By David Hughes | I News
The summer solstice marks the occasion when the Earth’s poles are at their maximum tilt towards the Sun, creating the longest day of the year.
This year, the northern hemisphere is marking the solstice on 21 June, with the UK experiencing 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight.
Also known as Midsummer (although, confusingly, it marks the start of the season by the astronomical calculation), the year’s longest day has held huge significance for many cultures since prehistory.
Many of the early festivals and rituals attached to the solstice from around the world still exist to this day – here are some of the most noteworthy around the world.
UK
The iconic image of druids gathering at Stonehenge has become synonymous with the summer solstice, which has been associated with paganism for thousands of years.
Known by pagans as Litha, the solstice marks the only day that the rising sun reaches the middle of the stones when shining on the formation’s central altar, and draws large crowds each year.
Spain
Spain celebrates midsummer with a traditional party in honor of Saint John the Baptist, held on the evening of 23 June.
Despite the Christian elements, the pagan origins of the festivities are honored with the widespread lighting of bonfires, and the gathering of traditional medicinal plants, which are either hung from doorways in bunches or dipped in bathing water.
USA
The International Day of Yoga has been held on 21 June – the most common date for the summer solstice – since 2015, when it was inaugurated by the UN.
Every year, thousands of yogis make the trip to New York’s Times Square to mark the occasion by taking part in a free class held in the city’s iconic heart.
Mongolia
Under communist rule, the ancient Mongolian practice of shamanism was banned for 70 years but has had a resurgence since 1992.
It is widely regarded as Mongolia’s national religion, and a key facet of the nation’s identity, with the fire rituals attached to the summer solstice, therefore, serving a vital cultural purpose.
