First Day of Summer
First day of summer is right around the corner! Actually, a lot closer, it’s this Thursday (June 20th, 2024), and it begins with the summer solstice! So, what is the June/Summer solstice? Well, in the Northern Hemisphere the solstice occurs when the Sun travels along its northernmost path in the sky. It is when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the Sun. What are the results? The longest day and the shortest night of the calendar year, while receiving sunlight at the most direct angle. As this happens in the Northern Hemisphere, the opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere. As we are having our “longest day” the Southern Hemisphere has the Sun at its lowest point in the sky, marking the start of winter!
So where does the term “solstice” come from? Well, the term “solstice” comes from the Latin words “sol” and “sistere” meaning “sun” and “to stand still” respectively. If you watch the sun closely (and by that we mean keep track of it not stare at it directly) you’ll know that the Sun doesn’t rise and set at the exact locations each day. It rising and setting positions move as the Earth travels around the sun. The June solstice is special because as the sun reaches the northernmost point in the sky, the Sun’s path has a “stand still” it does not change for a brief period of time. So now it makes sense, “Solstice” “Sun To Stand Still”.
Summer solstice makes many people very excited; it is the first day of summer, the longest day, the days are warm and the sun shines bright. It’s no surprise many people celebrate the Solstice. For example, in Sweden, they celebrate the beginning of summer by eating the first strawberries of the season, others have a solstice evening bonfire, and others plunge into the ocean at midnight to bring in good luck. But how do we think you should celebrate it? Well, we may be biased but we think a good idea would be to purchase a handmade sun from It's Cactus. From metal art and paper mache, to clay charms and beaded keychains, we have them all in stock for you and just in time to order for Summer Solstice! All while supporting Fair Trade and our artists.
