Summer Solstice
By Katrina Stansfield

Solstices occur twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is oriented directly towards or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to appear to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes.

The term solstice can also be used in a wider sense, as the date (day) that such a passage happens. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons.

In England and the Northern hemisphere the period around the June solstice is known as midsummer, and Midsummer's Day is 24 June, about three days after the solstice itself.

Midsummer not only refers to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on the 24 June and the preceding evening. Midsummer is also sometimes referred to by neo-pagans and some others as Litha. The fire festival or Lith- Summer solstice is a tradition for many pagans.

In recent years on Summer Solstice, English Heritage runs a "Managed Open Access" to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice celebrations.