Did You Know These Facts About Summer? They Might Surprise You

Everyone loves summer.

After cold and snowy winters, everyone looks forward to a warm summer when they can enjoy the first rays of the sun falling on their bodies. Summer is associated with beach vacations, cold drinks, ice pops, and outdoor fun.

Summer is loved for its warm weather that nourishes life on Earth. In states that witness excessive rain, snow, and sharp dips in temperature, people start looking forward to stepping outside, experiencing the warmth of the sun, and getting rid of their thicker clothes.

Spring is the progression from winter to summer, and people start looking forward to stepping outdoors. Did you know that sunshine is actually very important for your body?

Exposure to sunlight in the early morning improves brain functioning and sleep cycles. This is one of the reasons why you feel active in the summer and lethargic in the winter!

Summer is that season that brings a lot of positivity to the minds of people. Some studies suggest that our happiness quotient increases during the summer months.

Maybe this is because of the fact that people get into a festive atmosphere and look forward to days of being active, taking trips, enjoying the heat, and getting soaked in suntan lotion. This article will take you through awesome facts about this lovely season and make your hearts warm and cozy!

Once you have finished reading this article, you must also check out importance of summer season and summer Olympic facts here at Kidadl.

Months In Which Summer Comes

Summer is the most important of the four seasons that any country sees in a year. This is because the summer months are very crucial for the nourishment and growth of life on Earth. Summer is preceded by spring and followed by autumn. Summer comes in different months for different countries.

Depending on the hemisphere that a country lies in, the duration and start of summer vary. When the northern hemisphere experiences summer, it could be winter in the southern hemisphere! Sounds fascinating, doesn't it?

The USA is in the northern hemisphere, and here, summer starts on June 21 and ends around September 22. In the southern hemisphere, summer begins on December 1 and lasts until the end of February.

Summer is the hottest or warmest season of all, and depending on the region, it could be dry or humid.

Characteristics

Summer is a very special season of the year, and a lot of the characteristics of the season are unique to it. Here are some of the lovely summer characteristics you should know about.

Like what many people assume, the rotation of the Earth does not cause climate change. It is actually the angle at which the Earth tilts that causes the summer, winter, autumn, and spring seasons.

The summer solstice is defined as the first day of summer, and this usually falls on June 21. Did you know that the summer solstice falls on the longest day of the year? This is the day when the day is the longest and the night is the shortest.

As the days progress after this, the days shorten and the nights lengthen. Summer solstice is an event that happens just once a year, and you should get out and enjoy the long day.

The opposite of this is the winter solstice. Here, the day is the shortest and the night is the longest. This falls on December 21.

Did you know that certain days of the summer are called 'dog days;? These fall after the summer solstice and are the days between July 3 and August 11.

These days are named after Sirius, the dog star. The ancient people considered these days to be the hottest and blamed Sirius for the same. Dogstar is the brightest star that you can see in the sky and it is twice as bright as the next brightest star.

It is common knowledge that heat expands metal. That is why the Eiffel Tower in France grows by up to 6 in (15.2 cm) in summer!

Babies born in the summer seem to have more mental and physical health issues than babies born in the winter. Studies say that summer babies have a higher risk of developing ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and also seem to have more mood swings as they grow up than children born in winter.

Summer heat can be very extreme in some parts of the northern hemisphere, and heatwaves can cause problems like heat strokes, dehydration, and loss of energy. Summer heatwaves and hot temperatures equally affect pets, animals, birds, and insects too. Heatwaves are periods of summer heat that have exceptionally high temperatures and high humidity.

The summer months bring with them thunderstorms and hurricanes in the coastal regions. In some regions, summer may be dry and may cause skin problems.

In other regions, summer may be humid and lead to excessive sweating. Tropical cyclones that can move at a speed of up to 75 mph (120.7 kph) are common and these start in the summer. The characteristics of summer depend on where you are from.

We have all heard of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that affects people in the winter. However, summer also seems to cause SAD in many people. Experts say that mental health conditions like loss of appetite, anxiety, and body image issues are all common during this season.

