The 20th of June will see many folk celebrating the Solstice, although whether they are enjoying the summer sunshine or shivering in the middle of winter depends where in the world they are.
Solstice or ‘solstitium’ in Latin means ‘sun-stopping’ and it is either the longest or shortest day in terms of daylight hours depending on which hemisphere you inhabit. Most people consider June 21st as the date of the June Solstice, but in fact it varies slightly and it can happen anytime between June 20th and June 22nd, depending on which time zone you're in.
Spiritual Relevance
The solstice has long had spiritual relevance as can be seen in the world famous megalithic structure at Stonehenge in England which aligns with the summer solstice sunrise. Stonehenge is not unique in being aligned to the solstice, for example, across the ocean Ancestral Pueblos incorporated the sun's movements in their architecture. Aztec West, which is part of the Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico, contains a wall which aligns perfectly with the rising and setting sun during the winter and summer solstices.
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