THE summer solstice has been celebrated for centuries, and it is taking place this week.
The solstice is an annual event that happens in June every year.
It happens when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is otherwise known as the longest day of the year.
It is in contrast to the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year – which in 2023 will be on Friday December 22.
When is the summer solstice?
This year it falls on Wednesday, June 21 and according to Greenwich Museums, the summer solstice will take place at 3.58pm.
The sun will rise at approximately 4.26am on Wednesday morning, meaning the longest day of 2023 will be 17 hours and 37 minutes long.
Also known as midsummer, it is the day with the longest period of sunlight and the shortest night of the year.
Celtic traditions considered the solstice as the start of a new year, so they marked it with celebrations such as feasts and bonfires.
Why does the solstice happen?
Solstice happens twice a year, once in the Northern Hemisphere, marking summer solstice in Scotland, and once in the Southern Hemisphere, marking Scotland's winter solstice.
Summer solstice means that the North Pole has reached its maximum tilt towards the sun.
Winter solstice on the other hand occurs when the North Pole is tilted as far as possible from the sun.
Do people celebrate summer solstice?
Summer Solstice is often referred to as the first day of summer in Scotland, despite other places in the UK considering it an indication of midsummer.
People in Scotland often climb hills to gain the best vantage point of the sun set, while hundreds of people in England flock each year to the historic Stonehenge.
