The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the longest night of the year in the southern hemisphere. If you go far enough north, the midnight sun doesn’t set at all. If you go far enough south, it doesn’t rise at all.
There was nothing primitive about the ancients. They were excellent astronomers, so the solstice was an important time for all sorts of religious and cultural festivals. Lots of ancient architecture is designed to create special visual alignments on important astronomical days like the solstice.
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice falls on June 20th or 21st. The next one is Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Summer Solstice in New York City
The 29th Paul Winter Summer Solstice Celebration 2024 is a memorable sunrise jazz concert titled “Adventures in the Universe,” inspired by Charles Ive’s “Universe Symphony;” at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights, Manhattan; on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 4:30am. You get to watch the giant rose window light up with the dawn. From $45.
Traditional Northern Celebrations
In traditional cultures, the winter and summer solstices are the most important times of the year. Many ancient traditions celebrate the sun.
Most traditions celebrate their supreme god on their winter solstice, because it is the beginning of the agricultural cycle. The summer solstice is important because people are outdoors more at this time.
Saint John’s Eve
Saint John’s Eve is a pre-Christian summer festival that got associated with Saint John the Baptist, a Jewish preacher who some Christian’s consider to be the forerunner of Christ. By some biblical tradition, Saint John was born six months before Christ, so his feast is June 24th.
Yet, the celebration predates Christianity. In Spain, especially in Catalonia and Valencia, it’s a time when families celebrate with bonfires on the beach. By tradition, jumping over the bonfire three times is a cleansing ritual.
In Puerto Rico (originally named San Juan, after Saint John), there is a tradition of falling into the water at midnight.
La Fête de la Musique
Parisian’s celebrate the shortest night with La Fête de la Musique, an all-night street festival of live music all over Paris. SummerStage usually presents a Fête de la Musique in Central Park.
Midsummer
Midsummer is an old English name for the Summer Solstice. Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and George Balanchine’s ballet of the same name refer to this time of year. Midsummer is actually June 24.
Longest Night of the Year in the Southern Hemisphere
The June Solstice is the southern hemisphere’s winter solstice.
Bonfires of São Joao
The Bonfires of São Joao (Saint John) are a beloved winter solstice celebration in Brazil.
Inti Raymi
Inti Raymi celebrates the Inca sun god in the Central Andes around Peru.