solstice is a unique cultural practice that has been important long before astronomy could explain the science behind it. That's why it has been honoured with all kinds of events that celebrate our connection to nature and the Sun.

Ancient cultures saw it as a turning point in the calendar. This was considered as a moment of renewal and fertility, that's why they thought this was the time to plant, harvest, and observe.

We know this by having now structures like Stonehenge in England and Karnak in Egypt, which are aligned with the rising sun at solstice.

Stonehenge is one of the most famous sites you can visit during the solstice. There are thousands of people there each year who want to catch and celebrate the first rays of the sun. You can see the rising sun matching perfectly the Heel Stone and a ray of light going exactly through the heart of it.

In ancient Greece, the solstice was the moment the new year started as well as the countdown to the Olympic Games. On the other side of the world, in North America’s indigenous circles, it is linked to ceremonies like the Sun Dance to celebrate the connection between the people and the cosmos.

A time for celebrations

The solstice is still a widely celebrated event all over the world. Today, there are retreats, meditation circles, and outdoor rituals connected to it. Thousands roll out yoga mats in the middle of Times Square to salute the sun at dawn. Coincidentally (or not), June 21 is International Yoga Day!

There’s something for everyone! Music lovers can head to Iceland for the Secret Solstice Festival. The Sun might barely dip below the horizon, but this doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to celebrate. The Icelanders do so with nonstop concerts in their magical land bathed in golden light.

But nowhere in the world is the summer solstice more celebrated than in Sweden. Midsummer (Midsommar) is the second most important holiday after Christmas.

Midsummer’s Eve is a de facto public holiday; nearly the entire country shuts down, shops close, cities empty out, and families retreat to the countryside.

Old pagan customs are still celebrated: people wear crowns of wildflowers, decorate their homes with green to invite good fortune, and place seven or nine types of flowers under their pillows (hoping this will get them to dream of their future spouse). There are even bonfires and late-night skinny-dipping in lakes in the celebrations.

The celebrations also include dancing around flower-covered maypoles, singing and wearing crowns. The tables are also full of traditional food and drinks, such as potatoes with dill, sour cream, strawberries, and snaps.

Visitors can also join in. If you want to boost your mood and connect with local heritage, you can look up celebrations that are open to the public. For example, the Skansen open-air museum hosts a gathering with dancing, music, crafts, and food that is accessible to all.

How does the rest of the world celebrate the summer solstice?

• Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Ottawa, Canada – It includes traditional gatherings (called Pow Wows), dance competitions, workshops, and food by famous Indigenous chefs (as it is also the National Indigenous Peoples Day).
• Mayan Solstice Observance in Chichén Itzá, Mexico – The Kukulcán pyramid is designed in such a way that the sun will cast a shadow on the steps that resembles the body of a serpent.
• Alpine Fire Festivals in Austria – there are thousands of bonfires that are lit high in the Alps to celebrate the event.
• Juhannus (Midsummer) in Finland – Finns celebrate with saunas and lakeside bonfires. According to them, the holiday is connected to fertility and love, and, like Sweden, it’s traditional to place seven flowers under your pillow to dream of your love.
• Sankthans (St. John’s Eve) in Denmark – the tradition includes bonfires on beaches, rivers, and hilltops to ward off evil spirits and witches believed to fly to Brocken Mountain in Germany.

Summer solstice and superstition

Summer solstice events aren’t exclusive to druids, dancers, spirituals, and people honouring traditions. They are also favourites among the superstitious, especially those hoping to court their luck.

These, of course, include luck-based rituals and superstitions for gamblers and risk-takers. So, let’s take a look at a few examples that bring a fun twist to midsummer lore, or how gambling and summer festivals like this one intertwine:

• Collecting dew on the morning of the solstice is believed (in parts of Eastern Europe) to bring luck and prosperity. Some gamblers rub their wallets or lucky charms with dew to improve their fortune.
• Jumping over a solstice bonfire will burn away bad luck and clear the way for better fortune. You can also think of this as a symbolic reset.
• The solstice is linked to the power of the number 3 (2+1 = 3), which, according to numerology, is connected to harmony and luck.

A holiday for all

Celebrating a sun-based event today may seem old-fashioned. Despite that, it is still celebrated all over the world. Maybe it's because it reminds us to slow down and reconnect with ourselves and nature. Or maybe it's a chance to set our goals and release old regrets. There are also the ones who just want to take a trip and join the celebrations.