Summer solstice 2022

The festivities of summer solstice begin here in London. It is the celebration of the longest day of the year, falling this year on June 21 - marking the return of brighter evenings or us all.

Also known as midsummer or the estival solstice - boding well for anyone who suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or is wanting to soak up some extra vitamin D.

In the entire northern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between June 20 and 22 each year.

In UK we all enjoy  16 hours and 43 minutes of daylight. The sun compel us to rise very early as it rise at 4.43am and helps to celebrate the summer as it set at 9.22pm.

The solstice officially marks the beginning of the astronomical summer, which ends when the autumn equinox falls on September 22

when the  day and night will be at almost equal length on this date, as the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward into the northern hemisphere.

Astronomically and technically , the summer solstice occurs when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun and is directly above the Tropic of Cancer.

Traditionally, the summer solstice period fell between the planting and harvesting of crops, leaving people who worked the land time to relax. This is why June became the traditional month for weddings.

It might seem like a day to celebrate, but it actually signals the moment the sun's path stops moving northward in the sky, and the start of days becoming steadily shorter as the slow march towards winter begins.

Over the centuries, the June solstice has inspired many festivals and midsummer celebrations involving bonfires, picnics, singing, watching the sun rise and Maypole dancing. People in  towns and villages across Britain celebrate the day.