Yay!  The Summer Solstice has arrived, and with it comes an abundance of sunshine to warm and light long days filled with summertime activities.   You felt it today.  Something special hung in the air.  A feeling of hopefulness for what might await you over the summer months ahead.    


So, what is the Summer Solstice?


Disclaimer:  I am definitely not a scientist, that stuff boggles my mind; but I will take a crack at explaining what little I know about it.  


It has to do with the plane of our solar system and the tilt of the north-south axis of the earth.  At certain times of the year, the tilt allows more direct sunlight to reach a specific part of the earth. Interestingly, at the time of the Summer Solstice, the sun is furthest away from the earth but the tilt allows us the most access to sunlight.  Weird, huh?


The Summer Solstice is typically recognized as occurring each year on June 21st.  However, it varies from the 20th and 21st.  In Roman times it was celebrated on June 24th.  This year, it occurred today at 5:09 PM MST.  At noon today, the sun would have appeared to be directly overhead and might have appeared to stand completely still.  The name is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (stand still) for that very reason.


Whereas today was the Summer Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere, it was likewise the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.  Our Winter Solstice will occur on or about December 21st.
When the sun makes a full circuit, a year of time has elapsed.


Today was the longest day of the year and the first official day of summer.   I hate to break it to you, but after today, the days will begin to shorten.  My husband says that I have a glass-half-empty mentality because each year, I feel a twinge of melancholy at the coming of the Summer Solstice. Yes, I know that we have an abundance of heat and sunshine ahead, but there is something about just knowing that we’ve begun the slow slide to the dark days of winter that makes me somewhat sad. But enough of that.  


In Pagan times, this time of year was called the Midsummers day and the celebration pre-dates Christianity.  The name is somewhat confusing and is all together incorrect, as it is actually the very first day of the summer season.


The Summer Solstice is characterized as a time of fertility, of dancing and of festivities.  Midsummer-Pagan traditions involved the wearing of garlands and crowns made of flowering summer plants, such as Calendula and St. John’s Wort, that were believed to have magical healing properties.  Interestingly, St. John’s Wort is still used today to treat depression.  In Christian times, Midsummers day was a celebration of the birth of John the Baptist.  Hmm, coincidence?


The garlands and crowns of flowers were believed to chase away the evil spirits that roamed freely on this night.  For it is a time of year, that the veil between the worlds thins, allowing spirits and fairies to frolic about.  Pagan couples built ritual bonfires and jumped over the flames for good luck in marriage, fertility and health.   The days festivities were also believed to bless the coming fall harvest in it’s bounty.


Well, that’s about all I know.  I hope you all enjoyed the Summer Solstice and soaked in more than your fair share of sunshine; because tomorrow the slow but inevitable slide to winter will begin.  I know, I know–glass-half-empty mentality.  Got it.  Note to self:  Try to be more positive.          


Anyway, enjoy your first few days of Summer because the Dog Days will soon be here ushering in sweltering temperatures right before fall harvest, and then you know what comes next…


Hey, I didn’t say it.