Surströmming is a traditional Swedish dish made from fermented Baltic herring, and it has been a part of the Swedish d Surströmmingiet for centuries. This pungent fish is known for its strong odor and unique taste, and it has become an integral part of midsummer celebrations in Sweden. The world 'solstice' comes from the Latin solstitium meaning 'Sun stands still', because the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south stops before changing direction. Kronia, a festival celebrating Cronus, the god of agriculture, was also held around this time. The Greeks’ strict social code was temporarily turned on its head during Kronia, with slaves participating in the merriment as equals or even being served by their masters. In ancient China, the summer solstice was associated with “yin,” the feminine force. Festivities celebrated Earth, femininity, and the “yin” force.

Neolithic humans may initially have started to observe the summer solstice as a marker to figure out when to plant and harvest crops. In Ancient Egypt, the summer solstice corresponded with the rise of the Nile River. Its observance may have helped to predict annual flooding.In 2024 the summer solstice will occur on Thursday 20 June at 21.51 BST (20.51 GMT). What is the summer solstice? Forsythe, Gary (2012). Time in Roman Religion: One Thousand Years of Religious History. Routledge. pp.123, 182. Varro places the equinoxes and solstices at the midpoints of the seasons ... His dating for the beginnings of the four seasons are as follows: February 7 for spring, May 9 for summer, August 11 for autumn, and November 10 for winter. While some have theorized that Stonehenge was the location of prehistoric summer solstice rituals, there’s little archaeological evidence that it was used this way. Modern-day Solstice Celebrations

Scandinavians celebrate Midsummer in a variety of ways, but most celebrations include a bonfire and are outdoors. Midsummer is the longest day of the year, so Scandinavians are celebrating the long days of natural light, as well as the turning of the season; after Midsummer, the days become shorter. Want to learn more about Scandinavian Midsummer? Find out about how the Danes celebrate and why the day is so important to the Swedes. Ready to celebrate yourself? Make a Midsummer flower crown!

What are solstices?

Some attend the popular Secret Solstice festival, a three day music and culture festival that not only holds concerts but also creates once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as a rave in a glacier cave. Papadopoulos, Costas; Moyes, Holley, eds. (2021). The Oxford Handbook of Light in Archaeology. Oxford University Press. Whether you plan to make the most of your annual leave or simply want to put a few more evening plans in the diary, there’ is plenty to do to make the most of the long summer days.