Many people regard the summer solstice as having a spiritual significance, as indeed it has for many religions. Midsummer Day has been a cause for celebration as far back as the building of Stonehenge, some 5000 years ago.

Yet, it’s often tinged with sadness. As the ancient Chinese used to say, “On Midsummer Day, winter is born.”

Strangely, here in England the birds stop singing, usually because they’ve finished nesting. But it all adds to the slight sense of foreboding we feel when the top of the curve is reached, and the rest is all downhill. It’s a little like reaching the age of 40.

Again, the ancients had a cure: “Live in the moment. Take no heed of the morrow.” That may have been possible then, but it’s not so easy nowadays when we’re urged to plan for our pensions in our early twenties — or face “Pensioner Poverty”.

Before I depress you all, let me tell you Adelle has got a much more cheerful piece on the solstice over at Spirit of Place.