Summer

Summer, or summertime, is the hottest and brightest of the four temperate seasons. It comes after spring and before autumn.

During summer, days are long and nights are short. This happens around the summer solstice, when the sun rises early and sets late.

The start of summer can change based on climate, tradition, and culture. While it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and the opposite is also true.

Summer is a time when people often enjoy being outside because the weather is warm and sunny.

Etymology

The word "summer" comes from older versions of English. In Middle English, it was "somer," and in Old English, it was "sumor."

Timing

Further information: Meteorological seasons

The meteorological way of measuring seasons says summer is the months of June, July, and August in the northern hemisphere, and December, January, and February in the southern hemisphere. This way, each season starts on the first day of a month and ends on the last day of a month. Many places, like Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Denmark, Russia, and Japan, use this method. In Ireland, summer is from June to August.

In the past, some cultures started summer in May. For example, in Anglo-Saxon England, summer began on May 9th. In places like the United States, summer is often thought to start on Memorial Day weekend and end on Labor Day.

In Australia and New Zealand, summer starts on December 1st and ends in late February.

From an astronomical point of view, summer can be defined by the summer solstice, which is usually around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. This is when the day is longest and the night is shortest.

Weather

See also: Hail, Tropical cyclone, and Wet season

Summer often has hot or warm weather. In places with a Mediterranean climate, summer is usually dry. In other areas, like Eastern Asia, summer can be rainy because of wind patterns. The wet season is when plants grow a lot in areas with a savanna climate.

In the northern Atlantic Ocean, strong storms can happen from June 1 to November 30. The busiest time for these storms in the Atlantic hurricane season is around September 10. Other ocean areas have their own storm patterns.

In the United States and Canada, stormy weather often happens from spring through summer and sometimes into fall. These storms can bring hail, strong winds, and tornadoes, usually in the afternoons and evenings.

Holidays

School breaks

Schools and universities often have a summer break to enjoy warmer weather and longer days. In most countries, children are out of school during this time, though the exact dates can vary. Many families take holidays for a week or two over the summer, especially in Western countries in the Southern Hemisphere, where Christmas and New Year are celebrated.

In the United States, public schools usually end in late May around Memorial Day weekend, while colleges finish in early May. Schools often start again in mid-August. In England and Wales, school ends in mid-July and resumes in early September. In Scotland, the summer holiday starts in late June and ends in mid-to-late August. Canada’s summer holiday begins on the last or second-last Friday in June and ends in late August or early September. In Russia, the summer holiday starts at the end of May and ends on August 31.

In the Southern Hemisphere, school summer holidays often include Christmas and New Year. In Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, school summer holidays start in early December and end in early February, with dates varying by state. South Africa’s school year starts in the second week of January, matching the calendar year. In India, school ends in late April and resumes in early or mid-June. In Cameroon and Nigeria, schools usually start their summer vacation in mid-July and resume in late September or early October.

Public holidays

Many public holidays occur during summer, including:

• Northern Hemisphere

  • Bank holidays in the United Kingdom and Ireland
  • Bastille Day, National Day of France (14 July)
  • Belgian National Day (21 July)
  • Canada Day (1 July)
  • Festa della Repubblica, Italian national day and republic day (2 June)
  • Independence Day (Jordan) (25 May)
  • Independence Day (Pakistan) (14 August)
  • Independence Day (India) (15 August)
  • Independence Day (Indonesia) (17 August)
  • Independence Day (Malaysia) (31 August)
  • Independence Day (United States) (4 July)
  • Juneteenth (United States) (19 June)
  • King's Official Birthday (United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries) (third Saturday in June)
  • Memorial Day (United States) or Victoria Day (Canada) through Labor Day
  • National Day of Singapore (9 August)
  • National Day of Sweden (6 June) and Midsummer, sometimes called the "alternative National Day"
  • Ólavsøka, Faroe Islands (29 July)
  • Swiss National Day (1 August)
  • Victory Day (Turkey) (30 August)

• Southern Hemisphere

  • Australia Day (26 January)
  • Christmas Day (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) in many countries
  • New Year's Day (1 January) and the following day (2 January) in many countries
  • Waitangi Day (6 February) in New Zealand

Activities

During summer, people enjoy spending more time outside because it is warm. Popular activities include going to the beach, having picnics, and playing sports like cricket, association football (soccer), horse racing, basketball, American football, volleyball, skateboarding, baseball, softball, tennis, and golf.

People also enjoy water sports such as water skiing, wakeboarding, swimming, surfing, tubing, and water polo. Every four years, the modern Olympics take place during the summer. In the United States, many TV shows for children start in summer because kids are not in school.

The music and film industries often release popular songs and animated movies in movie theaters during summer. With schools closed, many people travel or take vacations. Teenagers and university students often find summer jobs, and businesses like tourism, restaurants, and shops are very busy.

Children cycling during summer

[Barefoot skiing](/wiki/Barefoot_skiing)

[Fig trees](/wiki/Ficus) bear fruit when summer is near

Using a handheld [fan](/wiki/Fan_\(machine\)) in summer