Juhannus (Since 1955, the holiday Juhannus has always been on a Saturday (between June 20 and June 26). Earlier it was always on June 24. Many of the celebrations of midsummer take place on Friday, midsummer eve, when many workplaces are closed and shops may close their doors at noon. In the Finnish midsummer celebration, bonfires (Finnish kokko) are very common and are burned at lakesides and by the sea. Often branches from birch trees (koivu) are placed on both side of the front door to welcome visitors. Swedish-speaking Finns often celebrate by erecting a midsummer or maypole (Swedish midsommarstång, majstång). Some Swedish-speaking Finns call the holiday Johannes or Johanni after the Finnish term juhannus – or more accurately after the Biblical John the Baptist (="Johannes Döparen" in Swedish). In folk magic, midsummer was a very potent night and the time for many small rituals, mostly for young maidens seeking suitors and fertility. Will-o'-the-wisps were believed to appear at midsummer night, particularly to finders of the mythical "fern in bloom" and possessors of the "fern seed", marking a treasure. In the old days, maidens would use special charms and bend over a well, naked, in order to see their future husband's reflection. In another tradition that continues still today, an unmarried woman collects seven different flowers and places them under her pillow to dream of her future husband. An important feature of the midsummer in Finland is the white night and the midnight sun. Because of Finland's location around the Arctic Circle the nights near the midsummer day are short (with twilight even at midnight) or non-existent. This gives a great contrast to the darkness of the winter time. The temperature can vary between 0 °C and +30 °C, with an average of about 20 °C in the South. Many Finns leave the cities for Midsummer and spend time in the countryside. Nowadays many spend at least a few days there, and some Finns take their whole vacation at a summer cottage. Traditions include bonfires, cookouts, sauna and spending time together with friends or family. Heavy drinking is also associated with the Finnish midsummer, which is one common reason for the increase in the number of accidents, such as drowning. Many music festivals of all sizes are organized on the Midsummer weekend. It is also common to start summer vacation on Midsummer day. For many families Midsummer is the time when they move to the countryside to their summer cottage by the sea or lake. Midsummer is also a Finnish Flag Day: the national flag is hoisted at 6 pm on Midsummer's Eve and flown throughout the night until 9 pm the next evening. This is an exception to the normal rule of flying the flag from 8 am to sunset. Finnish Canadians in the New Finland district, Saskatchewan, Canada celebrate Juhannus. In Finland, the summer solstice was originally known as "Ukon Juhla", after the Finnish sky god Ukko. This tradition was replaced when Christianity was adopted, with the festival becoming "Juhannus", in honour of John the Baptist whose feast day was close enough to Midsummer to make it a suitable replacement)

Sorry, no closed caption, so no translation. Guess someone couldn't find a Finnish translator. I've heard Finnish is one of the hardest languages to learn. I don't think I've mentioned that 3 of my grandparents have Finnish ancestry. So, I only know a few words in Finnish although my mother used to say that it was more "Finnglish" that she was taught and passed on to me..................

Calling it a night...................................

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27) - Each year both America and South Korea observe National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27. This day was started as a way to commemorate and recognize the peace treaty that triggered a cease-fire in a long-standing war. The Korean War is a significant chapter in American history in which approximately 50,000 American troops died in the conflict, over 100,000 were wounded, and thousands of others were held captive as prisoners of war. On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, we are encouraged to take some moments for reflection on the service and sacrifices of American troops during this conflict.

Lixia (is the 7th solar term according to the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which divides a year into 24 solar terms (??). It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 45° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 60°. The word Lixia most often refers specifically to the first day of this period, the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 45°. In the Gregorian calendar, this is around May 5, and the Lixia period ends with the beginning of the next solar term, Xiaoman, around May 21. Lixia signifies the beginning of summer in Chinese culture, and due to the importance of summer in the agrarian society of ancient China, the day is associated with many cultural traditions, which vary by region. Each solar term can be divided into three pentads (?). They are the first pentad (??), second pentad (??), and last pentad (??). Lixia's pentads are: First pentad: simplified Chinese: ???; traditional Chinese: ???; pinyin: lóu guo míng – crickets start to chirp, Second pentad: Chinese: ???; pinyin: qiuyin chu – earthworms come out, Last pentad: Chinese: ???; pinyin: wánggua sheng – melon plants begin to bear fruit)

Shi Changhong, a designer from southern China's Guizhou Province, recently became an Internet star. He and his team spent a year creating gifs of China's 24 solar terms, which amazed the Internet. Chinese netizens have praised his work, remarking that people could learn a lot about China just by looking through these pictures..........

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Animals and Solar Terms: Lixia

01:13 The footsteps of spring fade away, and the bright laughter of summer comes. East Asian countries say goodbye to spring and welcome the seventh Chinese solar term: Lixia, on May 5 this year.Lixia is a solar term marking the growth of all things into the peak season. The name reflects the wisdom of the ancient...

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24 Solar Terms: Lixia | The Beginning of Summer, or Lixia in Chinese, is the seventh solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar. | By China Xinhua News | Facebook

The Beginning of Summer, or Lixia in Chinese, is the seventh solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar.

