United Nations Observes International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice 2025 on June 21.
Important Days
On June 21, 2025, the United Nations marked the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice, highlighting its astronomical, cultural, and agricultural significance across global religions and ethnic traditions.
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/73/300 on June 20, 2019, proclaiming June 21 as the official day to promote awareness about solstices and equinoxes and their influence on Earth's seasonal cycles, festivals, and agricultural rhythms. The resolution emphasizes the connection between cosmic events and human culture, fostering global awareness of natural timekeeping systems.
- These variations are caused by the Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. During the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere experiences peak sunlight and enters summer, while the Southern Hemisphere enters winter. In December, the pattern reverses, highlighting the importance of axial tilt in defining seasonal changes and influencing ecological, agricultural, and social activities.
Main Point :- (i) An equinox occurs when the Sun is directly above the Equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night durations across the globe.
(ii) The word is derived from Latin: “aequus” (equal) and “nox” (night). There are two annual equinoxes—the March Equinox, occurring around 20 March, marks the beginning of spring, while the September Equinox, occurring on or around 23 September, signals the start of autumn. Both equinoxes divide the year symmetrically, balancing daylight and darkness globally.
(iii) The UN encourages observance of this day to deepen understanding of astronomical heritage, promote harmony with nature, and celebrate indigenous knowledge systems that honor the solstices and equinoxes as spiritual and cultural milestones. The International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice aims to reconnect modern society with these cosmic rhythms and enhance respect for seasonal balance and environmental consciousness.
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