First Day of Summer 2013 Solstice Dates Times Photos

Credit: Michelle Novak

When is the Summer Solstice?

The solstice heralds the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2013, the solstice falls on Friday, June 21 at 5:04 Universal time, which is 1:04 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time and 12:04 A.M. Central Daylight Time.

But this year, the solstice happens on Thursday, June 20 for places in North America west of the Central Time Zone, occuring at 11:04 P.M Mountain Daylight Time and 10:04 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time.

The timing of the solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator.

The word solstice is from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time (and again at the winter solstice).

In temperate regions, we notice that the Sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, and its rays strike Earth at a more direct angle, causing the efficient warming we call summer.

This summer solstice is the day with the most hours of sunlight during the whole year.

Click for YOUR local Sun rise and set times—and how the day length changes!

10 Ways to Celebrate Summer

How will you celebrate the solstice and all that extra daylight? Here are 10 ideas from the editors—plus, some "summer essentials" from our Almanac.com General Store!

Light a bonfire: The solstice day was traditionally celebrated by dancing around the bonfires. Check out our dramatic fire bowls and fire pits.
Go fishin': We love to get out on the water. Consult our free Best Days for Fishing chart—plus, tackle-box and bait tips.
Plant a seed or a tree: Traditionally, to the farmer, the solstice is the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvesting, and an occasion for celebration. Browse our neat seeds kits and containers.
Cook outside: There's nothing as tasty as grilled food. Have a big cook-out on the solstice. Get a taste of our mouthwatering Grilling and BBQ sauces.
Camp: Plan a camp-out to enjoy the great outdoors whether it's a tent in the backyard or a cabin in the woods! Check out the camping store page for some fun ideas. Don't forget the best natural insect repellent on Earth to enjoy the outdoors in peace.
Listen to songbirds: We love our feathered friends. Attact birds to your garden with our beautiful bird feeders.
Get pampered. Midsummer Day, near the solstice, was said to make old people look younger. It was also thought that walking barefoot in the dew would keep one's skin from getting chapped. Summer certainly does cure the winter dries. You can also check out popular gardener's lotions and fisherman's soaps to soften calloused working hands. There's even an "annulment of time" rejuvenating cream!
Let the light in! With all this extra daylight, hang one of our gorgeous suncatchers or decorative accents for your window or porch. Here is the Almanac suncatcher, shot in our town of Dublin, NH, against the backdrop of Dublin Lake.
Read a book. Temperatures rise and lazy days ensue. Relax on the beach or the porch and read up on gardening tips, natural health, and more. See our great books and guides.
Watch the night sky! In ancient Egypt, the new year was celebrated when the star Sirius rose around the time of sunrise. This roughly coincided with the summer solstice and the annual flooding of the Nile River. Click for our free monthly Sky Map and explore the night sky fom your own backyard!

Summer Dreaming?

Take a moment to dream! Click to see stunning pictures celebrating summer!

Did You Know?

Question: Why isn’t the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, also the hottest day of the year?

Answer: Earth’s atmosphere, land, and oceans absorb part of the incoming energy from the Sun and store it, releasing it back as heat at various rates. Water is slower to heat (or cool) than air or land. At the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives the most energy (highest intensity) from the Sun due to the angle of sunlight and day length. However, the land and oceans are still relatively cool, due to spring’s temperatures, so the maximum heating effect on air temperature is not felt just yet. Eventually, the land and, especially, oceans will release stored heat from the summer solstice back into the atmosphere. This usually results in the year’s hottest temperatures appearing in late July, August, or later, depending on latitude and other factors. This effect is called seasonal temperature lag.

Summer Folklore and Verse

Deep snow in winter, tall grain in summer.–Estonian proverb

When the summer birds take their flight, goes the summer with them.

If it rains on Midsummer's Eve, the filbert crops will be spoiled.–Unknown

One swallow never made a summer.

Easterly winds from May 19 to the 21 indicate a dry summer.

If there are many falling stars during a clear summer evening, expect thunder. If there are none, expect fine weather.

When does fall start? Click here to see the first date of each season.

What does summer mean to you? Share your comment below!

More Articles:

Seasons

Comments

Mulberries...

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By fistula on June 19

Mulberries...