Wish I would've found these when I did Xiaoshu (Minor Heat)

This is the one for your post, Xiazhi..................

Calling it a night........................

Music Under the Stars - Iroquois Amphitheater 85th Anniversary - Join us for a FREE celebration of the 85th anniversary of the Iroquois Amphitheater! In partnership with American Musical Productions, we will be showcasing musical numbers from shows such as "Naughty Marietta," "Show Boat," "The Desert Song," "Anything Goes," "The Student Prince" and many more! Featuring soloists Emily Albrink, Chad Sloan, Erin Alcorn, Tristan Tournaud and a 25-piece orchestra and chorus under the direction of Joseph Rubin for a night of music under the stars! Admission is FREE, no tickets required, gates open at 6:00 PM!

Located in Louisville.

Nation's Summer Capital (The city of Rehoboth Beach may be one square mile, but The Nation's Summer Capital provides plenty of entertainment for all during the season. Founded in 1873, the city was originally founded as a camp meeting ground and Christian seaside resort. It was incorporated in 1891 as Cape Henlopen City and then renamed to Rehoboth two years later. While the year-round population may be 1,327, according to the 2010 census, the resort city can have upwards of 40,000 in it on a summer day. Rehoboth Beach gained the nickname, "The Nation's Summer Capital" because of the reputation it has for vacationers coming from Washington, D.C. The city's mile-long boardwalk was originally built in 1873, and has changed and been rebuilt several times, thanks to storms. New for 2014, smoking is now prohibited on the boardwalk and is limited on the beach to certain designated areas)

Jungle Jim's Waterpark...........

Funland.................

The current "Summer White House"..................

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Exploring the "Nation's Summer Capital" of Rehoboth Beach | This week, we celebrate our "Nation's Summer Capital" Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. From the treasured, local icons that have become as much a part of life... | By The Oldfather Group Compass Real Estate Agents | Facebook

This week, we celebrate our "Nation's Summer Capital" Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. From the treasured, local icons that have become as much a part of life...

I believe this I got the idea for this one from the Microsoft Rewards..................

One Voice Day (July 26) - is a day that revolves around the world joining together and forgetting all the differences of race, religion, and boundaries. Yes, this day is all about committing to the cause of world peace so our future generations never have to experience war. The essence of the day lies in making a promise of peace and unity by reciting the Universal Peace Covenant. To celebrate this day to the fullest, understand why peace is important and how it can make the world a better place. With the recent violent events, wars, and instability taking place around the world, it has become extremely important to bring together like-minded individuals who can call for global peace and unity. A lot of bias, hate, and misinformation exists in today’s world. Active efforts are required to highlight what people from around the globe have in common and One Voice Day is the perfect day to do so. 

Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio; from Latin pallium) is a horse race held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards. The Palio held on 2 July is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia [it] area of the city. The Palio held on 16 August is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary. Sometimes, in case of exceptional events or local or national anniversaries deemed relevant and pertinent ones, the city community may decide for an extraordinary Palio, run between May and September, such as on 9 September 2000, to celebrate the city entering the new millennium and on 20 October 2018, in commemoration of the centenary of the end of the Great War. The Corteo Storico, a pageant to the sound of the March of the Palio, precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. The race itself, in which the jockeys ride bareback, circles the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of earth has been laid. The race is run for three laps of the piazza and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is common for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza, and indeed, it is not unusual to see riderless horses finishing the race. A horse is not required to have a rider to win the race. The earliest known antecedents of the race are medieval. The town's central piazza was the site of public games, largely combative: pugna, a sort of many-sided boxing match or brawl; jousting; and in the 16th century, bullfights. Public races organized by the contrade were popular from the 14th century onwards; called palii alla lunga [it], they were run across the whole city. When the Grand Duke of Tuscany outlawed bullfighting in 1590, the contrade took to organizing races in the Piazza del Campo. The first such races were on buffalo-back and called bufalate; asinate, races on donkey-back, later took their place, while horse racing continued elsewhere. The first modern Palio (called palio alla tonda to distinguish it from the earlier palio alla lunga) took place in 1633)

Palio alla tonda, 1633 by Bernardino Capitelli....................

Calling it a night..................

Quilt Odyssey Week - Held in Hershey, PA the last Thursday thru Saturday in July. It appears this may not occur anymore because the founder passed away.

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival (is an annual event that takes place on the 2nd Saturday in August every year. It has been held since 1948 and has grown to over 20,000 festival-goers each year. The event celebrates local watermelons by providing fun for the whole family and features a seed-spitting contest, an arts and craft fair featuring over 100 vendors, carnival rides, live entertainment, stage shows, on-site food vendors and a classic automotive show)

In 1969, this giant watermelon float would travel parade routes with its queen, 16-year-old Carla Cast.................

Off to work...............................

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally - is a motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, and the surrounding Black Hills region of the United States. It began in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and races. Since then, the rally has become a pluralistic endeavor that consists of events put on by many different groups. Attendance has historically been around 500,000 people, reaching a high of over 700,000 in 2015. The event starts on the first Friday in August and takes place over 10 days. It generates around $800 million in annual revenue.