Festivals
People in many places celebrate the shortest night of the year
In Poland, people celebrate the summer solstice, called “Noc Kupaly”. Photo
© Beata Zawrzel/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
For a few hours it seems like an endless twilight. Thousands celebrate the summer solstice.
The shortest night of the year was celebrated in many places with flower garlands, fire ceremonies and sun worship. The further north you go, the more this is noticeable, because in some places it didn’t get dark at all during the night.
For a few hours it seems like an endless twilight. The summer solstice is the largest time of the year between sunrise and sunset. Many countries use this to celebrate.
Thousands gathered at Stonehenge when the sun rose at 4:52 a.m. (local time, 5:52 a.m. CEST). Only a few days ago, activists from the Just Stop Oil organization sprayed the World Heritage site with orange powder, which they said was washable paint made from corn starch. There is probably no lasting damage. The solstice was awaited with drums, cheers and singing.
In Poland, too, people celebrate the summer solstice. The “Noc Kupaly” (Kupala Night) is an old Slavic festival from pagan times that falls on the shortest night of the year. Girls and young women collect herbs and weave flower wreaths, which they let slide into the water in the dark – in the hope that a young man will fish them out.
Midsummer and St. John
The time around the summer solstice is a festive period, especially in Scandinavia. In Sweden, the so-called Midsummer is celebrated extensively – and has been for about 2000 years. Currently, the festival is always celebrated on the weekend between June 20th and 26th. In 2024, the “Midsummer” will therefore take place on June 22nd.
In Denmark, people celebrate the evening of “St. Hans”. The most important accessory for Midsummer, especially for Scandinavians, is the flower wreath. This is usually made from fresh flowers and worn on the head. Everyone then dances around the maypole and celebrates extensively.
The timing of the summer solstice varies slightly each year because the Earth’s orbit and the length of the year do not quite match up. Most often, the summer solstice falls on June 21, but can also occur on June 20 or 22.