For people who live in the Northern Hemisphere of the world, today is the longest day of the year and the first official day of summer. In the Arctic Circle, there will be 24 hours of daylight!

The summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s axial tilt is closest to the sun. This occurs in late June for the Northern Hemisphere and late December for the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice is a significant time for many religions and cultures.

Today, people all over the world will mark this important milestone in the year with festivals, gatherings, and rituals.