Last weekend we had the summer solstice, the longest day of the year with the light of day lasting until late in the evening.

The solstice is one of the most underrated days of the year. There’s very little special celebrating, no day off for wage earners.

I think there’s a bias against solstices and equinoxes because they were a part of pagan religion. They were a time for reckless celebration, something that went too far for conservative religious beliefs.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about it in his short story “The Maypole of Merrymount” about a Puritan minister who led the destruction of a flower adorned maypole. It reflected a pagan tradition giving way to a modern version of ethics.

In recent years there’s been some interest in celebrating the summer solstice. I went to a party a few years ago in Omaha given by a friend of my sister and brother in law. It was a good opportunity to just relax and enjoy a highlight of the summer.

There are many things to like about the summer solstice. It’s the one time of year when you can go to bed at sunset and get up early when the sun comes up.

Flowers are blooming. Timely million dollar rains are a signal for the potential of bumper crops. It’s a good occasion for morning or evening walks.

I think it deserves holiday status. We recently made June 19 a holiday, so we might as well do the same thing for the solstice and give everyone of three-day vacation. It would be a good way to celebrate summer before the Fourth of July.

There are people who don’t like holidays. It seems like there’s nothing to do. The libraries, museums and senior centers are all closed.

It’s a time to slow down the pace. It’s a time for a break in the action. It might be an occasion to do something that doesn’t fit into a typical week.

The winter solstice has holiday spirit since it’s close to Christmas. It’s often a gloomy day when it gets dark in the afternoon. We light up the Christmas and enjoy a hot beverage. We find ways to celebrate.

In the summer it should just come naturally. It’s a bright, sun-filled time of the year, The school year is over. Kids are enjoying summer activities.

It’s a good occasion to think about all the ways that we’re fortunate. We have pleasant, safe communities. We have good quality housing. We have enough food. There are many reasons to be thankful, many reasons to enjoy the year’s longest day.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent