At this point in the year, summer is well and truly upon us and as the summer solstice approaches – on Saturday 21 December 2024 – we wanted to break down what it means. Despite being an annual event, many of us only loosely understand what the phenomenon is. Yes, it's the longest day of the year, but why? Is it the same as midsummer? We're answering these questions and more on the 2024 summer solstice, below.
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice is a cosmic milestone, marking the Earth's tilt at its most dramatic angle towards the Sun — the very force that defines our seasons.
For those of us in Australia, this moment occurs when the Sun's path through the sky hits its peak, gifting us with the most daylight hours of the year. It's not just the longest day, but also the brightest, a celebration of light in its fullest form. Typically, the summer solstice lands on December 22, though it can shift between December 21–23. This year, it will officially arrive at Saturday 21 December 2024 at exactly 8:19 pm AEDT.
Where you live determines how much daylight you’ll soak in. In Hobart, the Sun will rise at 5:28am and set at 8:49 pm, making for a whopping 15 hours and 21 minutes of sunlight. In Sydney, the day is a little shorter but no less luminous, with the Sun rising at 5:41am and setting at 8:06pm — 14 hours and 23 minutes of daylight bliss. While it may feel like time has expanded, rest assured there are still only 24 hours in the day — it’s just that more of them are drenched in sunlight.
Does this make it the warmest day in the year?
Unlike the winter solstice, which isn’t the coldest day of the year, the summer solstice plays by different rules. Australia's peak heat doesn’t arrive on cue.
In the tropical north, the hottest days usually hit in October or November, before the wet season rolls in. Further south, the heat lingers, building momentum into December and peaking in January. For southern Australia, it’s a slow burn — the hottest days and nights typically land weeks after the solstice, as summer’s grip tightens. It’s nature’s way of keeping us guessing, with the north heating up early and the south saving its sizzle for later.
How to make the most of the 2022 summer solstice
The summer solstice is more than just the longest day of the year — it’s a cosmic call to realign, re-centre, and release.
Since ancient times, it’s been a moment of ritual and reverence, marking what was once considered the height of summer. Pop culture gave it a sinister twist with A24’s Midsommar (but maybe skip the maypole dance). Meanwhile, crowds still flock to Stonehenge, where modern-day druids gather to honour the power of the Sun.
With light at its peak, the solstice invites us to celebrate brightness before the slow descent into darkness. Fire is a symbolic force here — a tool for cleansing, purifying, and letting go of what no longer serves us. Around the world, flames are lit in ceremonies to burn away the past, and you can do the same at home. Light a candle, reflect on the year that’s been, and meditate on what’s next. With New Year’s Eve on the horizon, it’s the perfect moment to hit reset and step boldly into the light of new beginnings.
Is the summer solstice the same as midsummer?
Is it the start of summer or midsummer? The summer solstice manages to be both — and neither. While many mark it as the official first day of astronomical summer, others see it as midsummer, a nod to ancient celebrations of light at its peak. The confusion isn’t new. Traditionally, the solstice marks the year's longest day, while midsummer refers to the festivals and rituals that bloom around it. Rooted in both pagan and Christian customs, these celebrations honour the power of the Sun and the turning of the seasons. Call it what you like — either way, it’s a moment to revel in the magic of the light.
How does this change sunrise and sunset times?
Thanks to the Earth's tilted axis, time doesn't tick as neatly as you might think. This wobble creates a gap between solar time and mean time — sometimes by several minutes, according to Geoscience Australia. Around the summer solstice, this cosmic quirk makes the Sun’s movement appear slower than usual. The result? The earliest sunrise actually happens before the solstice, throwing our expectations off track. It's a subtle reminder that, even in nature, time is never quite as simple as it seems.
What's the difference between the solstice and equinox?
Solstice or equinox? The clue’s in the name. While a solstice marks the Earth's tilt at its most extreme, pointing us toward or away from the Sun, an equinox is a moment of balance — when day and night stand at near-equal length. Equinoxes happen twice a year, in autumn and spring, offering a brief cosmic equilibrium. If you're in Australia, the next equinox will arrive on March 21, 2024. So, while solstices are all about extremes, equinoxes remind us that sometimes, balance is everything.
Now that we've had the shortest day of the year, when is the longest?
Just as summer has its solstice, so does winter — and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s happening right now (while we down in Australia sweat it out). For Aussies, the winter solstice hits on Saturday 21 June 2025 at 12:41 pm
Eastern Australia Time. It’s the shortest day and longest night of the year, a moment to lean into stillness and reflect before the slow return of the light.
Feature image via IMDb.
