The First Day of Summer

The First Day of Summer, also known as the Summer Solstice, takes place when either of the Earth's poles reaches their maximum tilt towards the Sun. This happens twice a year, once in each hemisphere. The First Day of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is on the June solstice, with the season running until the September equinox, while the First Day of Summer in the Southern Hemisphere is on the December solstice, with the season running until the March equinox.

The First Day of Summer is the day with the longest period of daylight in its hemisphere (and the shortest night), and the moment the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky. The First Day of Summer has held significance since prehistoric times, being marked with festivals and rituals. It ushers in a season associated with hot and warm weather. In Mediterranean climates, the season is also associated with dry weather, while in other places, especially in Eastern Asia, where there are monsoons, it's associated with rainy weather.

Schools usually have summer break during the season, and the season is associated with traveling and vacationing, with the tourism, recreation, restaurant, and retail industries all at their peak. Time is often spent outdoors to take advantage of the good weather. Activities like going to the beach, having a picnic, and taking part in or watching baseball, softball, soccer, horse racing, volleyball, skateboarding, tennis, and golf are common. Water sports or activities like swimming, surfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, and tubing are a regular part of the season, too. Since 1896, the modern Olympics have been held every four years during the summer. The summer is also a popular time for animated movies to be released in theaters.

How to Observe The First Day of Summer

• Watch the sunrise and sunset.
• Go to the beach.
• Go swimming in a lake or an outdoor pool.
• Watch or play baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, or golf.
• Go on a hike or go for a bike ride.
• Go surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, or tubing.
• Plan a summer trip.
• Have a picnic or grill out. Eat foods associated with summer like watermelon, pineapple, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, pasta salad, grilled chicken, tomatoes, corn on the cob, ice cream, and S'mores. Enjoy summer drinks like lemonade, iced tea, Kool-Aid, or a cocktail.
• Watch a summer movie or animated movie. Maybe you can even watch it at a drive-in theater!
• Listen to songs that topped the charts during the summer months through the years.
• Listen to "First Day of Summer" or another song with summer vibes.
• Listen to Endless Summer by the Beach Boys or another classic "summer" album.

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