On June 21st, the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. To celebrate, here is a quiz covering historical events, birthdays, and cultural milestones that occurred on this date. Test your knowledge and see how many you can answer correctly.
Historical Events on June 21st
On June 21st, 1611, English explorer Henry Hudson was set adrift with his son and seven others in Hudson Bay by mutineers. Hudson had earlier tried to discover a short route from Europe to Asia through the Arctic Ocean. In 1948, the Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), the first electronic stored-program computer, was built at the Victoria University of Manchester. It was also known as the "Manchester Baby." In 1970, Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the World Cup Final, a match widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history.
Famous Birthdays on June 21st
Several notable figures were born on June 21st. In 1944, Ray Davies, frontman and chief songwriter of The Kinks, was born. The band was a key part of the 1960s British Invasion and known for hits like "You Really Got Me" and "Waterloo Sunset." In 1982, Prince William, the current Prince of Wales, was born.
Astronomy and the Summer Solstice
The summer solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the sun. If you are standing at the Equator during the June Solstice, the sun is tilted to the North. The astronomical term for the point in Earth’s orbit when it is furthest from the sun is aphelion, which actually occurs in early July. Thousands of people gather at Stonehenge for the summer solstice to watch the sun rise behind the Heel Stone (or Friar's Heel). Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, England.
Pop Culture and Music Trivia
Donna Summer, known as the "Queen of Disco," had massive hits with "I Feel Love" and "Hot Stuff." The song "Summer Nights" is featured in the 1978 film "Grease." "In the Summertime" was released by Mungo Jerry in 1970. The Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun" was written by George Harrison and released in 1969. The 2013 Tony Award Best Musical "Kinky Boots" had music and lyrics written by Cyndi Lauper, a female pop star of the 1980s.
Literature and Shakespeare
In William Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the mischievous fairy who serves King Oberon is named Puck (or Robin Goodfellow). The novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover" by D.H. Lawrence features the full name of the gamekeeper as Oliver Mellors. The word "lupine" refers to a wolf.
General Knowledge Questions
The last British Governor of Hong Kong was Chris Patten, who served from July 1992 until the transfer of sovereignty to China on June 30, 1997. An IQ score of 100 represents average intelligence. The University of East Anglia is located in Norwich. King Midas turned everything he touched to gold. The kookaburra is a member of the kingfisher family. In the TV sitcom "Cheers," Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger, was a mail carrier. The six founding members of the European Union were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
More June 21st Facts
On June 21st, 1970, David Attenborough departed on a historic, three-year voyage aboard the RRS John Biscoe to film the pioneering nature documentary series "Life in the Antarctic." On June 21st, 1937, the BBC televised coverage of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships for the first time. Wimbledon is located in the London Borough of Merton. Also on June 21st, 1937, The Lancet published a pioneering paper by Dr. Philip Hench on the beneficial effects of using cortisone to treat arthritis. Pagan traditions associate the summer solstice with the battle between the Oak King (light and summer) and the Holly King (darkness and winter). London gets roughly 16 hours of daylight on the summer solstice. Pimm's, a traditional British summer drink, was invented by a farmer's son in London in the 1820s. Asparagus has a traditional UK harvesting season that ends on the Summer Solstice to allow the plant to store energy for the following year.
