First Day of Summer 2014: The Summer Solstice

When is the first day of summer 2014? Get information onthe 2014 summer solstice facts—plus, fun ways to enjoy summer!

When is the SummerSolstice?

The Solstice heralds the beginning of summer in theNorthern Hemisphere. In 2014, the Solstice falls on June 21 at 6:51 A.M. EDT.

The timing of the Solstice depends on when the Sun reachesits farthest point north of the equator.

The word solstice is from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun)and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at thistime (and again at the winter solstice).

In temperate regions, we notice that the Sun is higher inthe sky throughout the day, and its rays strike Earth at a more direct angle,causing the efficient warming we call summer.

The Summer Solstice is the day with the most hours ofsunlight during the whole year.

Midsummer Day

Although Midsummer Day occurs near the Summer Solstice, orwhat we think of as the beginning of summer, to the farmer it is the midpointof the growing season, halfway between planting and harvesting, and an occasionfor celebration. Although it's also the feast day of St. John the Baptist, itfeatures pagan traditions such as bonfires, fire walking, and a carnivalatmosphere, all of which took place on Midsummer Eve.

Certainly, it's a night of magic and soothsaying as well,for as Washington Irving said, this is a time "when it iswell known all kinds of ghosts, goblins, and fairies become visible and walkabroad." After Midsummer Day, the days shorten. In Lithuanian tradition,the dew on Midsummer Day was said to make young girls beautiful and old peoplelook younger. It was also thought that walking barefoot in the dew would keepone's skin from getting chapped.

It was customary to honour all men named John on this dayby fixing wreaths of oak leaves around their doors. This is usually done insecret, and John must guess who did it or catch the person in the act, in whichcase he must give the person a treat.

From The Farmer's Almanac

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