June 21, 2011

Today is the first official day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which means it’s also the longest day of the year.

So in honor of the summer solstice, here’s a look at celebrations around the world.

A reveler reaches up to the sky during the summer solstice at Stonehenge, near Salisbury in England, during the 2011 summer solstice celebration. The ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site erected between approximately 3000BC and 1600BC and despite years of research the reason behind its construction remains a mystery. (Matt Dunham/The Associated Press)

Mayan descendants pray during a ceremony in honor of the summer solstice at the Mayan archeological site of Tazumal in Chalchuapa, El Salvador. The summer solstice, which happens on Tuesday, marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and according to Mayan Priest Jose Erenesto Campos, the Mayans hold ceremonies to help balance the energy of mother earth and ask for abundant crops. In El Salvador, the solstice in June is referred to as winter solstice because it happens during the rainy season, which is considered the country’s winter season. (Luis Romero/The Associated Press)

Of course, no solstice celebration would be complete without this.