Longest Day of Year: Here Comes the Sun on June 20

Each day is a gift to embrace. But is there anything different you will do from or with the longest day of this year?

The longest day of 2012 will be June 20.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the timing of the solstice each year depends on when the sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator—typically on June 20 or June 21 in North America.

The word solstice comes from the Latin solstitium, [sol (sun) and stitium (to stop)], representing that the sun appears to stop at this time and again at the winter solstice.

The sun is higher in the sky throughout the day, and its rays strike Earth at a more direct angle, causing the efficient warming called summer. In the winter, the opposite occurs: The sun is at its southernmost point and is low in the sky, according to the almanac. Its rays hit the Northern Hemisphere at an oblique angle, creating feeble winter sunlight.

The sun is directly overhead at its most northern point at "high-noon" on the summer solstice, creating more sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere on this day then any other.

SUMMER FOLKLORE:
If there are many falling stars during a clear summer evening, expect thunder. If there are none, expect fine weather.