Joanna Marie O. Santos
June 25, 2022

More commonly known as the Summer Solstice, the June Solstice is an astronomical event where we experience the longest daytime and the shortest nighttime. This usually occurs on June 21 or 22 - depending on which hemisphere you’re in. For the Philippines, this usually happens on the 21st and while it only means that we’ll be having a long day, there are more things to the June Solstice than we might know.

  That said, here are a couple of facts to know about the June or Summer Solstice:  

Why does it happen?

  The summer solstice occurs when the earth's tilt from the sun is at a maximum. On the day of the solstice, the sun appears at its highest possible elevation, with a position that changes before and after the Summer Solstice.    

The June Solstice occurs when the sun is positioned directly over the Tropic of Cancer that runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, and some parts of China. For places north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun will be at its highest point and it will be the longest day of the year.

Interesting facts about the summer solstice

Apart from being the longest day and the shortest night of the year, there are a couple of interesting facts about the June Solstice that are worth knowing. That said, here are five interesting facts to know about the June Solstice:

The name has Latin roots

The term "solstice" comes from the Latin words "sol" which means sun and "sistere" which means "to come to a stop" or "standstill”. Since the sun is at its highest point during the June Solstice, it doesn't move north or south as it does on the other days of the year. The sun seems to be at a standstill during this season, hence its name.

The first solstice of the year

There are two solstices that happen each year, one in June and the other in December. The June Solstice is the first solstice of the year. The sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer on the Summer Solstice and during the Winter Solstice; the sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn.

It is officially the first day of summer

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice usually marks the beginning of summer. This season also has cultural significance for some groups because it's considered a mid-point to summer.

It has cultural significance

For some cultures, midsummer festivals and celebrations are common - especially in European Countries. The Midsommar Festivals in Sweden and the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Canada are just some festivals celebrated around the world to commemorate the Summer Solstice.

The Arctic Circle has 24 hours of daylight during the Solstice

An interesting phenomenon happens within the Arctic Circle during the June Solstice. They experience 24 hours of continuous daylight because of atmospheric refraction. The midnight sun is also visible for a few days before and during the Summer Solstice.

The June Solstice is an interesting phenomenon that many just allude to being the longest daytime of the year. What many don’t realize is that there is much to learn about this occurrence and what it signifies for different cultures. Beliefs about the Summer Solstice vary from one country to another and some might not have traditions that match the holiday, but Midsummer festivals are still very much a sight to see if you have the chance to visit one.