Hot afternoons, wild thunderstorms, and nights filled with fireflies! The summer solstice, or midsummer, is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and learn about the warmest season with our families.
At the Peak of the Light
The word “solstice” brings together two Latin words: sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). At the winter and summer solstices, the sun as seen from Earth appears to pause in its seasonal motion and then reverse its path.
The summer solstice is the day of the year when the sun seems to rise highest in the sky, following its longest and tallest arc, and rises and sets at its northernmost point on the horizon. This is also the longest day and shortest night of the year, with the difference in daytime hours more noticeable at high latitudes—closer to the north or south pole, farther from the equator. In the northern hemisphere, our summer solstice occurs around 21 June each year. (In the southern hemisphere, this date marks the winter solstice; 21 December is their summer and our winter solstice.)
Summer festivals and personal observances of the solstice often reflect these themes:
- light, heat, fire, and sun
- the earth in full bloom: flowers and greenery
- life in full bloom: joy, pleasure, creativity, and stretching into the long day
This is the time of Midsummer Day, St. John’s Day, Litha, and the Midnight Sun Festival (including Nome, Alaska’s icy Polar Bear Swim!). In some historical and cultural locations, the summer solstice has also been a magically potent day—and especially night—when healing herbs should be gathered and when witches and fairies are abroad. It is a lovely time to read, perform, or see Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with older children and to enjoy tales of summer magic with people of all ages.
Celebrating with Children
How tall is my shadow?
At noon on each solstice day, measure from your child’s toe to his or her shadow’s top. Have the child measure your shadow, too, and record the numbers. After gathering data on all four holidays, you can ask your child to guess which shadow was longest, compare your shadows’ changing heights with your own heights (when did it come up to your knee? when was it about as tall as you? when would it be too tall to stand up in your living room?), discuss the changing angles of the sun, read up on our solar system and the Earth’s seasons, and experiment with a flashlight and a globe.
Sun foods
Children of all ages can help choose, prepare, and eat foods and beverages that remind us of the sun. Think shades of orange, red, and yellow, as well as foods that can be circular in shape: oranges, pineapples, grapefruits, pancakes, fried eggs, sun- or flower-frosted cupcakes, brightly-colored juice or punch, and so on.
Flowers and greenery
Make real or paper flower crowns to wear at your solstice celebration. Bring flowers or beautiful greenery into your home. Draw or paint a tree, leaf, or flower in its full summer glory.
Music
Many songs celebrate the sun and the long, fun days of summer. Put together a playlist and dance or sing together.
Light a fire
Bonfires and fireworks are summer solstice traditions in many countries.
Go outside
If the weather is pleasant, this is a wonderful day for a picnic, for playing outside, and for staying out late to witness the enduring light.
Make a sundial
Instructions for projects—from very simple to elaborate—are readily available online. Constructing a sundial is an engaging way to learn about how our days and seasons work.
Looking forward, looking back
This observance can take place with your family or alone. On paper, out loud, or simply in your thoughts, reflect on these questions or others that suit you better: What bright lights and simple pleasures illuminate your life this summer? How can you stretch into the season’s opportunities? What do you miss from winter’s darkness, and how might you hold onto those gifts in this very different time?
Read
These picture books are great family read-alouds for the vernal equinox.
- The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice (Wendy Pfeffer) introduces the science, history, and cultural traditions surrounding this solstice. The book also includes projects and recipes to try at home. For a more fanciful approach to a summer celebration, try The Flowers’ Festival (Elsa Beskow).
- Mama, Is It Summer Yet? (Nikki McClure) is a sweet, simple book about wanting—and getting—summer. Its cut paper illustrations offer lots to point out and discuss. Beach Feet (Kiyomi Konagaya) is another favorite for toddlers and preschool-aged children.
- Summer Sun Risin’ (W. Nikola-Lisa), Summer Days and Nights (Wong Herbert Yee), Come On, Rain! (Karen Hesse), Hot Day on Abbott Avenue (Karen English), and Think Cool Thoughts (Elizabeth Parry) all explore the height of summer with wonderful sensory details and energy.
Image credit: Christie Brown Photography
Molly Westerman is a freelance writer, book nerd, PhD, educator, and feminist parent. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband and two children, ages 8 and 2.
The post Stretch into the Sun: Celebrating the Summer Solstice appeared first on Green Child Magazine.