Longest day of the 2025 nears. What to know ahead of summer solstice.
Things are getting hot across the country, and summer has not even officially begun.
The summer solstice will occur on Friday, June 20, and it will be both the longest day and shortest night of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The summer solstice also marks the start of the Pagan holiday, Litha, also known as Midsummer, according to the Boston Public Library. The holiday celebrates the beginning of summer and is celebrated with hilltop bonfires and dancing.
With the summer solstice near, here is everything people need to know about the grand occasion.
The summer solstice will take place on Friday, June 20, at 10:42 p.m. ET, according to Space.com.
The summer solstice marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere will greet winter with its winter solstice.
"The Northern Hemisphere's tilt toward the Sun is greatest on this day," according to NASA. "This means the Sun travels its longest, highest arc across the sky all year for those north of the equator."
During the summer solstice, the tilt brings the Earth's northernmost point closer to the sun, resulting in more sunlight. The solstice itself only lasts moments, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
The date of the summer solstice can fall at any point between June 20 and June 22, depending on the year, according to the NWS.
In 2024, the solstice fell on Thursday, June 20.
Several locations around the world are particularly known for celebrating the solstice, including Newgrange in Ireland. Solstices are often associated with pagan religions and draw revelers of different faiths.
One of the most famous solstice celebrations takes place at the ancient Stonehenge ruins in Wiltshire, England, where many gather to herald the season.
Pagans come by the thousands to Stonehenge, the prehistoric ruins of a monument built between approximately 3100 and 1600 BC. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the UK, but little is known about the civilization that built it or why, as these ancient peoples left no written records behind.
Many theories exist as to the original purpose of Stonehenge, including the following:
A burial site
An astronomical observatory
A religious or worship site
A sort of gesture or symbol
A place of ritual or healing
Regardless, it has been the subject of many myths, stories and folklore.
It was during the 20th century that Stonehenge became a site of religious significance to people who subscribed to New Age beliefs, including Neopaganism and Neo-Druids, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. When constructed, the stone circle was aligned with the sun, and to this day, thousands of people gather to witness the moment the sun peeks perfectly through its pillars.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is the summer solstice? 2025's longest day of the year.
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