Learn

June 21st marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. This is a piece of knowledge that we put in our brains every year and then tend to forget about. But to learn why this happens, and how people have acknowledged it over the years is quite fascinating.

When the North Pole turns roughly in the direction of the sun, it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere. On June 21st, when the North Pole is pointed toward the sun, people in the Northern Hemisphere experience the longest day and shortest night of the year. This is known as the Summer Solstice. The word Solstice comes from the Latin term that means “sun stood still.” The reason for this name is that during the time of the two solstices (there’s one in winter too), the sun appears to rise and set in practically the same place.

Now that you know what makes June 21st the longest day of the year, let’s take a look at how people recorded that day. The first thing you must keep in mind is that in ancient times, people did not have traditional clocks or calendars. They had to mark time using the sun. The oldest evidence of the recording or noting of time is believed to be dated back to a period called the “Old Stone Age,” which was approximately 30 thousand years ago. Marks have been found scratched, chipped or painted into pieces of bone, ivory and stone, and it is thought that these marked significant events in the sky such as a Full Moon.

In the “New Stone Age,” which was 6-8 thousand years ago, seasonal celebrations occurred. During this time, peoples lives depended on information about the seasons so they could grow herbs and hunt for food. This made the Summer Solstice a time to begin marking because many plants and animals were at their prime and people needed to note when this was happening.

They were very resourceful in the ancient times and marked the sun’s progress in interesting ways. One method was used by some Native Americans. On the longest day of the year, at the exact time of noon, the Sun would directly shine through a hole in the ceiling and onto a particular location on the floor. When the sunbeam hit this location, which only happened once a year, they would know that it was June 21st.

Another way people would mark the season/solstice was by watching the Sun or Moon from a fixed position. This method was frequently used throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. Stonehenge in England, is an example of this method. From this particular spot, it is believed that people may have used it as a calendar to celebrate the Summer and Winter Solstices. Keep reading to find out more about the mysterious Stonehenge!