Plan a midsummer solstice swim

This month why not celebrate midsummer with a sunrise or sunset swim, says Editor Ella Foote, who is also an open water swim coach, swim guide and teacher

In June, in the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the summer solstice and often the best way to celebrate is with a cool dip at sunrise.

There is a long history of marking the summer solstice across Europe, in pagan traditions and in the UK. Often there can be confusion about when exactly we should celebrate. In Nordic countries, they have major national holidays and celebrate midsummer on the Saturday closest to June 24. Pagans and many in the UK focus on the solstice, which falls between 20-22 June, but this can be puzzling as 21 June is also the first day of astronomical summer. Solstice comes from the Latin solstitium, which means ‘sun standing still’. It is the longest day when we have the most daylight hours. This means that it can be a bittersweet time as, after this date, days start to get shorter again as we head towards winter.

For many cultures and individuals, the summer solstice is a time to connect with nature. In Scandinavian, Slavic and Baltic countries, midsummer celebrations often involve rituals that include water, lakes and rivers. Water often represents renewal and so swimming in wild water can be a great way to cleanse or honour the changing season. Many choose to skinny-dip wearing only a flower crown.

If you haven’t marked the solstice before, this is a great time to organise a sunrise dip with like-minded souls. Many open water venues now offer sunrise swimming on June 21, which this year is at 4.43am, but you can also plan your own swim. It could be a chance to find somewhere new or head to the coast for a sea swim.

Here are my tips for a solstice celebration swim:

• Find a swim spot that is a little more secluded or wild. Perhaps where you can see the sunrise
• Invite like-minded swim pals
• Prepare a midsummer crown – flexible foliage like weeping willows works!
• Pack swim kit according to conditions – it’s not always sunny on 21 June!
• Make a light breakfast and bring a flask
• Set the alarm, and allow plenty of time to get to the destination for sunrise
• Take a journal and take time to reflect on your year so far and the months ahead.
• Take a moment in the water to be absorbed in the moment and show gratitude.

If sunrise is too challenging or difficult with other life-demands, you can always celebrate the sunset instead.