Summer solstice rituals from around the world range from ancient traditions to modern midsummer festivals. If you’re wondering how to celebrate the summer solstice, here are some ideas and events to make the most of the longest day of the year.
Light a Bonfire
Bonfires are one of the most common summer solstice rituals. Early Christians adopted this Pagan ritual into what is now known as the feast day of Saint John. Observed on June 24 by Christians, gatherings complete with food and fire are still common across the world today. They’re mostly prevalent in places with extesnive histories of Christian assimilation, like in Norway and Ireland. Barcelona’s Festival of Saint Joan combines the traditional Catholic feast day with a ceremony honoring Catalonia’s eternal flame in one of the world’s biggest summer solstice festivals.
Chase the Midnight Sun
In places where the sun never sets on the summer solstice, the phenomenon is often called Midnight Sun or Polar Day. By contrast, the Polar Night is the period in winter when the sun never rises. Places where these bi-annual wonders occur are within the Arctic Circle, including Scandinavia, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, and more.
The culmination of Indigenous summer solstice rituals and festivities culminate at the Midnight Sun Festival in Nome, Alaska. Everything from tribal dances to river raft races to a live skit embodying the local Gold Rush history are enjoyed by attendees.
Over in Sweden, one of the world’s most well-known summer solstice celebrations is the Midsommer Festival. Originally honoring the summer season of fertility, signature festival activities include donning colorful flower wreaths and dances around maypoles. If you’re unable to travel to Sweden, celebrate the summer solstice at home by streaming the popular film “Midsommar” starring Florence Pugh. Fair warning: this fictional thriller is about a festival goer who…well, you’ll just have to watch.
Visit Stonehenge or Another Ancient Site
A pilgrimage to an ancient site is another way to embrace the longest day of the year. Stonehenge, the iconic prehistoric megalithic stone circle, is one of England’s most popular attractions. On the summer solstice, the park allows overnight campers to witness the incredible spectacle of the sun rising behind the Heel Stone. Other historic sites with solar significance include the Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia and the Ħaġar Qim Temple in southern Malta, among many others.
Go for a Midnight Adventure
Whether or not you’re in an area with 24 hours of absolute sunlight, you can still take advantage of the longest day of the year by going for a late-night adventure. Make the most of those extra minutes of light with a late-night stroll or midnight swim. In some places like Iceland, activity schedules adjust for the extra sunlight with things like night-time tee-times for golfers. Similarly, the Fairbanks Midnight Sun Baseball Game held each year on June 21 in Fairbanks, Alaska, utilizes the unusual light experience for a later-than-usual first pitch.
