Celebrating the Summer Solstice
The summer solstice falls on June 20, 2020 this year and will mark the official beginning of summer! Summer is such a glorious time filled with making lots of memories with loved ones! You may not have thought a lot about the summer solstice before, but it actually has some unique history. Check out these interesting facts:
- The summer solstice is the longest day of the entire year and marks the day that the sun reaches the highest and northernmost point in the sky. What does that mean? Essentially, this day has the longest period of sunlight and the shortest night. In the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the beginning of summer. The word solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, sol (sun) and stitium (still) because on this day, the sun appears to have stopped moving.
- The summer solstice has a few historical symbols, including fire and spirals. With this day’s rich history, both date back to ancient dances that were performed, where people would join hands and follow the sun’s movment, forming a spiral motion through the streets.
- Another symbol is the strawberry. Native American’s associated the June full moon with the ripening of strawberries! Around this time, strawberries are most ripe (and delicious).
Here’s some ideas of things you can do with your family to mark the beginning of the summer solstice:
- Take in the sunrise and sunset. Both are particularly beautiful on this day. Grab a blanket and a cup of coffee and enjoy them from your porch or deck.
- Get outside! Enjoy all that nature has to offer and embark on a family hike or excursion. Houston is home to some beautiful parks and nature trails. Check out the Buffalo Bayou Park or Buffalo Bend Nature Park which is filled with breathtaking wetlands and is the perfect solitude for bird watchers.
- Visit your local farmers market. Houston’s Farmer’s Market is known for its diversity and food. The market provides the freshest produce, herbs/spices, meats, baked goods, flowers and more, all from hand-selected merchants which make the experience so unique. Don’t forget to snag those fresh strawberries that are in their prime!
- Go out for ice cream. Visit your favorite local ice cream hot spot and enjoy a refreshing treat! One of our favorites is Cloud 10 Creamery. They feature some of the best handcrafted ice cream and sorbet flavors including Nutella and marshmallows, PB&J and brown sugar cookies and cream.
If you are taking part in any of these activities, please remember to social distance and wear a face covering to protect yourself and those around you! We can still enjoy the beauty of nature and some of our favorite places as long as we all consider each other’s wellbeing and stay safe! May this be the most amazing summer for you and your family!
