As summer approaches, I have begun to feel more energetic and excited to get out of the house and into the nice weather. For me, the start of summer manifests as looking for anything at all to celebrate – end of the school year parties, first day of summer picnics, days at the lake where I tell myself I’m celebrating Memorial Day or Fourth of July, but really I just want an excuse to sit out by the water. In the spirit of warm weather and the urge to celebrate anything and everything, I decided to research summer holidays around the world.

One of the most well-known summer holidays outside of the United States is the Midsummer celebration in Sweden. This holiday falls on what is usually considered the first day of summer, contradictory to the holiday’s name, or the summer solstice. The solstice is the longest day of the year, and in ancient and medieval Sweden it was considered a night of magic. There were many spells and rituals associated with the day, such as picking flowers and other plants that had medicinal powers or were used to tell the future. More well known is the tradition of dancing around a maypole, a tradition that continues to this day in Sweden and around the world. In modern day, Swedes continue to celebrate the holiday by eating seasonal foods such as potatoes and strawberries in large outdoor gatherings. They also play different games outside to enjoy the good weather and long hours of sunshine.

Another solstice celebration comes from the Incan Empire, although it is still celebrated in Peru today. Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun, was a religious celebration honoring the sun god Inti. However, unlike Midsummer in Sweden, Inti Raymi is celebrating the shortest day of the year since Peru is in the southern hemisphere. This is an important day because it marked the Incan New Year, when the days would begin to lengthen again. Today, the holiday is largely a historical re-enactment. When the Spanish colonized much of South America, they banned the celebration for being idolatrous. It wasn’t until 1944 when artists began to restart the celebration based on historical accounts. The Inca and his wife and army follow a procession throughout the day to different places in the city of Cusco and complete different rituals. The festivities involve much dancing and many colors.

A more modern holiday is Panafest, which is a Pan-African celebration held in Ghana every other summer. Began in 1992, Panafest was created to unite the African diaspora and celebrate its culture and history. Above all, it is meant to help heal the trauma experienced by the diaspora during the colonization of Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade. Panafest addresses global issues, remembers the past and the resilience of the African people, and highlights the art and life of Africans on the continent and abroad.

Lastly, Obon is a three-day lantern festival in Japan. The dates vary throughout the country depending on the calendar used, but it usually falls in August or late July. The holiday comes from the Buddhist custom of welcoming the spirits of deceased loved ones. Altars, lanterns, and dances are used to call back the spirits of loved ones, especially those lost in the part year. Today, it is common to find a carnival to celebrate Obon with food, lights, and games.

I hope that learning more about different festivities around the world inspires you to find new things to celebrate, or even just research. There is so much more to learn about the countless holidays and the histories behind each one.