For centuries, the summer solstice has reigned in celebrations of warmth. Fromthe Swedish Midsommar rituals, to the Ancient Greeks' Olympic countdown, to thearchitectural homages by the ancient Mayan and Aztec, the longest day of theyear is rooted in tradition around the world. The day marks the official first day of summer, and the day during which the sunreaches its highest and northernmost point in the sky. This means that, on theJune solstice, the sun travels its longest path across the sky, making the daythe longest of the year and the night the shortest for all who live in theNorthern Hemisphere. The day marks a turning point in the year: as the sunbegins its annual southward migration, the days will start getting shorter onceagain. Photo credit: Anchorage.net[https://www.anchorage.net/events/annual-events/summer-solstice-festival/].TheJune solstice tends to be associated with change, and new beginnings. As such,many cultures use the event to reflect and consider what they want to bring withthem into the new season. Other cultures celebrate the date as the beginning ofa season of fertility and protection. For example, Ancient Chinese culturereigned in the date with a celebration of the Earth, femininity, and the "yin"forces of the universe. The winter solstice, falling in late December, wasmarked by a celebration of the "yang" forces, masculinity, and the heavens. Manyother cultures use the summer and winter solstices as complimentary bookends onour trip around the sun. Midsommar celebrations in Sweden derive from ancient Gaul, the region ofmodern-day France. Once named "The Feast of Epona," the celebration was namedafter a mare goddess who personified fertility and protected horses. In ancientGermanic, Slav and Celtic tribes, pagans celebrated their own Midsummer withbonfires. After Christianity spread in Europe and other parts of the world, manypagan customs were incorporated into the Christian religion. Today, Midsommar(and Midsummer) celebrations involve much of its history, with festive bonfiresand dancing around a traditional Maypole. Decorations of greenery, garlands, andother flowers can be found with abundance. Photo credit: ArtesiaWells/Getty Images.Ancient sites such as Stonehenge alsohold significance on the solstice. When the sky is clear, the sun rises behindthe Heel stone, which is the ancient entrance to the circle. Rays of sunlightare channeled into the center of the monument in glorious alignment.Archaeologists believe that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge forthousands of years, and that the site was perhaps even used as a way oforganizing one's calendar. These theories suggest that the builders ofStonehenge may have used the solstice as a starting-point to count the days ofthe year.Photo credit: countylinemagazine.com[https://www.countylinemagazine.com/calendar/summer-solstice-2020-live-from-stonehenge/event_ca31a2f0-9904-11ea-a966-e7406b0d8f05.html].From Maypoles, fireworks, and parades, to ancient rock circles, celebrate thechanging of the season in whatever form that may take. Learn more about solsticetraditions that you can participate in here[https://exploredeeply.com/live-your-purpose/five-beautiful-rituals-to-celebrate-summer-solstice].