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Summer solstice occurs twice each year when one of the Earth's poles is fully tilted towards the sun, meaning for that hemisphere, the Sun is at its highest position in the sky. This is when a day has daylight for the longest period. Within the Arctic circle (for the northern hemisphere) or Antarctic circle (for the southern hemisphere), there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice.
Summer solstice, as evidenced by the name, occurs during the summer which is June in the northern hemisphere and December in the southern hemisphere.
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Why do we have a summer solstice?
It is speculated that the Earth hit another object in space during its formative years which is why it orbits the Sun on a tilted axis. Due to this tilt, the northern hemisphere gets more direct exposure to the Sun during the day. It is also why we have seasons!
What is the connection of a solstice to the Stonehenge?
It is a mystery why the Stonehenge was built and it is a mystery that has yet to be solved. We know it was built roughly 5,000 years ago and one probability is that it was built to mark solstices and equinoxes. The reason for this theory is that during a summer solstice, the sun rises just over the Heel stone and hits the centre of the Altar stone.
This is shown through an image by NASA, imagining the event when the Stonehenge was fully intact:
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Since prehistoric times, the summer solstice has held a great significance. It was usually seen as the middle of the summer hence being dubbed midsummer. The event is marked with holidays, festivals, and rituals mostly celebrated with the theme of religion or fertility.
It is also enthusiastically celebrated at the Stonehenge, regardless of whether the theory discussed above is valid or not. People gather and dance and digitally record sunrises and sunsets at the Stonehenge, marvelling at this ancient structure.
