| | | | | something’ in many cultures. There are |
| Summer Solstice, which is on June 20, is | | | | festivities and events in many regions. |
| essentially a geographical phenomenon. Before we | | | | It can also be interpreted as a new dawn in |
| delve into the depths of the whys and the hows, | | | | terms of relationships. If you had been going |
| it would be worthwhile to make it clear at the | | | | through a rather rough patch in with your love, |
| very onset that it has a lot of other aspects that | | | | this is the time to let the sun pierce through the |
| must be taken into consideration if we are to | | | | veils of darkness that have lately accumulated |
| understand the vast gamut of associations that | | | | between the two of you. Studies suggest that |
| can be linked to this annual event. These aspects | | | | people are in their cheerful best when the |
| can be cultural, traditional or merely symbolic. If | | | | weather is good and breezy. The warm glow of |
| we are to fully comprehend the significance of | | | | the lovely weather does a lot of good to |
| the term ‘summer solstice’, let us begin | | | | evaporate the drudgery that had rusted your soul |
| by the geographical explanations. | | | | during the long, dull and monotonous winter. It is |
| The sun is directly overhead a particular latitude in | | | | time to throw of the shackles and disperse the |
| the north and south of the equator every year. It | | | | gloomy fog. |
| is the latitude of twenty three and a half degrees | | | | Summer Solstice is the time for celebrations |
| on either side. When the sun is on that particular | | | | galore. Anyway, you do not need an excuse to |
| latitude in the north, it is called summer solstice. | | | | bask in the warm sunlight. Just go out and revel in |
| Similarly, when the sun is on the same degree in | | | | the myriad colors of summer. It is a shot-lived |
| the southern hemisphere, it is called winter | | | | joy that Nature herself offers us. This is the time |
| solstice. In Latin, solstice means ‘to stand | | | | for people who love outdoor activities. Since your |
| still’. This is the last latitude to have the sun | | | | energy levels are on a high, you also feel like |
| directly overhead. Then on, the degrees recede | | | | doing work that you have been pushing around |
| and the sun is directly overhead the equator and | | | | through the year! The length of the days being |
| finally, into the southern hemisphere. This is the | | | | long, you also get a lot of time to spend outdoors. |
| cycle. Therefore, June 20 is the longest in the | | | | A special mention must be made of the setting |
| northern hemisphere and consequently, the night | | | | sun, as Shelley put it – ‘In the golden |
| is the shortest. | | | | lightning/ Of the sunken sun’. Its one of those |
| Summer solstice is the peak of summer. Snow | | | | rare pleasures in life that come to you |
| begins to thaw in places where they had not | | | | irrespective of your social or economic status. |
| budged previously. That is why the summer | | | | You just need to have a heart that appreciates |
| solstice is looked upon as the ‘beginning of | | | | beauty. Make sure you have a field day! |