13 Interesting Facts about the Summer Solstice by Brenda Sparks
1. The term "solstice"
is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).
The term Solstice was chosen because the sun's position in the sky at noon does
not appear to change much during the solstice.
2. During the solstice, the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
3. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.
4. The sun is the highest in the sky on the summer solstice.
5. The summer solstice is also called “midsummer”.
6. The summer solstice is not exclusive to Earth. In fact, every planet in our solar system has a summer solstice.
7. Stonehenge in England is thought to have been built to celebrate the summer solstice. In fact, each summer a celebration is still held in the ancient structure.
8. According to pagan folklore, evil spirits appeared on the summer solstice. Ancient people would wear protective garlands of herbs and flowers to ward them off. One of the most powerful of these plants was called “chase devil,” and today we call it St. John’s Wort.
9. In northern Iceland, there is a cliff overlooking the sea where you can sit and watch the sun not set. The sun goes down just to the horizon, brushes the water, then starts to rise back up.
10. In Alaska, they celebrate the summer solstice with a midnight baseball game. The game starts at 10:30 p.m. and continues into the next morning.
11. If you are in the Tropic of Cancer during the solstice, you’ll notice that you can’t see any shadows at noon. That’s because at that precise time the sun is directly overhead at a 90-degree angle to the Earth.
12. The summer solstice stresses out rats and other nocturnal creatures. Just as some humans get sad or anxious during winter due to there being less daylight, some rats experience the same thing during the summer solstice. The longer days can produce stress in the nocturnal animals.
13. On the summer solstice, St. Petersburg experiences almost 19 hours of daylight, and Russians make the most of it by having a White Nights festival. Ballet and opera events take place outdoors because the light never completely fades to full darkness.
2. During the solstice, the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
3. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year.
4. The sun is the highest in the sky on the summer solstice.
5. The summer solstice is also called “midsummer”.
6. The summer solstice is not exclusive to Earth. In fact, every planet in our solar system has a summer solstice.
7. Stonehenge in England is thought to have been built to celebrate the summer solstice. In fact, each summer a celebration is still held in the ancient structure.
8. According to pagan folklore, evil spirits appeared on the summer solstice. Ancient people would wear protective garlands of herbs and flowers to ward them off. One of the most powerful of these plants was called “chase devil,” and today we call it St. John’s Wort.
9. In northern Iceland, there is a cliff overlooking the sea where you can sit and watch the sun not set. The sun goes down just to the horizon, brushes the water, then starts to rise back up.
10. In Alaska, they celebrate the summer solstice with a midnight baseball game. The game starts at 10:30 p.m. and continues into the next morning.
11. If you are in the Tropic of Cancer during the solstice, you’ll notice that you can’t see any shadows at noon. That’s because at that precise time the sun is directly overhead at a 90-degree angle to the Earth.
12. The summer solstice stresses out rats and other nocturnal creatures. Just as some humans get sad or anxious during winter due to there being less daylight, some rats experience the same thing during the summer solstice. The longer days can produce stress in the nocturnal animals.
13. On the summer solstice, St. Petersburg experiences almost 19 hours of daylight, and Russians make the most of it by having a White Nights festival. Ballet and opera events take place outdoors because the light never completely fades to full darkness.
Under a Blood Moon by Brenda Sparks from Summer Solstice
Fill yourself with the heat of summer with these paranormal
and fantasy reads.
From shifters to goddesses, vampires to aliens, there's something for everyone within these pages. Look no further for sizzling romances and thrilling adventures that are bound to leave you desperate for a cool down.
From shifters to goddesses, vampires to aliens, there's something for everyone within these pages. Look no further for sizzling romances and thrilling adventures that are bound to leave you desperate for a cool down.
Genre Paranormal Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Tall, strong, and powerful, Caden is the last werewolf on earth most people would ask for a favor. As the leader of his pack, it is his job to keep the pack members safe—and Caden takes his job very seriously. But when a ballsy stranger shows up on his doorstep begging for help, he cannot turn her away. Unfortunately, helping her means blurring the lines of pack law and with the Blood Moon setting everyone on edge, pack rule is precarious enough.
Once a member of a formidable pack, Kate now finds herself an outsider. When her brother is imprisoned by his Alpha for helping her, it’s up to Kate to come to his rescue. Alone and lost, it seems Kate’s stars have aligned when she stumbles upon Caden—until he refuses to help. With her brother’s life in escalating peril and her faith in Caden shattered, Caden will have to risk everything while facing the most intense fight of his life…the battle for Kate’s heart.
Under a Blood Moon is part of a collection of short romance stories in Summer Solstice: A Limited Edition Collection of Fantasy and Paranormal Romances.
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Tall, strong, and powerful, Caden is the last werewolf on earth most people would ask for a favor. As the leader of his pack, it is his job to keep the pack members safe—and Caden takes his job very seriously. But when a ballsy stranger shows up on his doorstep begging for help, he cannot turn her away. Unfortunately, helping her means blurring the lines of pack law and with the Blood Moon setting everyone on edge, pack rule is precarious enough.
Once a member of a formidable pack, Kate now finds herself an outsider. When her brother is imprisoned by his Alpha for helping her, it’s up to Kate to come to his rescue. Alone and lost, it seems Kate’s stars have aligned when she stumbles upon Caden—until he refuses to help. With her brother’s life in escalating peril and her faith in Caden shattered, Caden will have to risk everything while facing the most intense fight of his life…the battle for Kate’s heart.
Under a Blood Moon is part of a collection of short romance stories in Summer Solstice: A Limited Edition Collection of Fantasy and Paranormal Romances.
Where to buy Under a Blood Moon
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Solstice-Collection-Paranormal-Romances-ebook/dp/B07PXBW3JY/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130534155
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/summer-solstice/id1451906944?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/summer-solstice-11
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130534155
iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/summer-solstice/id1451906944?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/summer-solstice-11
Brenda Sparks Social Media
Brenda Sparks has always loved all things spooky and enjoys incorporating
paranormal elements in her writing. She refuses to allow pesky human constraints
to get in the way of telling the story. Luckily the only thing limiting her stories
is her imagination. Her characters are strong, courageous, and she adores spending
time with them in their imaginary world.
Her idea of a perfect day is one spent in front of a computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on their latest adventure.
Website http://brenda-sparks.com/index.html
Blog http://brenda-sparks.com/blog.html
Twitter https://twitter.com/brenda_sparks
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/forBrendaSparks/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/brendasparks/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4416074.Brenda_Sparks
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Sparks/e/B00B7AJBBQ
Newsletter http://brenda-sparks.com/welcome-readers.html
Her idea of a perfect day is one spent in front of a computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on their latest adventure.
Website http://brenda-sparks.com/index.html
Blog http://brenda-sparks.com/blog.html
Twitter https://twitter.com/brenda_sparks
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/forBrendaSparks/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/brendasparks/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4416074.Brenda_Sparks
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Sparks/e/B00B7AJBBQ
Newsletter http://brenda-sparks.com/welcome-readers.html
Thank you for featuring my segment on the summer solstice. Summer Solstice Box Set is a collection of 13 paranormal and fantasy reads from award-winning, best selling authors that will make your summer sizzle. And best of all, the set is only $0.99. What a way to kick off the summer!
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to have you, Brenda. :)
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