Today, on 21 June 2015, the sun will reach its northernmost point, the northern solstice, at 12:38pm.
In northern Europe this is Midsummer Day, celebrated with enormous bonfire festivals in Scandinavia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. Midsummer folklore includes old stories that spirits and witches roam the night so bonfires were set to keep them away.
Shakespeare embellished on folklore in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His fairies cast spells on each other. Titania fell in love with Bottom.
If you celebrate this evening outdoors, be careful not to fall in love with an ass. 😉
(Midsummer festival fire in Lapeenranta, Finland and Scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Titania and Bottom by Edwin Lanseer, both from Wikimedia Commons. Click on the captions to see the originals)
*grinning*
Our little peregrine is not in the nest at Pitt. Did he fletch? I hope so and that he/she has a long life!
Nellie, he’s on his first day of Ledge Walking. Hasn’t flown yet. Here’s the schedule http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2015/06/20/when-will-the-pitt-nestling-fly/
Hi Kate:
I hope you are watching this blog. This note is from Jody Rosenberg on Facebook, posted 12 minutes ago: Hey everyone, Eyas is on the ground by the Cathedral. The Pitt Police are guarding it, they’ve placed a call to the Game Commission but it has been over an hour and no one has responded or even called them back. It’s made no sound so Dorothy and E-2 probably don’t know where it is. What to do?
Thanks, Karen. See today’s post for the full story: http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2015/06/22/he-flew-under-the-radar/
Very cool.
Kate. I have been looking at one of your many categories of wildlife articles. They are all so very interesting. I could read this stuff all day. There is a wildlife refuge in Massachusetts that my husband and I have been going to for many years but now we have so many new things to discover thanks to you. I think a good pair of binocs are in order : )