I live in o side ca and I

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By Michelle r on June 19

I live in o side ca and I will ccntinue. To kiss the sunset away as we do every day when as the sun sets on a beautiful day omg I love life,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I am a cancer girl you know that I am loving it,,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring on summer solstice I love my man, and he loves me! He is the greatest man in the world or to watch him surf in to the sunset might be good as well or paddle out with him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or go to the sun set fair on Thursday night. Enjoy your summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I was a youngster,

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By The old man Dan on June 17

When I was a youngster, living in the northern latitudes, I place rocks on the north side of the house that marked the shadows of the summer and winter solstice and that of the equinox. While others celebrated the First Day of Spring, I celebrated the arrival of Sunshine on the rock equinox! The Day marked the moment when the sun arrived on OUR side of the equator! On that day I would skip school and in later years, take the day off work, in celebration!

But even at a young tender age, I had noticed that the rock nearest the house, would be in sunshine for only a few days. I watched the lengthening shadows after the summer solstice in June, and as a teen, realized that late June must actually be mid-summer!

I also knew it would be a short time before the sun would warm waters enough to go swimming! But the first day of summer meant school was out, and I would play and frolic
till the lengthening shadow nearly reached the rock of The Equinox!

Since the tropic of cancer

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By HPL on June 16

Since the tropic of cancer marks the northward limit of the sun, and I live north of that line, how can the sun shine on the north wall of my house in the morning and afternoon in the summer?

At the summer solstice, the

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By Almanac Staff on June 18

At the summer solstice, the Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, which means that there will be no shadow at that location at that point in time. This is the farthest north the Sun will be overhead. (At any point north of this line, except at the pole where it is totally dark in winter, you will always have some shadow.)

Except for Hawaii, all states in the United States, as well as all of Canada, are north of the Tropic of Cancer. In summer, the Sun will rise in the northeast and set in the northwest. However, the arc the Sun travels in the sky during the day is tilted toward the south, and in summer part of that arc crosses the east-west line to hover in the south. So, from sunrise to sunset in the summer, the Sun will be located in the sky in these approximate directions relative to your position:

Northeast (sunrise)
East (when the Sun crosses the East-West line)
Southeast
South (at local noon, Sun is highest overhead for the day)
Southwest
West (when the Sun again crosses the East-West line)
Northwest (sunset)

So, as I understand it, for a northern wall of a house with no obstructions, you'll need the Sun to be in a northerly direction. In the continental US and Canada, this happens in summer in the early morning (about northeast) and late afternoon (about northwest).

Although I totally agree that

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By Mickey2371

Although I totally agree that June 20th etc is actually mid -summer,and Dec 21st is actually the middle of winter, I also take note that statistically the highest and lowest average temperatures usually occur Aug 1st-6th, and coldest, Feb 1 thru Feb 5th. This is due to the earth needing time to heat up, or cool down. Like a pot of water on a fire, once it heats up, and the heat is removed, the water takes a while to cool off. Thus Gregour and Pup above in their comments are quite correct. Look at the average tempatures and you will see that they are the highest in the first week of August, and lowest the first week of February. This is because the Earth needed time to heat/cool and the waining less direct sun has little effect until the heat or coolness it retained starts to wear off. As such the June 21st/ Dec 21st dates are not to far off LOGICALLY since the maximum effect is reached 6 weeks later.

I'm mad!!! Since when is the

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By Tree

I'm mad!!! Since when is the first day of Summer on June 20??? My birthday ( and my daughter's) is on June 21 and THAT is the first day of Summer! Has been forever. Summer used to slide in about 1AM on June 21...we are bummed When did this abomination happen? Is this "global warming"? Does anyone have an answer?

It's different every year and

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By Kban11 on June 19

It's different every year and not just for the summer solstice.

The first day of summer (or

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By The Stargeezer on June 9

The first day of summer (or any of the seasons for that matter) are not calendar events, they are astronomical events. Summer starts when the Sun reaches its furthest point north of the equator (the Tropic of Cancer). This year that is at 1:04am EDT on June 21. However, if you live in Mountain Time (like I do) it will be at 11:04pm on June 20. It has nothing at all to do with "global warming."

