From the Latin Sol meaning sun and sistere "cause to stand still"
We say a day, but really the Solstice is just one moment in time - UK time 3.42am tomorrow morning.
Some people will be joining the Druids at Stonehenge for an all night vigil and to watch the sunrise or heading to a Neolithic passage tomb on Anglesey where the inner burial chamber is lit up by a shaft of light as the sun rises.
In the past bonfires would have been lit and the solstice was once said to be the perfect time to gather herbs, especially Vervain, which was cultivated as a medicinal herb in Medieval times for use as a relaxant or nerve tonic.
Back Soon
Happy Summer Solstice!
ReplyDeleteThe sun is shining again here this morning, so it's going to be another hot day.
DeleteAnd now the nights will start getting longer...
ReplyDeletePerhaps if we don't think about it it won't happen!
Delete
ReplyDeleteA good solstice to you Sue. The years seems so brief now but the regularity of our relationship with the sun and moon still goes on.
It surprises me all the time how quickly the year flies by !
DeleteI saw that CADW had opened that burial chamber specially for this and back in April, had contemplated a trip up and an overnight stay, but didn't do anything about it (typical me). I should seize the day really and not let life drift by . . .
ReplyDeleteBlimey you never let life drift by - you are so busy!
DeleteAt least this year we can almost be guaranteed a dry dawn, a bonus for all the Druids.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely waking up to sunshine - if it lasts all summer I won't complain
DeleteWe'll be celebrating with Cork Poppers. And it's going to be super hot -- 90s F tomorrow. I'd love to be around for one of those traditional celebrations.
ReplyDeleteYou'll need some ice!
DeleteLong summer days are lovely, and the daylight is wonderful. Summer has definitely brought high temperatures, yesterday rose to 90 degrees F. Today is to be as hot.
ReplyDeleteNot quite so hot here but still warmer than usual
DeleteThe scientific diagram takes the awe away! 😄 You mean it's just measurements? Ha ha. It is amazing how they built these things, though, and how that shaft of light goes in! They knew more than we do.
ReplyDeleteYes, just measurements making one moment every year!
DeleteThank you for the wonderful solstice "lesson", Sue. I enjoyed reading about it. Here in my little corner of the world, I go by the meteorological calendar which states summer starts on June 1st and goes through the month of August. The signs outside on the land & the weather here in northernmost Indiana seem to dictate that way as well. ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteThere are all different ways of marking the summer season - more about this next week
DeleteI hope a lot of Vervain was collected because the world needs a good dose of nerve tonic right now.
ReplyDeleteCloudy here with no sun, so the solstice is lost here today. Hard to believe that the days will be getting shorter again, since it seems as if summer just started here.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.