Celebrating the summer solstice: light, traditions, and reconnection 

Each year, around June 20 or 21, a striking astronomical event occurs: the summer solstice. It’s the moment when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, and the Northern Hemisphere receives the most daylight in a single day. This is the longest day of the year and marks the official beginning of summer according to the solar calendar. 

What exactly is the solstice? 

Scientifically, the summer solstice occurs when the Earth’s axis is tilted most directly toward the Sun, at about 23.5 degrees. This means the Sun’s rays strike the Tropic of Cancer directly, which explains why the day is so long and full of light. 

Beyond the science, this moment carries deep symbolism in many cultures around the world. It is often seen as a peak of vital energy — a time for celebration, fertility, gratitude, transformation, and connection with the elements. 

A profound meaning for the first nations of Canada 

For many Indigenous nations in Canada, the summer solstice is more than just a natural phenomenon: it’s a major spiritual and cultural event, closely tied to identity, the land, and the cycles of life. 

Among the Plains Cree, for example, the solstice marks a time of spiritual renewal. Certain ceremonies, such as the Sun Dance, are held around this period — a sacred ritual meant to honor the Sun, purify the self, and renew the bonds between the individual, the community, and the natural world. 

Other nations, such as the Innu, the Anishinaabe, and the Dene, also celebrate this time through ceremonies, community gatherings, songs, and traditional storytelling — all ways of passing down ancestral wisdom and reconnecting with the teachings of the Earth. 

This is also why, since 1996, June 21 has been recognized as National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada — a date specifically chosen because it coincides with the solstice and reflects what it represents in many Indigenous traditions: the sacred connection to nature, renewal, memory, and the celebration of living culture. 

Beliefs and symbols 

The solstice is often viewed as a peak of vital energy, a symbolic portal where life is celebrated at its fullest — even as the journey toward shorter days slowly begins. It is associated with symbols of light, growth, fertility, and gratitude. 

In many spiritual or wellness traditions, it is a meaningful time for introspection, meditation, and celebrating both body and mind. 

A moment to slow down, breathe, and celebrate 

In our own way, we wish to honor this special evening by inviting you to a sunset pilates session with Sasha Alcoloumbre on our Plein Sud terrace overlooking Montreal. 

As the sun gently casts its final golden rays, we will offer you a moment of calm, breath, and reconnection — inspired by this long, golden light that comes only once a year. 

A suspended moment to celebrate the light outside as much as the one within, in a respectful, caring atmosphere deeply rooted in the present moment.