Worldwide Eternal Holiday

Welcome to the First Day of Summer. Although, in Texas it's been summer for over three months now. Ridiculous! In fact, I think "summer" is too pleasant a name for what we experience in Texas. A more appropriate name for it would be.....swelter!

Summer is something that should be looked forward to, like children do in most states north of the Bible Belt. I know of only a few freaks in this place that actually look forward to swelter. I usually ignore them.

What's more interesting about today -- the reason it's called the "First Day of Summer" -- is that it is when the summer solstice occurs, and it's the longest day of the year when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer.

An article in The Saginaw News¹ points out that for thousands of years this day was celebrated by our ancestors "who viewed the world through more superstitious eyes." As they note, some of the holidays that were celebrated include, "the Feast of Epona, the Feast of St. John the Baptist, Gathering Day, Litha, Sonnwend and Midsummer, so named because it fell midway through the growing season in many European Countries."

Even though to most people in modern times "it's just Wednesday", I think today's significance is worthy of new traditions. Whether it be with your friends, family, or co-workers, you should try to come up with fun things to do or nice things to give to celebrate today -- although, for less superstitious reasons.

It certainly doesn't have to be extravagant, or even bigger than casual Friday; just noteworthy. Whomever you choose to celebrate with, they won't turn down something that won't take much of their time or that they can take home with them.

Why celebrate? Because, unlike National Day in Sweden, Bastille Day in France, or Pentecost in Neverland, this is a holiday that affects everyone in the world, that has been here since before we were, and will be here long after we're gone. Also, because you just might bring some day to somebody's day; and what better day to do it?

Also, maybe to take some of the commercial limelight off of 25 December (which has also been celebrated for thousands of years, and not just for the birth of mythical babies).

¹Coleman, LaNia. First day of summer a time for all to celebrate. The Saginaw News. 21 June 2006. <Link>