Revellers all over the northern hemisphere celebrate the coming of summer
The summer solstice on June 21, which is longest day of the year, marks the official start of the hottest season. People around the world find their own special ways to celebrate the coming of summer, and this year the festivities were nothing short of spectacular, including everything from outdoor urban yoga to massive beach bonfires.
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About 20,000 people started their day at Stonehenge, watching the sun rise beyond the ancient stones and participating in pagan festivities
Examining the sky from Macedonia's 4,000-year-old megalithic observatory, Kokino
A breathtaking mountain-top view of the sunrise
New York's Times Square became a giant yoga mat for the day
Residents of Qionghai, China cool off in the Wanquan River
The day ended with a gorgeous, fiery sunset in Brunswick, Maine
Bonfires have been a apart of solstice celebrations since pre-Roman times. In Europe they are set ablaze to symbolically give strength to the sun
Russian neo-pagans gathered in a forest 60 kilometres from Moscow, where they took part in the traditional Kupalo festival
Just days after the solstice, the Spanish village of San Pedro Manrique celebrated the night of Saint John which saw revellers dance over hot coals as the sun went down
In Barcelona, special celebrations for Saint John included bonfires on the beach and street performances
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