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Summer night

 

In the northern hemisphere summer solstice is always on the 20th or 21st of June: it occurs when the tilt of the planet’s axis is most strongly inclined towards the Sun. According to  the calculations of the astronomers the calendar summer 2015 began on June 21st at 7.38 pm (19.38).

 

For ancient Estonians the solstice day or ”Leedopäev” with the solstice bonfires was very important. The name ”Jaanipäev”, St John’s Day, was accepted late and slowly and only from official decrees after the arrival of crusaders in the Livonian area.

 

In his „Liiwimaa kroonika" (Liwonian Chronicles), published in 1578, the chronicler Balthasar Russow notes the custom of Estonians to make bonfires to celebrate the Leedo holiday instead of going to church on St John’s or Midsummer Day.

 

In nature summer does not come by calendar. The arrival of early summer is marked by the end of the flowering of apple trees, the setting of rye ears and the arrival of swifts.  High summer arrives with the flowering of limes or when the air temperature average is 15 degrees or more during a day and night period.

 

Happy Solstice!

 

The most beautiful season has arrived: LINK