Why is it the longest day of the yr?

  • In some cultures, present and historical, it’s customary to rejoice with some rituals and traditions

Between June 20 and 21 of every yr within the northern hemisphere of planet Earth, exactly the place Venezuela is situated, an astronomical phenomenon referred to as the summer season solstice happens.

This occasion marks the official begin of summer season within the nations of the northern hemisphere and winter within the south and is characterised by being the day with essentially the most hours of daylight and, due to this fact, the shortest night time.

In accordance with Nationwide Geographicthe summer season solstice happens because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis in its orbit across the Solar. Throughout this era, the northern hemisphere is tilted extra in the direction of the Solar, inflicting it to obtain a better quantity of direct daylight.

On today, Venezuela, like the remainder of the nations within the northern hemisphere, experiences the longest day of the yr, with roughly 13 hours of daylight.

Photograph: Pixabay

Consultants clarify that the results of the phenomenon can lengthen for a number of days beginning on June 20, when a gradual improve within the period of daylight begins to be noticed, however reaches its peak on June 21.

From that time on, the size of the day will start to regularly lower till returning to regular, when it begins to get darkish once more at 7:00 pm.

Scientific clarification of the summer season solstice

Researchers from the Nationwide Autonomous College of Mexico (UNAM) element that the Earth rotates by itself axis, till finishing the rotation each 24 hours, which generates the day and night time cycle.

Nonetheless, the Earth not solely rotates on itself, but in addition strikes across the Solar in an elliptical orbit that lasts roughly one year and 6 hours, whereas the Earth’s axis will not be perpendicular to its orbit however is inclined, which which permits totally different elements of the planet to obtain the solar’s rays in a different way throughout the yr.

Summer solstice: why is it the longest day of the year?
Photograph: Pixabay

For instance, throughout the summer season solstice on the North Pole they’ve daylight 24 hours a day and within the South, the alternative.

Within the case of the northern hemisphere, the solar’s rays fall extra perpendicularly on this area and lengthen the daylight for regarding an hour.

Traditions concerning the summer season solstice

The United Nations (UN) acknowledged June 21, 2019 because the Worldwide Day of Solstice Celebration, as a result of since historical instances, totally different civilizations have carried out rituals and traditions as a part of their beliefs.

In Europe, for instance, pagan celebrations had been held corresponding to St. John’s Eve, the place they lit bonfires, danced, and performed music to rejoice the arrival of summer season.

Summer solstice: why is it the longest day of the year?
Photograph: Pixabay

In Mesoamerica, pre-Hispanic cultures worshiped the Solar throughout this era, constructing monuments and observatories to align them with the place of the star.

Whereas scientists examine this phenomenon to raised perceive the actions of the Earth and its relationship with the Solar, anthropologists analyze the traditions and rituals related to this astronomical occasion to know its cultural significance and its evolution over time.

The UN explains that the summer season solstice can be associated to fertility, abundance, plant progress and animal replica in varied cultures, which is why it was frequent to carry out rituals on June 21 to ask for good harvests and wholesome offspring.

Legends associated to the phenomenon

The specialised weblog Recreation of Historical past mentions some legends associated to the summer season solstice.

Summer solstice: why is it the longest day of the year?
Photograph: ABC

In some historical civilizations they believed that on today portals opened to different dimensions, magical worlds and encounters with supernatural beings.

In addition they thought of that it was a positive time for divination and prophecies, which is why the goals that had been had throughout this era had been thought of revealing in Celtic tradition.

Within the Nordic civilization they carried out Midsummer, a pageant that commemorated the victory of sunshine over darkness. Bonfires had been lit and other people danced round a tree to rejoice the phenomenon.

The Mayans carried out the Solar Raymia ritual that honored the Solar god through which they supplied sacrifices and dances to ask him for favors.

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2024-06-21 14:36:41

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