The Summer Solstice 2011, the longest day of the year and also the official beginning of the summer season, officially arrived on Tuesday, June 21.

Typically the summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest daylight hours except in the polar regions, where daylight is continuous for many months during the spring and summer.

The Summer Solstice, also referred as “Midsummer”, occurs exactly when Earth’s axial tilt is most inclined towards the Sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. This is the time when the Sun is at its highest, or most northerly, point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere.

Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs between December 21 and December 22 each year in the Southern Hemisphere, and between June 20 and June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. However, for those in the southern hemisphere Tuesday marked the the winter solstice.

The word Solstice is derived from Latin ‘sol’ which means sun and ‘sistere’ which means to cause to stand still because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination that is, the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south comes to a stop before reversing direction.

For many Christian communities, summer solstice marks the festival of St. John the Baptist.

As per some Pagan beliefs, this point of the year marks the marriage of God and Goddess and a celebration of growth and life.

Bonfires and feasts, replete with pre-Christian libations and cured meats, are common in the celebrations of both traditions.

Here's a look at some of the unique celebrations around the world:

Revellers surround the ancient Stonehenge
Revellers surround the ancient Stonehenge monument prior to the summer solstice on Salisbury plain in southern England June 21, 2011. Stonehenge is a celebrated venue of festivities during the summer solstice - the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - and it attracts thousands of revellers, spiritualists and tourists. Druids, a pagan religious order dating back to Celtic Britain, believe Stonehenge was a centre of spiritualism more than 2,000 years ago. REUTERS
Revellers surround the ancient Stonehenge monument as the sun rises
Revellers surround the ancient Stonehenge monument as the sun rises during summer solstice on Salisbury plain in southern England June 21, 2011. Stonehenge is a celebrated venue of festivities during the summer solstice - the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - and it attracts thousands of revellers, spiritualists and tourists. Druids, a pagan religious order dating back to Celtic Britain, believe Stonehenge was a centre of spiritualism more than 2,000 years ago. REUTERS
People practice yoga on the morning of the summer solstice in New Yorks Times Square June 21, 2010. The eighth annual quotSolstice in Times Squarequot event on Monday brought out thousands of participants to celebrate the years longest day
A San Diego judge ruled that yoga as it is taught in local public schools is not religious. Reuters
Summer Solstice
Chief druid Arthur Pendragon leads incantations during the summer solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on Salisbury plain in southern England June 21, 2011. REUTERS
Summer and Winter Solstice
Aymara witch doctors attend the sunrise of the winter solstice ceremony in Tiwanaku Reuters
Summer and Winter Solstice
Bolivia's President Evo Morales participates in sunrise celebrations of the winter solstice ceremony in Tiwanaku Reuters
Summer and Winter Solstice
Pagans celebrate the solstice Reuters
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