Celebrating the first day of summer
Happy first (official) day of summer, Y’all. Not only are the beaches bustling, is the Ravenel filled with bikers + joggers, + are the harbors swamped with schooners gliding across the coastal waterways– but it is also the summer solstice.
What is the summer solstice you ask? It is when the sun is at its highest point– giving us the most hours of sunlight during the whole year. (15 hours to be exact, with twilight visible from 5:43 a.m. until 8:59 p.m).
While you probably recognize that today is “longest day of the year,” here are some summer solstice facts that you may not be as familiar with:
☀ The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin words “sol,” meaning sun, and “stitium,” meaning to stop. This makes sense– as the sun stops moving further north on this day.
☀ Many refer to the summer solstice as “Midsummer.”
☀ The sun will reach its highest point in the sky at 6:07 a.m.
☀ During the summer solstice, higher high tides may occur– because of the increased angle of the sun.
☀ Around the globe, the solstice has been celebrated as a way to mark when to plant + harvest crops, a time to set intentions for new beginnings, to predict annual flooding, and, on ancient Greek calendars– the summer solstice marked the start of a new year.
☀ Vikings held meetings to resolve disputes on the solstice.
☀ The world’s biggest bonfire was part of a summer solstice celebration in 2010. The flames of the fire, built in Alesund, Norway, reached 132.41 ft.
☀ Each year, thousands of people gather at England’s Stonehenge to honor the solstice. (In 2017, 37,000 people visited the site on that day). While it has not been proven– many speculate that the prehistoric world heritage site has been a place of worship during the summer solstice for thousands of years– due to the view of the sunrise directly above the Heel Stone at the time of the solstice.
☀ In Alaska, the solstice is celebrated with a midnight baseball game- known as the Midnight Sun Game.
☀ In yoga, the sun salutation was originally created to, well, ‘salute the sun’. On solstices and equinoxes, it is common for yogis to practice 108 sun salutations (the significance of the number 108 is still up for interpretation).
☀ During the summer solstice, the Earth is at its farthest point from the sun– not the closest.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy the longer day with more natural lighting (perfect for those rooftop bar selfies– it is National Selfie Day), or if you’re planning to embark on a more spiritual journey, see below for a couple of ways to celebrate the solstice around the Lowcountry.
- Festival: Salute the Solstice Charleston Yoga Fest | 5 p.m. | James Island County Park | 871 Riverland Dr., James Island | $30 | Celebrate the summer solstice with guided meditation, 108 sun salutations, live music by Thomas Champagne and Friends, + the calming effects of being one with nature. 🌱
- Arts: Summer Solstice Poetry | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Zero George | 0 George St. | free | A poetry workshop led by Charleston’s poet laureate, Marcus Amaker. Bring a pen + a notebook. ✒
- Active:
- Summer Solstice Yoga on the Beach | 6-7:15 a.m. | Kiawah Recreation | 4000 Sea Forest Dr., Kiawah Island | $20, call 843.768.6001 to reserve your spot | Celebrate the rising sun on the longest day of the year. All levels of experience welcome. ☀
- The Longest Day- Dance to end Alzheimer’s! | 6:15-9:15 p.m. | Arthur Murray Charleston | 1300 Savannah Hwy., West Ashley | free | Free Salsa + Tango classes. While the classes are free, donations are appreciated– 100% of the proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association
- Health: FREE hats for men, women, and children | 12-1 p.m. | Marion Square (at the fountain, corner of King + Calhoun Streets) | free | The Hat Ladies are giving out free hats (one per person) to promote sun protection. 👒
- Drink: Saltwater Cowboys Summer Solstice | 4-10 p.m. | Saltwater Cowboys | 130 Mill St., Mt. Pleasant | free | Wear yellow to celebrate the summer solstice + enjoy specials on tropical cocktails 🍹
This article was written in collaboration with Emily Shoemaker at Yoloha Yoga.
This summer solstice, I’ll personally be getting down (dog) at the Salute the Solstice Charleston Yoga Fest.
Whether you’re attending the festival or spending the day making barefoot memories at the beach, share your first day of summer pics using the hashtag #CHStoday.
