The summer solstice took place this week in the Northern Hemisphere—its earliest arrival in more than two centuries. The longest day of the year, and the shortest night, the solstice marks the astronomical start of summer.
Humans have observed the occasion since the Stone Age and continue to do so around the world with feasts, bonfires, picnics and songs.
During the summer solstice, the sunrise aligns perfectly with Stonehenge's Heel Stone. How and why prehistoric man built the massive stone structures remains unanswered.
The summer solstice was a day of great significance for many past civilizations. Learn more about how different cultures, from the Ancient Greeks to the Mayans, commemorated the day.
The term "dog days" of summer originates from the ancient Greeks, who linked the hottest days to the rising of Sirius, the brightest star. This period was later called "dies caniculares" by the Romans, meaning "days of the dog star." Read more.
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