The June solstice is almost here. On Saturday, June 21st, 2025, at 05:42 in the morning, the sun will reach its highest point over Gulbene—and we’ll be living our longest day of the year.
It’s hard to ignore. The light stretches forever. Evening feels like afternoon, and morning arrives so early that the birds start singing before I’ve even had a chance to dream. We’ve earned this light after the dark and quiet of winter. And now, everything is buzzing with energy—plants, people, bees, and birds.
🌿 Solstice in Nature Practice
For those who live in rhythm with the land, the solstice isn’t just a fun fact on the calendar—it’s a turning point. In herbal traditions, it’s believed that plants gathered around midsummer hold the strongest healing energy. The sun’s power is at its peak, and the herbs soak it all in.
I’m collecting herbs whenever the weather allows it! Some years the herbs are blooming way before the summer solstice, sometimes only starts to bloom later in July. It depends on weather. I susually collect few: yarrow, meadowsweet, clover, ladys mentel and this year also dasy 🙂
It’s also the perfect time to refresh my herbal jars, write in my grimoire, or make a flower crown with my girls—something simple and a little bit magical.
🔥 The Fire That Waits
We’ll soon celebrate Jāņi, Latvia’s beloved midsummer festival, with bonfires, songs, wreaths, and laughter echoing into the night. But the solstice itself is quieter. More personal. A moment to greet the morning sun with bare feet in dew and a cup of tea in hand. To whisper a thank-you to the season, to the garden, to the light. This year, I hope to rise early, maybe before the rest of the house wakes, and step outside. Just to stand there in the soft glow of 5:42 AM, knowing I am part of something older than time.
Do you feel the pull of the solstice too?
Ilze
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a day in the life of a latvian mom 
Would love to be in Latvia for Jāņi’s day, all that lovely food and alus. 2016 was the last time I was in Latvia for the summer solstice, we went down to the river Daugava in Riga, it was a lovely night. Maybe next year I hope. Have a great celebration. Do you have the cheese with carraway seeds ?
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Of course, we always buy cheese with caraway seeds! One year, I even made it myself—and it turned out delicious, just like my grandmother used to make! As for being here, don’t worry—it’s been too cold and rainy this year, definitely not great for relaxing or having fun. My girls have only gone swimming once so far!
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How can we be at the solstice already? Time flies way too fast, Ilze. Tomorrow also means that I am exactly half way through my 64th year.
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You just had a birthday! Come on! Maybe here summer is terrible and feels like forever, but you just turned 64 🙂
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Yes, 6 months ago and the older I get, the faster time seems to pass. My sister noticed this too but of course time doesn’t speed up. Or so humans believe…
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Come on, I’m looking forward to retirement…and now you are saying, it flies fast! Come on! I want to do what I want, when I want… no work, no kids! Not ready to “fly through” that!
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I totally understand what you mean, Ilze, I didn’t mean to make you feel grumpy or sad. This just is what it is. The way I see it. You are young, in good health and have a great family, be happy! 😊❤️
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Thank you! I’m not the one who walks around singing and laughing… life happens and sometimes it’s hard 😦
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Yes, it sure is at times, Ilze. Good times bad times, but it all eventually passes and things improve. That’s what I’ve seen in almost 65 years on this blue marble floating in space…
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🙂 true!
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A de-light-ful day
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😀
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I hope you and your family had a very Happy Solstice! 🙂
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Oh, yes, thank you! We had a lovely time: https://latvianmom.com/2025/06/24/our-ligo-and-jani-bonfire-tradition-and-trout/
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I enjoyed your writing about your country’s summer solstice. Sounds to beautiful. I love when people share what their country does on summer solstice. One of the first things I notice here in Greenland when spring comes is the singing of the very small birds we have here. They are out and about all day and as the day gets longer, I can still hear them singing even late in the evening hours while the sun is still so bright in the sky. Thank you so much for sharing yours with us!
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Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 😊 I loved hearing about your experience too—the image of tiny birds singing late into the bright evenings sounds absolutely magical. There’s something so special about those small signs of changing seasons, isn’t there? I can just imagine how peaceful and full of life Greenland must feel in spring. Thank you for sharing that little moment—it made me smile! 💚
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We just had our shortest day. Looking forward to more sun.
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It’s so interesting, when we have summer, you have winter. Christmas without snow 🙂
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