The word solstice comes from Latin—sol means sun, and sistere means to stand still. It refers to the time when the sun's position on the horizon seems to pause at sunrise or sunset.
The summer solstice, around 21 June, is the longest day of the year. This happens when the Earth’s axis tilts closest to the sun, making the sun appear at its highest point in the sky for those in the northern hemisphere. For early farming communities, sunlight was essential for warmth and growing food.
Prehistoric people could track the sun’s path by observing where it rose and set, marking changes in the seasons. Many ancient sites reflect this. In the British Isles, tombs like Bryn Celli Ddu (Wales) and Townleyhall (Ireland) align with the midsummer sunrise. Castlerigg stone circle may mark the sunset.
Around the world, other cultures also celebrated the solstice. At Fajada Butte in New Mexico, sunlight shines through rocks onto a carved spiral at noon. In 16th-century China, emperors held midsummer ceremonies at the Temple of the Earth. In northern Europe, midsummer festivals with bonfires date back to pre-Christian times and later blended with Christian traditions like the Feast of St. John the Baptist.
Timeline of Midsummer Festivals
- June 21:
- Litha (Wicca/Neopaganism): Celebrated as the summer solstice, honouring the sun at its peak.
- Inti Raymi (Inca): Festival of the Sun in Peru, marking the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Kupala Night (Slavic): Celebrated in Eastern Europe with rituals involving water and fire.
- Midsommar (Sweden): Traditional celebration with maypoles, dancing, and feasting.
- Late June:
- St. John's Day (Christianity): Celebrated on June 24, incorporating earlier pagan midsummer traditions.
Books in collection-
The stations of the sun : a history of the ritual year in Britain- 394.20941/HUT
Andrews, Elizabeth. “34. Rush and Straw Crosses; Ancient Emblems of Sun Worship.” Man 22 (1922): 49–52. https://doi.org/10.2307/2840402.