Happy Summer!

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, June heralds the arrival of the summer solstice. Occurring around the 21st, it marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. The variance in day length is caused by the tilt of the earth on its axis. In summer, this tilt toward the sun reaches the maximum for us in the north. For most of us nowadays, the solstice is just another day. For our agrarian ancestors, it was a cause for celebration.

Even today, cultures across the northern hemisphere, especially those living in the far north who experience the midnight sun celebrate the solstice in traditional ways. The Swedes, for example, decorate their houses with flowers, light bonfires, and dance the night away to traditional folk music. Indigenous cultures living far enough from the equator also noted the solstice with celebration.

The summer solstice is sometimes called “midsummer.” This comes from the ancient Celtic calendar which marked May 1 as the first day of summer and August 1 as the beginning of the harvest and of autumn. June 21 falls exactly in the middle, hence the name. It was believed that fairies frolicked on Midsummer’s Eve, which led Shakespeare to invoke their mischief in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

In the natural world, the time of maximum sunlight is a time of peak growth. Gardens, fields and forests positively hum with life and growth. Later on in the summer, when light diminishes, the plants will set seed in response to the fading hours of daylight. But for now, its grow, grow, grow!

We who live so disconnected from seasonal changes would do well to pay attention to the energy of summer, and make some time to soak it in for ourselves. It is revitalizing to both body and spirit, and a sure antidote to stresses that we cannot control (like the global economy!).

I propose that we reclaim Midsummer as a cause for celebration, but not the sort of high-stress, visit the far-flung family, much to-do, extra work sort of celebration. Instead of all that, let’s have a relaxing, soak-up-the-sunshine, sipping lemonade while watching the flowers grow sort of celebration. What do you say? If you can, take the day off from work, and spend it outdoors. If not, celebrate on your next free day. Have fun. Tap into what nature is up to right now. Have a picnic. Smell the roses. If you’re feeling especially energetic, go ahead and chase fireflies and dance in the midsummer moonlight with a child. Who knows? Maybe the fairies will join you.