Things To Do On the Summer Solstice
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.20.08
It sure doesn't feel like it in much of North America, but in the Northern Hemisphere it is the first day of summer, the longest day of the year, a time of celebration. Some solstice-related posts we have shown before:
Candle Night: What a lovely idea- turn out the electric lights, relax, take it slow and light a candle- read a book with your child, have a quiet dinner with a loved one. "A time to save energy, to think about peace, to think about people in distant lands who share your planet....Let's make a "wave of darkness" spread over the globe together." ::Candle Night
In London, you can paint yourself blue and go to Primrose Hill and impress all the other druids with this Stonehenge watch. Tell time, calculate solstices and play with your gnomon. ::Stonehenge watch
Rufus Wainright is proposing that on June 21st, the longest day of the year and the summer solstice, we all turn everything off (lights, fridge, computer, everything) from noon to midnight. "The time could be spent contemplating alone or with friends on the coming year and what personally one can do to save the planet." Oh, and clean out your fridge. ::Blackout Sabbath
Got any other bright ideas for the solstice? Let us know in comments!
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Oh my don't forget about dancing around the maypole. In Sweden, Midsommar is the biggest holiday of the year and includes eating herring (an eco-friendly fish in this part of the world) and taking a dip (of course it's not exactly summery here, but you are supposed to dip no matter how icy) and then either drinking a lot of beer and shots of aquavit - or not - dancing around the Maypole in traditional clothing...or not.
Or you can go down to Toronto Brickworks on Saturday for the farmers market (yum!) and some nature-related adventures. Perfect for kids, family and friends:)
Sweden has the greatest idea of celebrating this day with a huge dinner outside, handmade flower and twig crowns (so much fun to make), songs and dances around a huge twig and flower cross, and plenty of 'Schnapps'. Traditional dinner is various types of pickled herring, boiled baby potatoes with dill, smoked salmon and dark rye bread... mmmm! Check it out and have your own Midsummer Party!
I guess I'm in the rest of North America. Have fun in "much."
It's over 110 degrees F outside. We know what time of the year it is. Thanks for watching the lunar cycles for us.
Light a candle? That more heat. No cooking. No heat sources. Grab a cold glass of water and sit down and play a board game or something.
When I was a kid growing up in Northern British Columbia, the solstice meant two things (besides the beginning of summer): that the sun was up until after I was supposed to go to sleep, and later on, that it was twilight all night long. All-nighters are much easier as a young adult when the sun gets up at 3:30 in the morning. :)
With that in mind, the electric bill was much smaller at this time of year too.
I love the candle night idea!!