MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
When is the longest day of the year 2021?
THE longest day of the year - also known as summer solstice - marks the astronomical start of summer.
It is celebrated in different ways in the northern hemisphere.
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When is the longest day of the year?
The midsummer date is set based on the planet’s rotational axis.
It takes place in the northern hemisphere when the north pole is tilted 23.5 degrees towards the Sun.
It falls between June 20 and June 22.
This year, the summer solstice is today - Monday, June 21, 2021 - and the UK will enjoy 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight.
Why is it called the longest day of the year?
The "longest" day of the year marks the start of astronomical summer.
It provides the UK with the most daylight of the year because the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most aligned with the Sun.
When it ends, the nights will begin to close in as our planet rotates away from the Sun, making the hours of daylight shorter.
The date where the north pole has its maximum tilt away from the Sun is marked by the winter solstice.
Do days get shorter after summer solstice?
After summer solstice, days do get shorter - but this isn't noticeable for several weeks.
Summer days slowly become shorter as the length of daylight hours begins to slowly decrease.
It's because after summer solstice, the Sun's direct rays start to move southward from the Tropic of Cancer towards the equator.
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What has the summer solstice got to do with Stonehenge?
The day is celebrated by pagans and druids, with rituals of rebirth performed throughout history on the day.
One of the biggest celebrations in the UK occurs at Stonehenge with crowds gathering to watch the sunrise.
The tradition sees revellers waiting by the Wiltshire monument on midsummer, facing towards the north-easterly direction.
Crowds of devotees, often dressed for the occasion, regularly gather to watch the moment the Sun rises above the Heel Stone.
It’s just one of the many pagan festivals, which include midwinter and imbolc – the day that traditionally marks the start of spring.
But because Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushed Freedom Day back to July due to coronavirus cases rising, no official events have been scheduled to happen at Stonehenge for the second year running.
MORE ON HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
How else is the summer solstice celebrated?
Midsummer festivities are held across the world in many different cultures.
In many cases, the rituals are linked with themes of religion or fertility.
Wianki celebrations in Poland are similar to those held in Britain, as the day is largely considered a pagan religious event.
There are different traditions across Europe, with Estonia using the day to mark a shift in agricultural patterns.
In Russia and Ukraine, it’s tradition for revellers to jump over bonfires to test their courage and religious faith.
In India it is observed with mass yoga sessions.
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