Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Summer Solstice 2020
It’s been a turbulent year so far, lots of changes in our lives but tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, it comes every year without fail…
This is the longest day of the year, for some it means the middle of summer, but I would say for most of us in colder climates, it’s more like the beginning of summer!
Cultures have celebrated this day in a variety of ways, mostly centering around fertility and/or religion. Ancient Greeks celebrated the God of Agriculture, Cronus. (I would have put a picture up but, frankly, they’re all kind of weird).
Many Native American tribes took part in centuries-old midsummer rituals, some of which are still practiced today. The Sioux, for instance, performed a ceremonial sun dance around a tree while wearing symbolic colors.
For the ancient Vikings, Midsummer was a crucial time of year for the Nordic seafarers, who would meet to discuss legal matters and resolve disputes around the summer solstice. They would also visit wells thought to have healing powers and build huge bonfires. Today, “Viking” summer solstice celebrations are popular among both residents and tourists in Iceland.
More on ancient world celebrations of the Summer Solstice at history.com
So what does it all mean for we gardeners? We can believe in magic and fairies and bask in the glow of sunshine as we look to all that produce and flowers!
Get out there and plant a plant, stroll a forest, run through a prairie or prance in a puddle!
Those of us in the Upper Midwest have much to look forward to, like homegrown tomatoes on a BLT… roadside sweet corn from the local farmer and so much more!
