Today, along with being Father's Day, is the Summer Solstice or first day of summer. It is also known as Alban Heflin, Alben Heruin, All-couples day, Feast of Epona, Feast of St. John the Baptist, Feill-Sheathain, Gathering Day, Johannistag, Litha, Midsummer, Sonnwend, Thing-Tide, and Vestalia.

Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days get longer, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still. It is in fact, the longest day of the year and the shortest night.