Heather, practically dabbling in witchcraft

Solstice means "standstill" and refers to the way that the sun appears to rise and set in the same place for a few days around June 20 and 21. In most parts of Europe the festival is celebrated on June 24 due to calender changes and is known as the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. Saint John was born six months before Christ, so his feast day is set exactly six months before Christmas. Before that, we have no name for this festival, which was clearly so important to the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles and Ireland. In the Celtic year it is almost as important as the four quarter days and celebrated very much like an extension of Beltaine into the summer months. -Kindling the Celtic Spirit, by Mara Freeman