We've all been guilty of complaining about what a disappointing summer its been this year so far, but did you know that summer didn't officially start until today? And as it, happens, the weather is great in our neck of the woods here in the South-East! This year, Thursday 20th June marks the summer solstice, which is the longest day (and shortest night) of the year. What Happens During the Summer Solstice? The summer solstice happens when the Earth's tilt is most aligned with the sun, giving us the longest daylight hours of the year. This usually occurs around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin words "sol," meaning sun, and "sistere," meaning to stand still, because the sun seems to pause in the sky before reversing its path. During the solstice, the North Pole is closest to the sun, and the sun's rays hit the Tropic of Cancer directly. This marks the start of summer and has been celebrated ...