Happy summer solstice! In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the longest day of the year and apparently the earliest solstice we’ve had in 228 years (says USA today).
If you’re wondering why this solar event is important, the history behind it, what to do, and what to read—I’ve got you covered with this mini guide.
If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere and it’s the shortest day of the year for you, make sure to bookmark this post for later!
Read on for ideas on how to celebrate the summer solstice, including a selection of books to read!
What’s the summer solstice?
Summer solstice is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, and Earth is now at its point in orbit when the north pole is at its maximum tilt towards it. This marks the first “official” day of summer, giving us the longest, lightest day of the year, and the shortest night.
What’s symbolic about it?
In some neolithic cultures, the summer solstice may have been tied to the timings of crop cycles. Now, many people associate this season with new beginnings. With all the light and warmth, it’s an inviting moment to reevaluate how we spend our time, check in on our goals (and shift them, if needed), and work towards manifesting our dreams.
The summer solstice also represents:
- Renewal and rebirth
- Abundance and growth
- Finding hope in the world
- Embracing the joy
- Honoring the light within
- Bringing life to something
What’s the history behind it?
Ancient civilizations devloped their calendars around the solstice. Take Stonehenge—you know, those stone pillars arranged in a circle in the grassy plains of England?—it was built to align with these celestial events. At dusk and dawn the sun rises behind the entrance, funneling the first rays of light into the heart of the circle. Other monuments tied to this natural phenomenon include the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Hagar Qim in Malta, Newgrange in Ireland, and the Temple of the Sun in Mexico.
Cultures around the world have celebrated midsummer with their own unique traditions for thousands of years.
- In ancient Greece, the summer solstice was celebrated with a festival dedicated to Cronus, the god of agriculture. It marked the start of a new year and the one-month countdown to the Olympics.
- Pagan Europe would host massive bonfires then proceed to jump over the open flame, the act done in effort to keep demons away and bring good fortune.
- Indigenous communities of North America performed a Sun dance, a sacred ritual that renews the relationship between the land and the beings—spirits, humans, animals and plants—that inhabit it. It is still practiced by some tribes today.
Magic was thought to be strongest during this time of year, with the veil between worlds thin, making it easier for supernatural entities (including faeries) to contact humans.
What are some ways to celebrate?
At its core, summer solstice is all about slowing down, soaking up the golden rays, and appreciating life. But if you’re looking for ways to celebrate, here are a few ideas! Keep in mind these aren’t just designed for June 20th and 21st, but things you can do over the course of the season.
1. Set intentions. This is a great time to look inward and reflect on the last six months. Are you where you want to be? Are you doing what you want to be doing? What do you need to do to maintain that energy—or what do you need to shift in your life to get there? What or who do you need to release?
2. Create. Write, draw, paint, perform. Start something new. Revisit a shelved manuscript. Go to the craft store and get that paper mache book or the sewing kit you’ve been eyeing.
3. Watch the sunrise or sunset. If you can’t commit to this, English Heritage offers a livestream of the sun rising and setting at Stonehenge on their YouTube channel! You can watch here.
4. Reconnect with nature. Host a bonfire. Explore a forest. Go geocaching. Take a dip in a large body of water. Have a picnic. Sit in the sunshine, close your eyes, and just breath. Meditate outside.
5. Make a flower crown. Fresh cut or fabric works! For either you’ll need floral tape, floral wire, and scissors. A glue gun is optional. If you need some support or inspiration, A Beautiful Mess has a great how-to using fresh flowers, and The Spruce has one using faux.
What are some books with summer solstice vibes?
Here are a couple options that include the solstice, contain the magical essence of the solstice, or are literally about the solstice.
A Poem for Every Summer Day by Allie Esiri
Blurb: Within the pages of Esiri’s collection, you’ll find verse that will transport you to striking summer scenes and inspire adventure. The poems are selected from Esiri’s bestselling poetry anthologies. This book dazzles with an array of familiar favourites and remarkable new discoveries. These seasonal poems include those written by Lord Byron, Sylvia Plath, Rudyard Kipling, W.B. Yeats, Langston Hughes, Brian Bilston, Michael Rosen, John Agard and Kate Tempest. Perfect for reading aloud, enjoying with the sunset, or sharing with the whole family.
Genre: Poetry Anthology
Angel of Water & Shadow by Tory Guyon
Blurb: River assumes the voices she hears are a figment of her grief. She’s stoked when they suddenly vanish—that is, until a demon attacks her, a werewolf tries to eat her at a bonfire, Source manifests at her fingertips—and they aren’t there to explain. Instead, a mysterious hunter named Ryder is. He has clues about her identity they unravel together, although she feels like he’s unraveling her in the process. Caught in a battle between two warring supernatural realms, to save humanity she must find the Voices, and not sacrifice her heart in the process.
Genre: Young Adult / New Adult Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Blurb: The year is 1945. Claire is back from the war and reunited with her husband when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is in a Scotland torn by war in the year 1743. Hurled back in time by forces she can’t understand, she is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James, a Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that she becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
Genre: Adult Historial Romance
Every Summer After by Carly Fortune
Blurb: They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life a decade ago, that has felt too true. Instead of summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in an apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart. Until she receives the call that sends her racing back, into the orbit of Sam—the man she never thought she’d have to live without. Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A weekend to get it right.
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Good Faeries/Bad Faeries by Brian Froud and Terri Windling
Blurb: As it turns out, faeries aren’t all sweetness and light. In addition to good faeries such as Dream Weavers and Faery Godmothers, there’s also a host of less well behaved creatures—bad faeries like the Soul Shrinker and the Gloominous Doom. Like the human realm, the faery kingdom is subject to good and evil. This book documents both and is full of enchantment and magic.
Genre: Folklore / Fairytales
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Blurb: This book offers insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. Gilbert asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we love, and how to face down what we fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion.
Genre: Motivational Self-help / Creativity
I hope you enjoyed this post about how to celebrate the summer solstice! Check out these great fantasy book recs if you wanted to keep that endless summer vibe going!
Do you have any intentions, goals, or fun plans set for this season? Let me know in the comments!
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