Happy Summer Solstice!  

Here is a really simple, user friendly diagram that shows the relationship between the earth and sun:

Get it?

Anways, the word solstice derives from a combination of Latin words:  “sol” (sun) & “stice” (to stand still). I guess these clever Latinites believed that the sun rose so high on June 21st that it seemed to stand still in the sky.  In reality, the sun eventually goes away; the summer solstice is simply the longest day and the shortest night of the year.

Anyways….why is the Summer Solstice–the longest day of the year–so great? Don’t we always complain about our days being too long? “UGH, I’ve had the longest day.” “This day is never going to end.” Moreover, don’t we wish our nights out could be extended?: “I wish this night would last forever!” “Sleep is for when you’re dead!” 

So even though it seems that most people would rather have shorter days and longer nights, everyone gets alllll excited for the Summer Solstice.  Perhaps we’re more excited about its second meaning–the first day of summer.

But again, conflict.  

Yes, it wasn’t summer until….today. So when you swam in the ocean and got all tan and ate lobster rolls and went to that outdoor music festival and passed all your final exams and sweat in the 90 degree heat and barbequed almost every night, that was…the spring. And once September 1st rolls around and you go back to school and you pull out all your sweaters and peaches are no longer sweet and you can’t go out galivanting in the city without said sweater awkwardly stuffed in your bag, it’s…still summer.

But please, by all means..enjoy this longest of days. And Happy Summer!