![]() This means there will be roughly 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night on that day. What is the autumn equinox?ĭuring the equinox, the number of hours of day and night are almost equal as the sun shines directly on the equator. In 2023, the autumn equinox falls on Saturday 23 September. (Getty Images) (PA Images via Getty Images) When is the autumn equinox? A nationwide holiday is observed in Latvia on this day.The Harvest Moon, which will arrive shortly after the autumn equinox, is a delight for moon watchers. Similar to the celebration in Sweden, people flock to the countryside to enjoy amidst nature. Thus, the festival has its roots in pagan traditions. ![]() Latvians enthusiastically welcome the summer solstice by celebrating the Jāņi Festival which dates back to the middle ages even before Christianity came into existence. Some popular traditions include dancing around the maypole (20-foot pole which has two loops at the top), wearing floral crowns, singing, lighting bonfires, and so on. It is a historical celebration that was used to mark the season of growth and fertility, the period between planting and harvest.ĭuring this time, most people travel to the countryside to enjoy the blessings of nature along with their loved ones. People in Sweden welcome Summer Solstice and consequently the start of summer by celebrating the Midsummer festival. Indigenous artists, teachers, students, and others participate in this three-day event with much eagerness. The Festival generally comprises of culinary workshops, award ceremonies, music, art, and other forms of entertainment. In Canada, Summer Solstice coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day (a day that celebrates the culture of Indigenous people including the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis). Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival is a grand event that merges these two important celebrations. This once-in-a-year fair is attended by over 30,000 people. It is a twelve-hour event consisting of art and crafts, music, and delicious food. Moreover, Alaska also hosts the Midnight Sun Festival to celebrate the summer solstice. It is a tradition that has been strictly followed since 1906. To mark this period, they celebrate the Midnight Sun Baseball Game which begins around 10 pm. Situated just 140 miles South of Article Circle, Alaska enjoys an entire day of sunlight, also known as the midnight sun on Summer Solstice. This is the reason it is connected to fertility and new beginnings. This day has been celebrated with festivals, rituals, and midsummer celebrations for centuries. In ancient times, the June solstice was marked as the day to begin planting and harvesting crops. The Solstice represented new beginnings and change for many people. This is because we know that the Earth revolves around the sun and not the opposite.ĭuring the solstice, the North Pole tilts towards the sun more and that is why the position of the sun appears a bit different. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place on December 21 when the sun is at the farthest south. The sun seems to return to its usual position after the summer solstice. Instead, it rises north of east and sets in the northwest because it is at its northernmost point in the sky. Hence, the sun is visible in the sky longer than usual making Summer Solstice the longest day of the year. It feels like the trajectory is reversed as on this particular day, the sun does not rise in the east like always. The reason for naming it that is because, during the June Solstice, it looks like the sun is standing still. It was originally called the solstitium but people who spoke Middle English abbreviated it to 'solstice' in the 14th century. People in the ancient age put sol-to-stilt which translates to sun standing still and coined it 'solstitium'. The word 'solstice' is derived from 'sol' which is Latin for the sun and 'stitium' which means stop or still.
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