It's the official first day of summer today, even though it doesn't really feel like it out there in Southern MN. The June Solstice occurs when the Sun reaches both its highest and northernmost points in the sky, in the Nothern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is just the opposite, the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky.

"The word “solstice” comes from Latin solstitium—from sol (Sun) and stitium (standing), reflecting the fact that on the solstice, the Sun appears to stop moving in the sky as it reaches its northern- or southernmost point."

There are a lot of festivals throughout the world to celebrate the Summer Solstice, including gatherings at Stonehenge, and Macchu Pichu, an ancient city of the Incas. This was something I had not heard of, I knew about the Druids and Stonehenge. Close to the Summer Solstice is Midsummer, a Swedish tradition, celebrated by eating strawberries and dancing around a Maypole.

However you decide to celebrate the Solstice, I think we can all agree that after the Winter we had, we want to celebrate Summer for however long it lasts in MN.

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