The History and Importance of the Summer Solstice

Solstice comes from the Latin words sol, meaning Sun and sistere, meaning to come to a stop or stand still. On the day of the June solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost position, as seen from the Earth. At that moment, its zenith does not move north or south as during most other days of the year, but it stands still.  It then reverses its direction and starts moving south again. This is the longest day of the year and is used to mark the official beginning of Summer. 

In this class, we will learn about the many traditions and celebrations from history that have surrounded this event.