The summer solstice occurs when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined towards the sun and is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. The day is approximately 17 hours long and this year falls on Thursday 21st June. So what are you going to do with all these hours?
Revision
Don’t worry if you are still revising, you can still enjoy the day. If you were to wake up at 9:00 and work from 10:00 until 18:00 (that’s 8 hours of revision), you still have over 3 hours to enjoy the daylight! Go to your local park, get some fresh air and well-deserved rest for all the revision you did today. Having active breaks can help you memorise the material that you have studied.
Go to Stonehenge
If you have time, visit Stonehenge to watch the sunrise at 04:44. Stonehenge is significant during the summer solstice because the sun only reaches the central alter on this day. Crowds of around 20,000 greet the moment dawn breaks with a mixture of cheers and silent meditation.
Dance at a festival
Throughout history, Pagans because they believed the midsummer day held special power. It is a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest. And fairies were thought of to be at their most powerful. The June solstice, is celebrated with festivals, bomb fires, picnics, maypole dancing and, singing. These rituals are still used today across the UK.
Take a look here for all the events you could get involved in!
Written by Anastasia K.