Everything to know about Summer Solstice 2025 including how to celebrate special event
Thousands of Brits are set to mark the summer solstice which signifies the end of spring
The Summer Solstice is a major celestial event celebrated in various ways across the globe. The longest day of the year is very special, as it sees people from all walks of life embrace traditions and festivities to honour the day.
This year, Summer Solstice will take place on June 21. Ancient standing stones like those in Kilmartin Glen and Machrie Moor are great to visit for the occasion, and thankfully, the weather looks to pick up just in time.
But what actually is the Summer Solstice? And how will it affect what time the sun rises and sets? Well, the team at Slingo have put together a guide explaining if the solstice is lucky and what it means among other helpful questions.
"The summer solstice represents not only the astronomical peak of the Sun's power but also a profound moment of connection between humanity and the cosmos," said Dom Aldworth, Head of Brand Marketing at Slingo.
"It is a time when cultures across the globe celebrate the enduring cycles of nature, recognising the solstice as a powerful symbol of renewal, vitality, and the boundless energy of the Sun."
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight, marking the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun.
For the Northern Hemisphere, this typically happens around June 20-22 each year. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs around December 20-23.
Is the Summer Solstice lucky?
The concept of the summer solstice being "lucky" varies across cultures and traditions.
Many ancient civilisations viewed the summer solstice as a time of great power and spiritual significance, often celebrating it with festivals and rituals to harness the supposed energy and blessings of the Sun. While the idea of luck is subjective and culturally dependent, many see the Summer Solstice as a time for new beginnings, prosperity, and positive energy.
What does it mean for people?
The Summer Solstice has both scientific and cultural meanings. The solstice marks the point when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year.
Socially, many cultures celebrate the solstice with festivals, rituals, and gatherings. It is often associated with themes of renewal, fertility, and the triumph of light over darkness.
For example, Midsummer celebrations in the UK and Scandinavia include bonfires, dancing, and feasting.
What do people do on the Summer Solstice?
Festivals and gatherings are a major feature for many. Communities host festivals with music, dancing, and feasting.
Elsewhere, some people participate in rituals to honour the Sun, including bonfires, singing, and offerings. Outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and picnics are also popular as people take advantage of the extended daylight.
Historical sites are a must, too. Visiting ancient monuments like Stonehenge or the Scottish equivalents where the alignment of stones marks the solstice sunrise is a popular activity.
What Time Will the Sun rise and set?
The exact times for sunrise and sunset on the summer solstice depends on your specific location.
But for us here in the UK, on June 21, the sun will rise at 4:43am and the sun will set at 9:21pm.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Aldi selling bargain £6 travel gadget essential that's ideal for summer holidays
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS the summer months arrive, many Brits will be planning their next dream European holiday adventure. Whether you're looking for sunshine on the Costa del Sol or a city break in central Europe, keeping your phone charged will be essential. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 EU Travel Adapter Credit: Aldi 2 Reading, United Kingdom – June 21 2018: Aldi Supermarket Entrance Credit: Getty But travelling always comes with the confusion of what plug points and adaptors might be needed. This critical travel gadget is now selling at a bargain price from one of the UK's top retailers. Tourists looking to travel to Europe might want to take note of the stellar offer. Aldi is selling EU travel plug adaptors for just £5.99 while stocks last. These adaptors are a lifeline for tourists who might need to charge their phone while out and about on European holidays. But these adaptors don't just include a standard plug conversion. They also feature a USB A and USB C wire adaptor to make the plug point even more versatile. It has a maximum load of 10Amps. Aldi's website reads: "Have your electronics and charging devices ready when travelling with this EU Travel Adapter." The product is available to buy for the bargain price on Aldi's website. For anyone looking to sleep soundly without overheating, Aldi's Slumberdown Cooling Pillows might be a great buy. And at only £7.99 each, they're not going to break the bank and are more than £45 cheaper than the John Lewis version.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Tourists risk hefty fines for having popular holiday item on European beaches this summer
Holidaymakers jetting off to some of Europe's most popular beach resorts this summer could face fines of up to £1,700 if they're caught with one popular holiday item British holidaymakers could be slapped with fines of up to £1,700 this summer if they're nabbed on the beach with one banned item. The restrictions will kick in from July 1 in France, while other favourite tourist hotspots like Spain and Italy have already enforced the ban. In Britain, there are roughly 5.6 million vapers, according to data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), with many adopting the habit in an attempt to quit smoking. While we're accustomed to people vaping publicly and legally, Brits jetting off abroad could unknowingly rack up hefty fines on beaches where vaping is prohibited. Numerous European countries, such as France, Barcelona, and Benidorm, are implementing stricter vaping regulations as reported by the Mirror, which can lead to severe penalties for tourists. These are the vaping regulations you need to be clued up on before your summer holiday.... France From July 1, France will ban smoking in outdoor areas frequented by children, including beaches, parks, schools, bus stops, and sports venues. This is part of a broader initiative that began in 2011 with a beach ban and has since expanded. Those caught flouting these laws could face fines of up to €135 (£115). Spain Spain has been notably proactive in expanding its smoke-free areas, often equating vaping with smoking. In 2024, the Spanish Medical Association introduced new anti-smoking regulations that also cover vaping in public spaces such as beaches and restaurant terraces. Several popular Spanish beaches have implemented vaping bans, including L'Albir Beach in Alicante, Levante and Poniente Beaches in Benidorm, Barceloneta, Nova Icaria, and Bogatell in Barcelona, and Malvarrosa Beach in Valencia. Tourists caught flouting the rules may face penalties of up to €2,000 – a hefty sum amounting to around £1,700. Greece In Greece, EU Health Ministers approved more stringent anti-smoking policies in December 2024, introducing a ban on outdoor vaping areas such as beaches. Violators could find themselves facing fines of up to €500, translating to £420. Italy The situation in Italy is varied, with regulations dependent on the town or district. The beach town of Bibione in Veneto led the charge towards a smoke-free coast in 2019, with others following suit. Major cities like Milan have clamped down on vaping in busy outdoor spots, imposing fines from €40 (£33) to €240 (£200). Portugal Portugal has moved to restrict vaping on its beaches as well, although the specifics might vary across regions, so holidaymakers are urged to familiarise themselves with local rules before visiting. Sharing tips for those planning a getaway, Dan Marchant, Director of Vape Club, remarked: "As vaping regulations continue to change, it's important for travellers to stay up to date with the local laws to avoid any unexpected fines or more serious consequences. Always check local legislation before you travel. "This can be done through the foreign office website or the customs department of the country you're visiting. Some countries have strict rules not only about where you can vape, but also whether you can bring your vaping device into the country at all. It's worth doing a bit of research ahead of time to avoid issues at the border or during your stay. "In some destinations, buying vaping supplies may be difficult and possibly even illegal. If it is allowed, bring what you need - but we would advise you to double-check import limits. If you are travelling to a vaping-friendly destination by plane, remember to pack your batteries and vaping devices in your carry-on luggage. This ensures they remain in a pressure-controlled environment, as they're not allowed in checked baggage."
