This Saturday marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day in the southern, the summer and winter solstice. Humans have been celebrating these events for millennia and on modern-day solstice days, ancient and new traditions mix around the world.

Some of the best-known summer solstice festivities take place in Sweden, which celebrates its famous Midsommar festivals. Gatherings include weaving wreaths from flowers, errecting a decorated pole, lighting fires and of course feasting. Midsummer traditions are also practiced in other Scandinavian as well as Baltic countries, all of whom are sun-deprived during the winter months.

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