15 Surprising Secrets About the Summer Solstice You Never Knew

Ever wonder how the longest day of the year sneaks up and tricks us into thinking summer’s all about endless sunshine and beach bonfires? Well, the summer solstice is that sneaky stellar event, and it doesn’t just hand you extra daylight for free—it’s packed with quirky history, cosmic quirks, and global celebrations that might just blow your mind. From the sun ‘standing still’ to midnight baseball games in Alaska, and the Earth chilling farthest from the sun when it’s supposed to be the hottest—there’s more to this day than meets the eye. So, grab your sunscreen (don’t forget the easy-to-miss spots!), and dive into 15 fascinating facts that make the start of summer a wagon full of wonder and whimsy. Brace yourself for some serious solstice enlightenment! LEARN MORE

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, so soak up some of those direct sunbeams (safely, of course) and celebrate the start of summer with these 15 facts.

1. In 2025, the summer solstice falls on Friday, June 20.
2. On the summer solstice, the sun will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer.
3. The name comes from the fact that the sun appears to stand still.
4. One of the world’s biggest bonfires was part of a summer solstice celebration.
5. The hot weather follows the sun by a few weeks.
6. Thousands of people gather at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice.
7. Pagans celebrate the summer solstice with symbols of fire and water.
8. In ancient Egypt, the summer solstice heralded the new year.
9. The ancient Chinese honored the yin on the summer solstice.
10. In Alaska, the summer solstice is celebrated with a midnight baseball game.
11. The Earth is actually at its farthest from the sun during the solstice.
12. The summer solstice marks a dark time in science history.
13. An alternative calendar had an extra month named after the solstice.
14. In ancient Greece, the solstice festival marked a time of social equality.
15. Ancient Rome honored the goddess Vesta on the solstice.

In 2025, the summer solstice falls on Friday, June 20.