It's not exactly the same

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By Joe Schnell on May 30

It's not exactly the same time every year. If the year has a leap day (Feb 29), the summer soltace will occur on June 21. The year prior to leap year, the summer soltace will happen on June 20. Also, it varies depending on your time zone.

All the comments,

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By JuneBug28

All the comments, meteorological, astronomical, and historical are science combined with tradition. It is the first OFFICIAL day of summer! Celebrate!!

Anyone familiar with the

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By Flyingwaters

Anyone familiar with the ancient Chinese calendar. I always remembered that spring began when the sap starts running, around the first of Feb. (Groundhog's to the west), spring beginning when the life energy begins to "rise" again out of the earth pushing sap and growth. You can actually "feel" the life energy in the air around that time. And likewise all the other seasons where earlier due to this theory. To me it is a very "energetic" based calendar, I like that becasue thats all everything is - energy (Enstein).

A little insight into the

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By DruidJames

A little insight into the Druid outlook...
Summer Solstice “Litha”
Litha, Mid-summer. The summer solstice. June 21st. (This year on the 20th. Actually)
A time of great magical power. This holiday is also known as Mid-Summer festival.
The Cauldron is the main focal point in this celebration; it is ringed with fresh flowers and filled with spring water. This celebration is also a time for rededicating or initiations to the craft. A major symbolic gesture in ritual a sword is plunged into the cauldron, that sword would be used to anoint new members into the craft or to honor advancement in the craft.
Bonfire leaping is done to celebrate the renewal of the season and what this season brings forth from the Earth. It is also said it gives you luck for the coming year.
The first fresh herbs are hung around the fire to be blessed and cleansed from the smoke. After the herbs have been cleansed they are placed on the altar for blessings. Mugwort is one of the leading old school herbs and if you can find some really makes the ritual sing.
Mirrors are placed around the fire or altar to reflect the sun or candle light.
The traditional colors for altar and such are white, orange, and red.
Traditionally this celebration was started at high noon and would continue into the wee hours of morn. Modern Wiccans try to at least have a feast and celebration during mid day when the sun god is highest in the sky. The green Man is honored during the celebration as well and his renewed energies and the preparations for fall harvest are planned.

Living in Alaska we get 22

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By AK girl

Living in Alaska we get 22 hrs of sun on the solstice. Nothing like bbqing outside after midnight with full sun! The sad part is after the solstice, we start losing daylight. In the winter we get 5 hrs and that's not much!

Jesus was born in "April" or

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By Skippy Magrue on June 19

Jesus was born in "April" or the first full moon after the spring solstice. An old Jewish guy told me that. But if you read the Bible, he really was born in the spring because it coincided with tax collecting and shepherds in the fields.

I hit the wrong reply button.

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By Skippy Magrue on June 19

I hit the wrong reply button. The comment above should be one main comment down. Please excuse me.

My kids used to get

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By odot

My kids used to get frustrated with me for celebrating May 1 as the start of summer, August 15 as the start of fall, November 1 as the start of Winter, and February 2 as the start of Spring. As many readers have noted, however, the cross-quarter days do make more sense as the starts of seasons, with the mid-points being equinoxes and solstices. (That one should celebrate the start of summer just as the days start to get shorter is simply bizarre!) The Church in her wisdom marked these days as well, drawing on ancient tradition, with the summer solstice around the time of John the Baptist's birth ("he must increase, but I must decrease") followed 6 months later by the celebration of Jesus' birth, and preceded 3 months earlier (vernal equinox) by the Annunciation, which would have announced to Mary the birth 9 months later (Dec 25) of her son. (The Church supposed that the annunciation to Zechariah of John's birth occurred about September 25, i.e., about the time of the high feast of Yom Kippur in the Temple. Of course, Mar 25 (or thereabouts) was also the time for the events of Good Friday/Easter so the Church also understood Jesus to have been conceived about the time of his death and resurrection. May 1 was the feast of Saint Joseph, concluding the summer with the feast of Mary (Aug 15). Winter began with the remembrance of All the Saints who have died in Christ and concluded with the Feast of the Purification of Mary (Feb 2). Yes, the ancients -- from sages to farmers -- were MUCH more aware than most of us are of the cycles of the seasons and what they can teach us and how we can see in them a much greater teaching about things that transcend time.

