Fun in the Sun: Summertime Traditions Around the World

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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Andrew Devis.

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And I’m Megan Nollet. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

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The family of six climbs into their car for their summer vacation. They take the same trip every year during the first two weeks of August. They bring many bags of clothes and food for their vacation. They drive for several hours to the shore at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They stay in a house that their family owned for more than a hundred years. The house is a two-minute walk from a river. The ocean is a ten-minute walk away.  Each day, the family plays outside in the warm sun. They throw a ball or play with their dogs. In the afternoons, they change into their swim clothes and go to the ocean.

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The beach is over a mile long with thick sand. It runs alongside the ocean. The family can taste the salty sea air on their tongues. White and grey seagulls fly overhead, calling out. The children swim in the cool water. The mother reads a book. The father is sleeping. A small boat passes by. A nearby radio plays soft music. The family stays at the beach for two hours before leaving. They do this every day for two weeks until it is time to drive home. As they drive, they know summer is almost over. Soon they will return to school and work. The weather will become cool. The tree leaves will change colors. Autumn will replace summer. But their memories are still fresh from their time in Cape Cod. They can taste the salty sea air. They see the seagulls rising and diving overhead. 

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Today’s Spotlight looks at summer traditions from different countries around the world. Summer is the warmest season of the year. Summer days have the most hours of sunlight. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer runs from June to September. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer lasts from December to March.

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The day with most hours of sunlight is called the summer solstice. It is in June in the Northern Hemisphere and in December in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere on the solstice, the North Pole points toward the sun, letting the sun’s light hit the hemisphere most directly. This results in the longest amount of daylight.

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Many countries in the Northern Hemisphere (the northern half of the earth) have celebrations on the summer solstice. In Austria, people light bonfires, or large outdoor fires, on mountainsides and hills. The bonfires form symbols when seen from far away. Some symbols are Christian or related to their community. People gather around the fires to share food, drink, music, and dance.

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People in Fairbanks, Alaska, hold the Midnight Sun Festival each year on the summer solstice. The sun can still be seen at midnight on the solstice because Fairbanks is so far north. Thousands of people come to the twelve-hour street fair that runs from noon to midnight.

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In Russia, they celebrate Ivan Kupala Day on the summer solstice. One tradition includes young women floating flowers in rivers. Young men try to catch the flowers because they believe it will help them get married. Writer Laurel Brabson said:

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“The summer solstice shows us that we too have seasons of higher energy and strength. The longest day brings power to our spirits.”

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In the Southern Hemisphere, the South Pole tilts toward the sun on the summer solstice. The solstice happens between December 21^st and December 22^nd, just a few days before Christmas. People in Australia and New Zealand gather on beaches to watch the sun rise on the solstice. They have Christmas parties along with summer solstice celebrations.

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In New Zealand, they celebrate the Maori tradition of “hangi” for large gatherings. Hangi is a tradition that dates back centuries. They slowly cook meat and vegetables for three or four hours about one meter below ground. They place heated stones at the bottom of the hole to create steam and a smoky taste. The food is covered in leaves, placed on the hot stones, and then wet cloths are placed on top.

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In Australia, people go on guided tours through the Capricorn Caves. They are one of the biggest cave systems in the country. During the summer solstice, people can see the sun directly overhead through a cave opening.

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In Cusco, Peru, they hold the Andean Summer Solstice celebration called Capac Raymi, or Royal Feast. Capac Raymi has been celebrated for hundreds of years. It honors the Sun God, Inti. People have parades, music, and dancing. They wear traditional clothing from their ancestors.

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More people go on holiday during the summer than at any other time of year. Children are out of school for summer break. Parents take time off work. It is a chance for families to spend time together. They travel to the water to swim. Or they go to the mountains up north for a break from the heat. Some families camp. Others go to a lake to fish and to drive boats. Writer Regina Brett said:

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“Summer is the yearly permission to do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.”

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Many musicians play concerts during the summer. A concert is a live, public performance of music. At some outdoor concerts, people bring food and blankets so they can listen to music while they eat. Some fans follow their favorite musicians all summer and attend their concerts across the country.

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Food is also a big part of summer. Some people make cold ice cream with heavy cream, vanilla, and milk. Some like to cook outside on a grill. A grill is used to cook foods with heat from below. Some people make drinks and sweets with fruit and sell them outside their homes. People who live near the ocean love to eat fresh fish that they caught that day.

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A perfect summer day is different for everyone. One person might enjoy reading a book by an open window at night. Another could love sailing on the open seas. Some people enjoy growing flowers and vegetables. A woman goes for a run in the morning light. Two older people walk slowly through town while holding hands and remembering all the summers they have spent together. A family of six enjoys an afternoon at the beach on Cape Cod. The mother reads a book while the father sleeps. Their children play in the ocean. White and grey birds fly overhead. A small boat passes by. A nearby radio plays a song that is remembered for years.

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What is your favorite summer tradition? Have you experienced other countries’ summer activities? Which summer activity would you like to experience? You can leave a comment on our website at www.spotlightenglish.com. You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. You can also get Spotlight episodes delivered directly to your Android or Apple device through our free official Spotlight English app.

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The writer of this episode was Peter Anderson. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were adapted for this episode and voiced by Spotlight. No AI or artificial intelligence was used in this episode. Spotlight episodes are written, voiced, and produced by real people for real people, no matter where in the world they live. This episode is called, “Fun in the Sun: Summertime Traditions Around the World.”

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We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight episode. Goodbye.       

Question:

What is your favorite summer tradition? Have you experienced other countries’ summer activities? Which summer activity would you like to experience?