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| Summer Solstice 2016: When is it, why do we celebrate it and what is the 'Strawberry Moon'? | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, a day falling around late June when there are approximately 17 hours of light. | The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, a day falling around late June when there are approximately 17 hours of light. |
| The name comes from the Latin solstitium meaning “sun stands still”. It happens because the sun's stops heading north at the Tropic of Cancer and then returns back southwards. | The name comes from the Latin solstitium meaning “sun stands still”. It happens because the sun's stops heading north at the Tropic of Cancer and then returns back southwards. |
| In the northern hemisphere this means the days begin to get shorter. | In the northern hemisphere this means the days begin to get shorter. |
| But 2016 is a special year, because the solstice coincides with the Strawberry Moon, a once-in-a-lifetime occurence. | But 2016 is a special year, because the solstice coincides with the Strawberry Moon, a once-in-a-lifetime occurence. |
| What is the Strawberry Moon? | |
| It is a full moon, which occurs June, named by early Native American tribes. It is a full moon like any other, but marks the beginning of the strawberry season. The two events coincide once every 70 years. | It is a full moon, which occurs June, named by early Native American tribes. It is a full moon like any other, but marks the beginning of the strawberry season. The two events coincide once every 70 years. |
| When is the summer solstice? | |
| In the northern hemisphere, it can fall on different dates depending from year to year, either 20th, 21st or 22nd June. | In the northern hemisphere, it can fall on different dates depending from year to year, either 20th, 21st or 22nd June. |
| In 2016, it's on Monday 20 June. The sun will rise at 4.45am and sunset will happen at 10.34pm. | In 2016, it's on Monday 20 June. The sun will rise at 4.45am and sunset will happen at 10.34pm. |
| The winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) falls either the 20th, 21st or 22nd in the UK. This year it's on Wednesday 21 December. | The winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) falls either the 20th, 21st or 22nd in the UK. This year it's on Wednesday 21 December. |
| Here's a list of the dates and times of solstices & equinoxes this year. | Here's a list of the dates and times of solstices & equinoxes this year. |
| Why is the summer solstice 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. |
| Why is Stonehenge significant for the solstice? | |
| Stonehenge in Wiltshire is the most popular places in the UK to celebrate the longest day because prehistoric monument aligns to the solstices. The rising sun only reaches the middle of the stones one day of the year when it shines on the central alter. | Stonehenge in Wiltshire is the most popular places in the UK to celebrate the longest day because prehistoric monument aligns to the solstices. The rising sun only reaches the middle of the stones one day of the year when it shines on the central alter. |
| It is thought the original builders of Stonehenge had taken giant bluestones from the Preseli Hills to build the inner ring of stones at the monument for reasons that are not fully understood. | It is thought the original builders of Stonehenge had taken giant bluestones from the Preseli Hills to build the inner ring of stones at the monument for reasons that are not fully understood. |
| The English Heritage-run site is expected around 20,000 visitors this year. | The English Heritage-run site is expected around 20,000 visitors this year. |
| How to celebrate the summer solstice? | |
| 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. |
| 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. |