First Day of Summer 2013 Solstice Dates Times Photos

Kite surfer ends his day with a sunset and a walk in the river.

Credit: Michelle Novak

The Summer Solstice

Each year, the timing of the solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This occurs annually on June 20 or June 21 in North America, depending on your time zone.

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. In the winter, just the opposite occurs: The Sun is at its southernmost point and is low in the sky. Its rays hit the Northern Hemisphere at an oblique angle, creating the feeble winter sunlight.

The Sun is directly overhead at its most northern point at "high-noon" on the summer solstice, creating more sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere on this day then any other. See your local Sun rise and set times—and how the day length changes!

Sensational Summer Slideshow

Celebrate the best of summer! Take a moment to enjoy this beautiful slideshow of reader photos!

Enjoy all readers' photos and submit you own to share with family and friends. See the free Summer ECard Gallery!

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.

Signs of Summer

Everyone loves summer! Filled with trips to the beach, sunny skies, and lazy days, summer is the time of year when the weather gets its warmest.

What are signs of summer? Temperatures rise. The water levels in ponds, lakes, and rivers drop. Lightning bugs brighten the night sky. Nature’s efforts in the spring to fully bloom prove fruitful as the green leaves of various trees shake and rattle in the cool summer breezes and flowers grace our gardens.

It’s also the time of year that is notorious for all sorts of bothersome pests. Mosquitoes, horseflies, and ticks attack our arms and legs, while squirrels, slugs, and innumerable numbers of bugs attack our gardens. See our Pests & Problems page.

You can track when the seasons change by recording animal behaviors and the way that the plants grow. Listen to the new sounds and observe what you hear and see.

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

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.

More Articles:

Seasons

Comments

Wow, no wonder so many are so

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By celtblood on May 21

Wow, no wonder so many are so confused about what the solstices are and represent.

In terminology as simple as I can make it, the astronomical year is divided into two parts, based on the trek (course) of the Sun, which are the time the Sun is waxing in energy and the time it is waning in energy. Those times are marked by a high (climactic) point and a low point. The high point comes at Midsummer, which is why it's called MID-Summer, with the low point coming at Midwinter (again, which is why it's called MID-Winter). The regional weather has nothing whatsoever to do with it, it is-- again-- based on the position and energy ratio of the Sun. The equinoxes are simply the cross-points of these two annual events. Again, these are based on an astrological event, not on local weather patterns.

It is important to know these facts because they are basic Earth science, though it seems not all agree they are important. Of course, there are those who still find themselves wondering what keeps the water in the oceans, so I will qualify my comments by stating that I am only addressing these facts for the benefit of those who do actually care.

When was the last full moon

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By Gar Yancey

When was the last full moon that occurred on july 4, in the U.S.?

I'm not sure, but you can go

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By Catherine Boeckmann

I'm not sure, but you can go back in time with the Moon Phase Calendar: http://www.almanac.com/moon/calendar

Thank you Jamie38! Love you

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By ConAnon

Thank you Jamie38! Love you too!

I LOVE YOU ALL.... Love and

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By Jamie38

I LOVE YOU ALL....
Love and light to each and every one of you lovely souls.
From me to you all, one fish and one kiss,im working on the bread.
My love to you all is eternal.
Jamie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
I luv u, yes YOU!!!!

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?

Solstice smolstice! It is

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By Silly Me

Solstice smolstice! It is June 20 and "Who cares??", is my hero. Am going outside to play today in spite of the importance of this earth-shatteringly important discussion. Am looking forward to celebrating Soltice tonight no matter what you call it.

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.

As I have already pointed out

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By Lyndon Stivers

As I have already pointed out to the editors of our beloved Old Farmers' Almanac, the Summer Solstice is NOT the "first day" of Summer. It is the MIDDLE of Summer, with Summer having begun on the first of May. It takes very little research to confirm this, yet it is, sadly, a common mistake. Just as with the Winter Solstice being incorrectly designated the "first day" of Winter when it has been referred to throughout the centuries as Midwinter (and still is occasionally in some almanacs and calendars), so it is with Midsummer.

Any way you look at it, to call June 20th the first day of Summer is just plain wrong. It would be wonderful if the Old Farmers' Almanac could be the ones to correct this mistake and set the bar back where it should be.

Thank you, Lyndon Stivers,

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By GlennR

Thank you, Lyndon Stivers, for your efforts to fight this bogus and insidious "official first day of summer" myth.

I mean, really?? Who really

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By Who cares??

I mean, really?? Who really cares? Is this how you're spending the time left in the precious life that's been given to you? Why don't you read the other posts where people spend summer actually having fun.

I care and if you don't then

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By Pup

I care and if you don't then why do you care if I care? now who's wasting life's precious time?

It is a big pleasure for me

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By aerobic

It is a big pleasure for me to visit your blog and to enjoy your exclusive posts here. I like that very much. I can see that you paid much attention for those posts, as all of them make sense and are very useful. Thank you very much for sharing. I can be very good reader & listener. Appreciate your work!

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!

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.

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 on May 3

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.