1. Midsummer is the longest day of the year and the first day of summer. It is also known as the summer solstice and usually falls on June 20 or 21.
2. The celebration of midsummer dates to prehistoric times. The huge stone circle in southern England known as Stonehenge is believed to mark the path of the sun on the summer solstice and thus possibly serve as an early calendar. Its age and conformation suggests that celebration of midsummer dates back over 4000 years.
3. In ancient Rome, the Julian calendar placed the summer solstice on June 24.
4. Early Christian tradition made June 24 St John's Day, which today is also known as Midsummer's Day and is celebrated with customs that date to ancient beliefs including bonfires, feasts, and maypole dances.
5. Midsummer is an especially important holiday in northern Europe-- particularly the Nordic and Baltic countries-- where the winters are long and dark. In Sweden and Finland there is a custom that if a young maiden picks seven kinds of wildflowers and places them under her pillow on Midsummer's Eve, she will dream of her husband.
6. At Anikka Becker we celebrate this most summery of summer days with the 2017 Midsummer Collection. We launch on June 21!
