Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year with more hours of daylight than any other.

But what exactly is Summer Solstice? And why do people go to Stonehenge to celebrate it?

There is also no need to worry - the long - and hopefully hot summer is still ahead of us.

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Here's what you need to know about the Summer Solstice.

What is the summer solstice?

The summer solstice is generally and historically understood to mark the first day of summer.

Technically, it's when the northern hemisphere of the Earth is most inclined towards the sun, and that's why we get the most daylight of the year.

The winter solstice is the complete opposite, the northern hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the sun, hence fewer hours of daylight and the shortest day.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because the seasonal movement of the Sun's path (as seen from Earth) momentarily comes to a stop before reversing direction.

When is it?

In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between June 20 and 22. This year it's on Wednesday, June 21 .

The shortest day of the year is known as the winter solstice, and occurs between December 20 and 22. This year it is on Thursday, December 21.

Near Stonehenge in Salisbury, sunrise will be at 04:52 and sunset will occur at 21:26.

Why do people go to Stonehenge for summer solstice?

Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site, which may have been a place of worship and celebration at the time of summer solstice for thousands of years.

The giant stones are believed to have stood in the same spot since 3,000 to 2,000 BC, and are positioned to align with the sunrise on the two annual solstices.

If you stand in just the right place inside the Stonehenge monument on the day of the summer solstice, you will see the sun rise directly above the Heel Stone, which stands just outside the circle to the north-east.

Every year, thousands flock to the English Heritage site to witness the spectacle. White cloaked and hooded druids among the standing stones to welcome the first rays of the sunlight.

The monument field at Stonehenge is open from 19:00 on Tuesday to 08:00 on Wednesday. Admission is free, but parking fees apply.

The Solstice Car Park opens at 19:00 on June 20, with last admissions at 06:00 (or when full, earlier) on June 21. The car park will close at 12 noon on June 21

Visitors, including sunrise-worshipping Druids for whom it is a religious occasion, are encouraged to use public transport or arrange to car share.

The solstice is also celebrated at the Avebury stone circle from Tuesday, June 20, until Thursday, June 22.

People gather to watch the sunrise at Stonehenge

How else do people celebrate it?

It's not just for the arch-druids in Wiltshire - there are celebrations worldwide among lots of different cultures.

The holidays, festivals and rituals do tend to have themes of religion or fertility.

In Latvia there's Jāņi, when women wear wreaths on their heads. Estonia has Jaanipäev or St John's Day, which marks a change in the farming year.

Wianki happens in Poland, with roots in a pagan religious event, and Kupala Night happens in Russia and Ukraine, where people jump over the flames of bonfires in a ritual test of bravery and faith.

Sunset over Victoria Tower, Castle Hill

Are the days going to be shorter now?

They will of course get shorter between now and the winter solstice on December 21, but don't worry, we're not talking dark evenings quite yet.