Winter has passed us by, and spring has arrived for the previous few months.
Summer is, of course, the next season to look forward to, with its promise of longer days, lighter evenings, and (hopefully) lots of sunlight and warmth all year.
As the UK continues to battle with the cost of living problem and life post-lockdown, this means garden BBQs, beach vacations, and ice cream galore, as well as (hopefully) an overall elevation in attitude.
The longest day of the year, of course, ushers in the new season.
When will it be released this year?
When is the longest day of the year, aka summer solstice?
The summer solstice, also known as the longest day of the year, will occur on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
In the northern hemisphere, the solstice is expected to fall between June 20 and June 22 every year.
It will take place on June 21 (Wednesday) in 2023 and June 20 (Wednesday) in 2024. (Thursday). In the year 2025, we return to June 21st, but this time on a Saturday.
So, what is the significance of these dates? The summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s axis is at its greatest inclined to the sun and directly above the Tropic of Cancer.
It is the start of the astronomical summer, which lasts until September’s autumn equinox.
There is also a winter solstice, which occurs every year in December.
Of course, things are a little different in the southern hemisphere, where the winter solstice is coming up on June 21 and the summer solstice is coming up in December. Trippy.
How is the summer solstice celebrated?
The summer solstice used to fall between the planting and harvesting of crops, providing a respite for those who worked on the land.
This is also why many people used to get married in June – and why it’s still a popular month for weddings today.
Many tourists also prefer to visit the prehistoric stone circle Stonehenge, which is located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, to watch the sun rise and set.