Holidays And Events

Pagans were people from the Roman Empire. They celebrated summer by creating bonfires and praying to the sun.

They believed that the bonfires had magical powers and helped the sun do its wonders in growing crops. Many groups of ancient people also believed that celebrating the longest day of the year (solstice) would help them get the benefits of the sun.

In fact, a lot of civilizations celebrated the summer solstice by paying tribute to some form of the sun and celebrating the start of the summer. For such civilizations, summer meant the start of the agricultural season. Native Americans celebrated the summer solstice with pomp and joy every year and had rituals to celebrate the start of summer.

Stonehenge is a place in England that is considered a monument. Every year, thousands of people gather here on the summer solstice. This is one of England's summer rituals that happens every year.

Midsummer's Eve is mentioned in Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream'. This is the time when people used to get together and celebrate the summer solstice.

One of the top festivals that occur in the summer in the United States is 'Independence Day'. Observed on July 4, it is celebrated by every American out there with fireworks, games, activities, and food. Most families pack picnics and enjoy the evening with one another.

Labor Day is also one of the festivals important to Americans and is celebrated on the first Monday of September. It is marked as the end of summer and marks the end of the school vacation too.

Summer is the time for sports. A lot of summer sports activities kick off at the end of June and run all through the season. Swimming, pickup baseball, beach volleyball, and all kinds of water sports are popular this season.

Most adventure lovers like taking up activities like mountain climbing, trekking, rock climbing, and more in the summer. Winters could be very cold for doing such activities, while the rainy season may come with the risk of slips and falls.

Here is one of the summer facts that you will enjoy! If you are in Florida in the months of June and July, then definitely check out the beaches for sea turtle walks. Large and small sea turtles come out to the beaches to lay eggs during this season.

Fun Facts About Summer

Summer is associated with fun, adventure activities, and festivities. Check out these fun facts about summer that will make you smile!

Summer is the time for trips in the United States. One of the fun summer facts you should know is that Americans take about 650 million trips in the summer alone.

Americans have certain activities that they associate with the summer. The five top such activities are shopping, visiting beaches, visiting historical locations, getting out to parks, and indulging in sightseeing.

Hollywood also knows that summer is the season when people enjoy going out with friends and family. That is why most of the blockbuster movies are released in the summer.

Did you know that some Americans believe in a very weird custom? They say that you can wear white pants after Labor Day. White pants are for summer, to be worn between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

It sounds funny, doesn't it? The rule had a practical origin. White was a light color, and it made sense to wear it in the summer.

The hottest month of summer is July, and this month is National Ice Cream Month in countries in the northern hemisphere! Americans eat about 40 pints (18.9 l) of this summer treat a year!

Who does not like popsicles? Did you know that this fun treat was invented by accident, not in summer but in winter? A boy in San Francisco left his glass of soda out, and it had frozen by the morning. He enjoyed the frozen delicacy and began selling them in an amusement park, where they became popular.

Drivers aged less than 20 are more likely to get into accidents in the summer season between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The hottest day in summer was recorded in California, and it happened more than 100 years ago. On July 10, 1913, the recorded temperature in the summer was 134 F (56.7 C).

Here is a fun summer fact for you: In some countries, like Canada, Finland, Russia, and Alaska, the sun can be visible 24 hours a day for some weeks in the summer. In some regions, this phenomenon can last for up to two and a half months!

Another mind-blowing summer fact is that the Eiffel tower grows by approximately 6 in (15.2 cm) during the summer because of the iron expanding due to the heat.

The divorce rate is the highest in August, which is the middle of summer! This is not a great time for families because the kids have to get back to school in September, and this can affect their education.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, one of the most popular summer foods for Americans is apparently hot dogs! Some surveys state that Americans eat up to 20 million hot dogs this season. That's a lot!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for did you know these facts about summer they might surprise you, then why not take a look at winter facts or winter Olympics facts.