--- title: What is Summer Solstice? The Start of Summer description: Summer solstice is the annual event where the sun is at its highest point in the sky. For more information, watch the video above. canonical: https://time.com/2907240/summer-solstice-explainer/ author: TIME Video article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-06-20T11:36:52.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:57:35.529Z article:section: Science og:title: Summer Solstice: The Start of Summer og:description: Summer solstice is the annual event where the sun is at its highest point in the sky and the daylight seems never-ending in the Northern Hemisphere. og:url: https://time.com/2907240/summer-solstice-explainer/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8406d2c591dcc651/698698ae13c79f3a63192c22/ap319703517254.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1500 og:image:height: 844 og:image:alt: Greatest must-do travel experiences og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Summer Solstice: The Start of Summer twitter:description: Summer solstice is the annual event where the sun is at its highest point in the sky and the daylight seems never-ending in the Northern Hemisphere. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8406d2c591dcc651/698698ae13c79f3a63192c22/ap319703517254.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Summer Solstice: The Start of Summer > Sponsored content. 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Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-futureproof-2026q3/newsletters?i=dea2d39f-c6b7-4ec0-8cbd-b2db9aeea86c&cr=time-nl-futureproof-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Summer Solstice: The Start of Summer [Watch (HLS stream): Summer Solstice: The Start of Summer](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4QJbAXP9.m3u8) (2:04)  _Published 2014-06-20. Summer solstice is the annual event where the sun is at its highest point in the sky and the daylight seems neverending in the Northern Hemisphere. But it’s also a time for celebration for many cultures across the world._ by [TIME Video](https://time.com/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Jun 20, 2014 11:36 AM UTC by [TIME Video](https://time.com/author/time-video/) ## TIME Video Jun 20, 2014 11:36 AM UTC Summer solstice is the annual time when the sun is at its highest point in the sky and the daylight seems never-ending in the Northern Hemisphere. But it’s also a time for celebration for many cultures across the world. The word solstice comes from the latin word solstitium or sol (the sun) plus the word stit or -stes (standing), which basically means the sun is standing still. This feels like an accurate description, as during the summer solstice, we get 16 hours of day light. For more insight into this annual event, check out the video above. ## Transcript Earthlings in the Northern Hemisphere, are you hot enough yet? Well, it's only fair that we settle into a good Rotisserie after some polar vortices made things miserable, on the colder end of the year. We'll soon welcome the longest and possibly, on of the hottest days of the year, know as the- Summer Solstice. [ CROSSTALK ] Summer solstice. Thank you [ UNKNOWN ]. [ CROSSTALK ] Summer Solstice. No, Summer Solstice. Right, the Summer Solstice. So, besides it being opposite the winter solstice. How do we explain this annual event. So we are already in meteorological summer. We'll be in astronomical summer, and it's just gonna be hot. And the stars are going to align. That second part depends on what you do during the Summer Solstice. We'll just, stick to the facts. To understand the summer solstice you gotta understand the Earth's tilt. It might not feel like it, but the Earth is skewed at a 23. 5 degree angle. It's also, spinning while spinning, but that's for another day. The overhead sun, is over the Tropic of Cancer. On this day, the length of daytime of the Northern Hemisphere. Is the longest in the year. As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration points out, the name itself, speaks of the length of day. The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium or sol, the sun, plus stit or stes which means standing. Basically it feels like the sun is standing still. Since most places in the Northern Hemisphere could expect somewhere around 16 hours of daylight on the Summer Solstice. It's a good time to soak up some rays. But the annual event also coincides with many formal traditions. In Scandinavia for example, they celebrate Midsummer, a historically pagan celebration in which people feast and dance around a maypole. They also drink, and sing, at the same time. We recommend two beers per nube. This would improve both your singing. [ MUSIC ] And your Swedish. In some Christian traditions, people celebrate the nativity of St. John the Baptist through feast and bonfires. If you're confused on what to do for Summer Solstice, just eat, or take a picture of the Sun. You'll have plenty of time for both. It begins Saturday, June 21st, at 6: 51 AM. Eastern Daylight Time. 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