Happy Hump Day! Today is the first day of summer (northern hemisphere) otherwise known as the Summer Solstice. On this day, the sun is at its furthest northern rotational position providing maximum daylight north of the equator and minimal nighttime. On the first day of winter, the Winter Solstice, the inverse is true as the sun is now at its furthest point south, creating summer, south of the equator. If you are located like me, in the northern hemisphere, I hope your skies are clear so that you can enjoy the sun’s exposure throughout this, the longest day(light) of the year.
Summer, the first day, occurs typically between June 20 and June 23. Each year, there is a possible shift due to the earth’s unique rotational relationship with the sun and of course, the occasional calendar oddity known as Leap Year (an extra day in the cycle). The Solstice is the arrival of astrological summer as opposed to meteorological summer which typically begins around June 1 or some would say, Memorial Day. The further north you go in the hemisphere, the more variation of summer starting you will find. In other words, summer is longer in feel in Florida and much, much shorter at the Arctic Circle.
The word solstice means “arc” or effectively, the “arc of the sun at its highest point”. Since the winter solstice in December, the sun has been gradually rising higher in the sky as it moves north along the oblong journey around the sun. The journey is 365 days, 6 hours and 9 minutes hence, the need for an extra day every four years (Leap Year). Interestingly, changes in the earth’s orbit or tilt to the sun accounts for climate changes over a span of 10,000 to 100,000 years per NASA. The reason? The amount of sunlight that is experienced on the earth’s surface due to these minor rotational changes.
Summer of course, is ripe with important historical events. The most important is the Declaration of Independence issued by the U.S. Congress to the King of England on July 4, 1776. Students of history will also note some pretty important events occurred on other “4ths of July”.
- Thomas Jefferson announces the Louisiana Purchase on July 4, 1803
- The Statue of Liberty is presented by France to the U.S. on July 4, 1884
- On July 4 in 1984, the torch of the Statue of Liberty is removed for replacement
- And, for some, a very important July 4 occurred in 1994 when Hotmail email service began.
Summer as a season has many notable days, some worth celebrating, others worth knowing only for trivial pursuits or maybe, Jeopardy questions. Here are a few of my favorites. Happy Hump Day and welcome, summer!
- June 20, 1975 saw the release of the movie Jaws
- The longest game of baseball is played on June 23, 1981 when the Pawtucket Red Sox beat the Rochester Red Wings 3-2 in 33 innings. Interestingly, the game began on April 18th.
- Custer’s Last Stand occurred on June 25, 1876
- The song Happy Birthday to You was first sung on June 27, 1859
- The Treat of Versailles is signed on June 28, 1919 ending World War 1
- July 1, 1847 saw the first postage stamps go on sale.
- The Lawrence Welk show premiered on TV on July 2, 1955
- Sam Walton opens his first Wal Mart store on July 2, 1962
- On July 17, 1902 air conditioning was invented – thank God!
Many, many more dates and events are part of my list. Feel free to comment and add yours. Here’s a great website that provides an extensive list of memorable events, month by month. You can find the site here: https://www.holidayinsights.com/history/history07.htm