CNN —
Do you yearn for long days and short nights? Then this could be the best day of the year for you and your fellow sunlight seekers.
The summer solstice is Thursday, June 20. It’s the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the first official day of summer.
Our ancient ancestors certainly took note of the yearly occasion. Some of their monuments were aligned to precisely mark the summer solstice light (looking at you Stonehenge).
Pagan celebrations of the day carry on into modern times. Events include gatherings at Stonehenge in England, the Midsummer Eve celebration in Sweden and Ivan Kupala Night in parts of Eastern Europe.
The mirror image of the winter solstice, the summer solstice is historically linked to fertility – both the plant and human variety – in destinations worldwide.
The science of the solstice and its traditions have fascinated people for millennia.