Summer Solstice

SUMMER S.OLSTICE GET READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER Every year, the first day of summer coincides with the summer solstice. But what is a solstice, and when does it happen? WHAT? The summer solstice is the day when the Earth's axis, in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, tilts at its closest point to the sun. SUN WHEN? JUN. 21, 2014 DEC. 21, 2014 NORTHERN SOLSTICE SOUTHERN SOLSTICE EQUATOR THE NORTHERN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE'S HEMISPHERE'S summer starts with the summer starts with the northern solstice, which southern solstice, which occurs June 21 this year. occurs December 21 this year. DID YOU KNOW? 24 HOURS AT IHE The summer solstice is the LONGEST DAY NORTH POLE, OF THE YEAR. the sun never sets during the summer solstice, meaning there's 24 hours of sunlight! ICELANDERS used to follow the Old Norse calendar, which split the year into only winter and summer. IN ICELAND, the first day of summer is a public holiday. CELEBRATE! PLANT SOAK UP LIGHT A A SEED THE SUN BONFIRE Many farmers have Whether reading a In the past, the traditionally celebrated book, having a picnic, first day of summer the solstice as a halfway or grilling out, take was celebrated by point between planting advantage of the dancing around a and harvesting. extra daylight! bonfire. INFOGRAPHIC PROVIDED BY PenningtonCreative.com Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Day_of_Summer http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/summer.htm http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-summer-summer-solstice