June 21st marked the first official day of summer in an event that’s also known as the Summer Solstice.  Past civilizations including the Celts, Slavs, and the Druids have welcomed this day with celebrations of dance, bonfires, and festivals.  People often believe that the earth is further from the sun in the winter than during the summer, but in reality, it is closer to the sun in December, or winter in the Northern Hemisphere.  As the Earth orbits around the Sun, the positions of the north-south on the Sun change during the rotation due to the constant change of the Earth’s tilted rotation axes.  The dates of the maximum tilts mark the Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, and the Vernal Equinox and Autumnal Equinox.

The start of summer means its time to plan a vacation!   A trip to Hawaii or a tour of Florida are both great ways to enjoy the summer sun.