Summer Solstice

The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, officially marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when one of the Earth’s poles reaches the maximum tilt toward the Sun. This year’s summer solstice will occur on the 21st of June, Wednesday.

The dog days of summer have nothing to do with dogs lazing around.

Yes, nothing to do with dogs at all. In fact, the phrase “dog days of summer” has a celestial origin linked to the star Sirius, also known as the Dog Star.

In ancient Greek and Roman belief, “dog days” occurred around the time Sirius rises alongside the Sun, in late July in the Northern Hemisphere. They believed the combined heat from these two stars is the reason for summer, the hottest time of the year.

Watermelon – The Summer Fruit

Watermelons are summer’s most beloved fruit. They’re 92% water, making them a perfect hydrating snack for hot summer days. Next to lemonade, watermelon juice is the next most popular summer juice.

Popsicles and Summer

The popsicle, another summer favorite, was invented by chance by an 11-year-old boy in 1905.  One evening, Frank mixed together a combination of soda powder and water in a small cup. He left it outside on the porch overnight and as the temperature dropped, the mixture froze around the stick. You can imagine the delightful surprise the next morning.

With a moment of inspiration, Frank realized he had accidentally created something special—a frozen treat on a stick. He named his creation the “Epsicle” as a playful combination of his own surname and the word “icicle”. And now, it is called popsicle!

The Ice Cream Boom

Ice cream sales soar during summer, with July being the busiest month for ice cream makers in the United States. In fact, July is recognized as National Ice Cream Month in the United States, with the third Sunday being celebrated as National Ice Cream Day.

Figure skating was once part of the Summer Olympics.

As strange as it sounds, this is true. Before it broke off into its sibling event, the Winter Olympics, figure skating was part of the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics. Ice hockey also made its debut at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Midsummer Celebrations

Different cultures celebrate the arrival of summer in unique ways, like the Midsummer festivities in Scandinavian countries.

The Eiffel Tower grows during summer.

In summer, the Eiffel Tower can grow by more than six inches due to the expansion of the iron due to heat.

The Invention of the Bikini

The bikini, a summer beach staple, was invented in France in 1946 partly due to the impact of material rationing from World War 2. French engineer, Louis Réard introduced this revolutionary swimwear and named this two-piece after the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

Effect on Human Mood

The increased sunlight in summer can boost mood and energy levels, a phenomenon studied in psychology.

Summer Blockbusters

The film industry often reserves its biggest releases for summer, giving birth to the term “summer blockbuster”.

The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded

The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was during summer in California’s Death Valley, where it reached 134 Fahrenheit (57.8 degrees).

The Crickets’ Thermometer

Summer nights are filled with the rhythmic chirping of crickets. Did you know that you can estimate the temperature by counting the number of cricket chirps in 15 seconds and adding 37? This method, known as Dolbear’s Law, is surprisingly accurate!

Summer holds the record for most people in the water at the same time.

Every summer, thousands of people attempt to break the record for the most people floating in a line in Salt Lake, Argentina.

The Most Thundery Weather

The summer months are also the time when we see the most thunderstorms, more than all the other seasons combined. This is because the heat and humidity are perfect weather conditions for rain and thunderstorms to occur.

The Season for Lightning Bugs

Summer is the season when lightning bugs, or fireflies, are most active, putting on a dazzling light show during warm evenings.

June Weddings

June, a summer month, is one of the most popular months for weddings in many cultures, linked to the Roman goddess Juno.