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment axe-wielding anti tourist mob surrounds Brits in Majorca chanting ‘go home' & ‘go to hell' sparking cop scuffle
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the terrifying moment anti-tourist protesters swarmed a table of dining Brits and chanted "go home" and "go to hell". Officers were called to reports of the ambush in central Palma on Sunday afternoon, where demonstrators mobbed groups of tourists enjoying a meal in the Majorcan sun. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 One protester was seen wielding an axe Credit: Solarpix 6 Mass anti-tourism protests have erupted across Spain over the last few months Credit: Reuters 6 Tourists enjoying a meal in the town centre were struck with loud chants Credit: Reuters One protester was even caught wielding an axe amid the deafening jeers. Mass anti-tourism protests started erupting across Spain last year, amid concerns holidaymakers were driving rising costs and job insecurity. In a video shared online, protesters are seen jeering at tourists whilst holding placards inscribed with the words: "Mallorca is not for sale" and "Mallorca is not your cash home". Demonstrators are also heard shouting: "As you come I have to go" and "No balconing" - a reference to the drunken craze of jumping off balconies into swimming pools. Regional governors have since criticised the group of noisy activists who turned up banging drums and later surrounded the upmarket eatery Cappuccino Borné. Hotel chain boss Gabriel Llobera also condemned the incident, calling the protests unfair on local businesses accommodating the tourists. He said: 'The tourists that were targeted were sat on terraces provided by business leaders who to be able to receive them have paid their taxes and done things correctly. 'We condemn the anti-social acts we saw yesterday.' Today, the Balearic Islands Government vice-president Antoni Costa called the behaviour "unacceptable" on a local radio station, but insisted the mob only made up a small minority of the Balearic people. He said: 'This type of behaviour is not acceptable. This government condemns and rejects the actions of a small minority of people who rebuked tourists who were relaxing on a terrace having a drink or eating.' He added: 'Abandoning tourism would be madness. We're a tourist economy and we're proud to be so. Anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers with water guns & block hotels 'I think people are deluding themselves if they think that in the Balearic Islands it's possible to do mostly other things than tourism. 'What guarantees the future of tourism is to taking into account the social and environmental sustainability factor. Looking the other way is not the right way to go. 'We must implement policies that allow us to move from an economy that basically grows in volume to an economy that grows in value.' Yesterday's march in Palma followed a similar string of incidents in Barcelona, where an anti-tourist mob surrounded a hotel and shot at holidaymakers with water pistols. Congregating outside the hotel, the group launched flares and held placards claiming tourism was robbing them of their futures. What is overtourism? Overtourism refers to the phenomenon where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism Some solutions include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations Staff at a nearby hotel were seen trying to break up the crowds and shouting at protesters to move away. Police stepped in before protesters could reach the famous tourist hot-spot la Sagrada Familia, avoiding potential clashes between holidaymakers and locals. Shouts of 'Tourists Go Home' and 'One More Tourist, One Less Local' could be heard as activists marched through the streets. They were also heard shouting: 'This tourism is terrorism.' City police said only 600 people had taken part, far less than the 8,000 who took part in the protest in Palma. Other marches took place in the Basque city of San Sebastian, several cities in Italy and in Lisbon as part of a co-ordinated series of street protests in southern Europe. This comes as thousands flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in May. Demonstrations took place across the Spanish archipelago's islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. The march carried the slogan: "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended." Other banners read: "The Canary Islands have a limit and so does our patience" and "Enough is enough!" Spain's anti-mass tourism movement began gaining serious momentum in April 2024 - particularly in popular tourist destinations. Locals have been demanding an end to the problems associated with mass tourism, including pollution, traffic chaos, the lack of affordable housing and low wages for tourism workers. 6 Demonstrators used water pistols during a protest against mass tourism in Barcelona Credit: Reuters 6 People were caught spraying tourists eating meals Credit: The Mega Agency
