It's the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, so soak up some of those direct sunrays (safely, of course) and celebrate the start of summer with these solstice facts.
- THIS YEAR THE SUMMER SOLSTICE FALLS ON JUNE 21.
- THE SUN WILL BE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD AT THE TROPIC OF CANCER.
- THE NAME COMES FROM THE FACT THAT THE SUN APPEARS TO STAND STILL.
- THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BONFIRE WAS PART OF A SOLSTICE CELEBRATION.
- THE HOT WEATHER FOLLOWS THE SUN BY A FEW WEEKS.
- THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHER AT STONEHENGE TO CELEBRATE THE SUMMER SOLSTICE.
- PAGANS CELEBRATE THE SOLSTICE WITH SYMBOLS OF FIRE AND WATER.
- IN ANCIENT EGYPT, THE SOLSTICE HERALDED THE NEW YEAR.
- THE ANCIENT CHINESE HONORED THE YIN ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE.
- IN ALASKA, THE SUMMER SOLSTICE IS CELEBRATED WITH A MIDNIGHT BASEBALL GAME.
- THE EARTH IS ACTUALLY AT ITS FARTHEST FROM THE SUN DURING THE SOLSTICE.
- IRONICALLY, THE SOLSTICE MARKS A DARK TIME IN SCIENCE HISTORY.
- AN ALTERNATIVE CALENDAR HAD AN EXTRA MONTH NAMED AFTER THE SOLSTICE.
- IN ANCIENT GREECE, THE SOLSTICE FESTIVAL MARKED A TIME OF SOCIAL EQUALITY.
- ANCIENT ROME HONORED THE GODDESS VESTA ON THE SOLSTICE.
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