The weather may be grim right now, but Scots can at least look forward to some extra day light as the summer solstice falls today.
This year's summer solstice occurs on Wednesday, June 21, the same date as 2021. A solstice happens twice a year and marks the transition between seasons, with summer's falling every June bringing the year's longest day.
However, while many may believe that a solstice refers to a whole day, it actually specifies a moment in time on that day, when the hemisphere in question is tilted closest or furthest from the sun.
The word solstice stems from the the Latin words 'sol' (sun) and 'sistere' (to stand still), which makes sense as the sun seems to "stand still" on the horizon's rising and setting point.
According to the Royal Greenwich Museum, this year's solstice will fall at 3.58pm, with forecasters reporting sunrise at 04:31am on Wednesday and Sunset at 22:06pm. This means Scotland will enjoy 17 hours and 35 minutes of daylight today, with this of course resulting in the northern hemisphere's shortest night.
Here's what to know about this year's summer solstice.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice marks the first day of the season in the astronomical calendar, lasting until the beginning of the Autumn Equinox on September 23.
In Pagan times, the summer solstice marked time between planting and harvesting crops, giving farmers time to take rest before taking to the fields once again.
Also called midsummer, days after the summer solstice begin to slowly get shorter, but this doesn't become noticeable until later in the winter months.
In contrast, the winter solstice falls on December 21, marking the shortest day of the year.
How to celebrate the summer solstice
The summer solstice has long been celebrated through history, with some traditions still practiced today.
The best place in Scotland to welcome the summer solstice on top of Ben Nevis, with walking groups organising overnight hikes on the country's tallest mountain.
Perhaps the most notable mark of the summer solstice is the gathering at Stonehenge in Wiltshire England, where Druids and Pagans would enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the 5,000 year old monument.
According to the British Museum, the famous stone circle was built to carefully align with the sun's movements. Standing in the centre of the monument on midsummer’s day, the sun rises just to the left of the outlying Heel Stone to the north-east and the first rays of the day shine into the heart of Stonehenge.
Even today, thousands still gather at Stonehenge every year to view take in the beautiful spectacle.
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