The midpoint of summer officially occurs on August 6, 2024, meaning summer is half over. Depending on how your summer is going, this is either good news or bad news. But one thing is constant for everyone: it is getting darker earlier in the evening. Since the Summer Solstice on June 20, the length of daylight has been getting shorter; a result of the Sun’s direct rays migrating back toward the south.
Summer is when the Sun reaches 90 degrees of longitude, and fall begins when the Sun reaches 180 degrees longitude. The midpoint, therefore, comes when the Sun reaches 135 degrees longitude and, in 2024, this occurs on August 6.
Traditional Midpoint of Summer – Lammas Day
While August 6th is the official midpoint of summer, the traditional midpoint of the summer season actually occurs on August 1st, which is marked on some Christian calendars as Lammas Day, one of the four traditional “cross-quarter” days midway between the solstices and the equinoxes.
The name is derived from the Old English “loaf-mass,” because it was once observed as a harvest festival. In fact, Lammas Day comes almost exactly six months after Groundhog Day, the traditional midpoint of winter. Celebrations of Lammas Day include baking of bread, and enjoying a feast with friends and family.
Amount of Daylight is Decreasing…Quickly!
If you think about it, the length of daylight was rather substantial since about the middle of May. And the lowering of the Sun’s path across the sky and the diminishing of the daylight hours was rather subtle during the first half of the summer season.
So enjoy the last half of the summer season and get in as much of your favorite activities as you can before there’s a chill in the air and darkness wins out over daylight.
Join the Discussion
Are you enjoying summer or do you like the cooler seasons better?
What’s your favorite part of summer?
Ah, if I could spend summer lingering at a lake house, I’d enjoy it much more! I do love the fresh foods of the season, but look forward to the crisp air of fall. 🍃🍁🍂
I will most likely be one of the few that is not a summer lover.
Summer begins and can’t wait for fall.
It does have the positive of all the fruits and vegetables grown locally with a freshness that is undeniable.
So happy summer to all that enjoy.
Laura ~ I’m with you! I love the cold weather and dread the summers’ heat every year.
i wanted to prove my birthday was “the official midpoint of summer” (you know, aug 7th)
I ENDED UP LEARNING THINGS AND NOW IM SAD
Gosh, I cannot wait for summer! It’s the end of January right now. Ugh#
For me it’s summer right now though you did write this comment 5 months ago so would have been February where I was at the time of this comment!
Wait a minute, it January when you wrote this comment you know what? Just ignore my comment then! Even though it is summer!