June 21 (Saturday) will the year's longest day in countries located in the northern hemisphere including Pakistan. The Met office spokesman told APP here on Friday, that the longest day is called the "Summer Solstice". Solstice is defined as either of the two time of the year at which the sun is furthest north or south of the equator.
While, the winter solstice falls on December 21 in these countries. The spokesman said the longest day on June 21 marks the peak of summer when the sun comes closest to the northern hemisphere.
The countries located on the Southern hemisphere will experience the longest day on December 21, he added. The spokesman said the day-night equation will remain the same for a couple of days in Pakistan but the process of a gradual shift in time like late sunrises and early sunsets will begin in the last week of June.
On March 21 and September 21, the met spokesman said day and night were of equal length, adding that the process was known as equinox. The word solstice is derived from the Latin words meaning "the sun" and "to stop".
June is also the month of weddings in Europe. It is also interesting that the first or only full moon in June is called the honeymoon. Earlier, this was the best time to harvest honey. Many societies in the upper latitudes in the northern hemisphere celebrate this day (June 21) as a festival.