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| Summer solstice 2015: When is the longest day of the year and what is its significance? | Summer solstice 2015: When is the longest day of the year and what is its significance? |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| What is it? | What is it? |
| The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. It’s the day when there are the most hours of sunlight. | The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. It’s the day when there are the most hours of sunlight. |
| The name comes from the Latin for 'sun stands still' | The name comes from the Latin for 'sun stands still' |
| The name comes from the Latin solstitium meaning ‘sun stands still’. | The name comes from the Latin solstitium meaning ‘sun stands still’. |
| It happens because the sun heading north, stops at the Tropic of Cancer before returning Southwards. | It happens because the sun heading north, stops at the Tropic of Cancer before returning Southwards. |
| When is it? | When is it? |
| It can fall on different dates depending from year to year, either 20th, 21st or 22nd June. | |
| The summer solstice is the day of the year with the most hours of sunlight | The summer solstice is the day of the year with the most hours of sunlight |
| This year it’s taking place on Sunday 21st June. | This year it’s taking place on Sunday 21st June. |
| The sun is expected to rise at 4:25am. | The sun is expected to rise at 4:25am. |
| Weather forecasters are predicting a warm weekend with temperature highs of 24C. | Weather forecasters are predicting a warm weekend with temperature highs of 24C. |
| Why is it significant? | Why is it significant? |
| The summer solstice is a special day for many as it means the start of the summer. | The summer solstice is a special day for many as it means the start of the summer. |
| It has links to many ancient cultural practices as different cultures have celebrated it being symbolic of renewal, fertility and harvest. | It has links to many ancient cultural practices as different cultures have celebrated it being symbolic of renewal, fertility and harvest. |
| A Druid celebrates the summer solstice at Stonehenge | A Druid celebrates the summer solstice at Stonehenge |
| How to celebrate it? | How to celebrate it? |
| Every year, hundreds of pagans and non-pagans congregate at Stonehenge to see the sun rise in the morning and welcome in the summer. | Every year, hundreds of pagans and non-pagans congregate at Stonehenge to see the sun rise in the morning and welcome in the summer. |
| Some pagans and druids perform a fire ritual to celebrate the occasion. This involves people with unlit candles forming a circle around a large lit central candle and lighting theirs off it one at a time. | Some pagans and druids perform a fire ritual to celebrate the occasion. This involves people with unlit candles forming a circle around a large lit central candle and lighting theirs off it one at a time. |
| A girl takes part in the summer solstice dawn celebrations after druids, pagans and revellers gathered for the Summer Solstice sunrise at Stonehenge | A girl takes part in the summer solstice dawn celebrations after druids, pagans and revellers gathered for the Summer Solstice sunrise at Stonehenge |
| In Sweden, it’s traditional to eat your way through the entire day. Feasts typically involve lots of potatoes and herring. | In Sweden, it’s traditional to eat your way through the entire day. Feasts typically involve lots of potatoes and herring. |
| Some also the day as the Festival of Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. | Some also the day as the Festival of Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. |