Very insightful and informed

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By Ana on June 7

Very insightful and informed post. Too bad this is not well known or accepted by traditional Christians. I am Christian, but understand the Church, ran by men, has deceived, killed, and misdirected millions of believers. They melded paganism and the bible and that is the reason so many Christian holidays coincide with much more ancient Pagan holidays and important dates.

Wow...That is the most

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By Anonymous5

Wow...That is the most heretical view of Christian teachings I have ever heard! Talk about mixing pagan and Christian views! John was not talking about seasons - he was pointing out that the Son of God was more important than he was (it was very literal). The rest sounds like some kind of dogmatic mumbo jumbo.

No offense intended here, but

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By celtblood

No offense intended here, but the entire paradigm of Christianity is filled with mixtues of Paganism and what eventually became Christianity. The early (yet forming) Church loved "dogmatic mumbo jumbo", and yes, they did indeed adjust their liturgical calendar to match up with existing Pagan celebrations, as to make the transition from the Old Religions to the New Religion more acceptable to the masses. I suggest you read up on the tempest that was first century Christianity, and how the failing Roman Empire became involved and heavily influenced things. I would especially suggest you take a close look at the Council of Nicaea, as well as subsequent councils, and how the Bible was put together and edited, and the beliefs of the New Religion were voted on and eventually shaped and defined. You'll find a lot of Greek Paganism in there. It's a fascinating study, and one well worth undertaking.

I love this article. Summer

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By speakermaguire

I love this article. Summer to me means time with family, a much slower pace, enjoying the out of doors, more excercise outside, bike rides, running and really having a lot of fun! YEAH Summer!

Regarding the comments about

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By Cinderbel

Regarding the comments about using garlic to ward off mosquitoes: Please, please, please do not give garlic to dogs or cats. It is toxic to them, can cause gastrointestinal problems, red blood cell damage and kidney damage - and the owner might not even know the damage is being done! Please spread the word and improve the lives of our pets.

Thank you, Cinderbel. We have

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By Almanac Staff

Thank you, Cinderbel. We have decided to remove the garlic comment.

I think you might consider

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By Val Popov

I think you might consider rephrasing "There is a lag time between sunlight being produced and it actually hitting Earth." The lag time is only about 8 minutes and 19 seconds from when it is produced to when it actually hits earth. You may have chosen your words better, and what I think you meant, by saying that the sun's energy is stored in the earth's atmosphere and oceans, and this stored heat continues to dissipate after the summer solstice to keep the earth warm even until later in the summer. The opposite happens six months later in the winter, as this "lag" period keeps the earth cooler longer, even after the nights get shorter.

Thank you, Val Popov-- all

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By Lyndon Stivers

Thank you, Val Popov-- all that you state is true. That said, again, none of these considerations have any bearing whatever upon the Solstices. They are when they are, and they are always the mid-point of the Suns' astronomical cycle.

you mean the solstices are

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By Pup

you mean the solstices are the high and low point respectively, the mid points are the equinoxes.

Thank you for your feedback.

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By Almanac Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We have revised our copy to (hopefully) make things clearer.

A photon 'produced' in the

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By Anonymousrty

A photon 'produced' in the sun may bounce around for a thousand years before it breaches and can then begin the short journey here.

There are several

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By Almanac Staff

There are several interpretations as to when each season begins.
In North America, calendars commonly use the astronomical definition. It is true that various countries, cultures, religions, organizations, and individuals may use definitions other than the astronomical. Because we are an almanac that provides astronomical data, however, that’s why we use the astronomical definition. For our weather predictions, however, we start with a more meteorological definition by providing Nov-March “winter” predictions, Apr-May for spring, June-Aug for summer and Sept/Oct for fall. Hope this is helpful. --Your OFA editors

No, you do not use the

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By Lyndon Stivers

No, you do not use the astronomical definition, as the astronomical definition places the middle of Summer on June 20th and the middle of Winter on the 21st of December this year, with no variance whatsoever. If you're calling June 20th the "beginning of Summer" and December 21st the "Beginning of Winter", I'm really not sure what definition you're using (possibly rolling dice or consulting a magic eight ball), but it most certainly is not the astronomical definition.