I love summer. Summer reminds me of so many fun pastimes — horseback riding, cookouts with friends, and (of course) vacations! Each year, Americans take over 650 million long-distance trips in the summer. This got me thinking: how do others celebrate this hot season?
As it turns out, summer means different things in different locations. In America, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania and Russia, the summer holidays are normally considered three months, compared to a much shorter six-to-eight weeks in Britain, The Netherlands, Canada, and Germany.
Here are some other quirky facts about summer in other countries:
- In southern England, over 37,000 people gather at Stonehenge to see the summer solstice.
- France’s Eiffel Tower grows by more than six inches in summer due to the expansion of the iron on hot days.
- In some locations, there is constant sunlight during the summer solstice. The so-called “midnight sun” shines all day and night in some parts of Alaska, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
- The Alaska Goldpanners, a Minor League Baseball team in Fairbanks, celebrate summer with an annual baseball game that starts at 10:30 and stretches well into the following morning, known as the Midnight Sun Game.
However you decide to celebrate the start of the summer season, try to make sure you’re surrounded by family, friends, and (needless to say) some beautiful outdoor scenery.
Share on Social Media
