On June 21st, Udine enthusiastically welcomes the first edition of the Summer Solstice Festival, an event that celebrates the longest day of the year. The term Solstice, from the Latin “sol stetit” which means “the sun stops”, represents the moment in which the sun reaches the highest point in the sky in the northern hemisphere, giving the greatest number of hours of light and the longest night. short of the year.
A thousand-year rite of passage
The Summer Solstice has always had a profound cultural importance, generating numerous traditions and historical anniversaries. This rite of passage celebrates sunlight, a symbol of vitality, spiritual growth and healing. The holiday, in many cultures, is an opportunity to reconnect with nature and its life cycle, strengthening the bond with the surrounding environment.
The social traditions of the Solstice
The Solstice celebrations are characterized by sociality experienced in the open air, like the ancient popular dances where people hold hands, reproducing the spiraling movement of the sun. These social rituals are capable of generating energy and connection within the community. Popular music, a central element of the Solstice celebrations, reigns supreme, bringing joy and cohesion among the participants.
From the pagan tradition to the Christian celebration
Pagan cultures perceived the Summer Solstice as a “midsummer festival”, later transformed by Christianity into the Feast of St. John on June 24th. In Christian theology, John the Baptist is seen as the “preparer of the way for Jesus” and the overlap of the two holidays symbolizes the decline of the sun which begins to decrease after the Summer Solstice, and then increases again with the Winter Solstice.
The Summer Solstice Festival in Udine
The mission of the Summer Solstice Festival in Udine is to relive the metaphysical and social meaning of these ancient traditions. Live music plays a fundamental role in this context, promoting authentic sociality, as opposed to the dependence on social media, which particularly affects the new generations. Studies show that live music increases mental well-being, stimulates self-esteem, closeness to other people and creativity, just like sunlight does.
A social promotion project
The project of Summer Solstice Festival, proposed by the Udin’Nova association, famous for its social promotion projects, involves eleven well-known Udine commercial businesses, which will host genres of music for every taste. From the north of Udine to the Magnolie district, numerous artists will perform: Veronique Acoustic Trio at Loft 23 and Attilio Gabai at DOM Food and Wine for lovers of acoustic covers and original songs, Zoratto Trio at Bar Beethoven, Duo Taricani-Romano at Bar-pastry shop Galimberti, Duo Furci-Despeyroux at Osteria La Ciacarade, Il Guru with Dee Jay Park and Live Band at Cafè Corin for those who appreciate jazz, Zero Six at Caffè Moderno, Duo Migliorin-Palermo at Osteria Ai Barnabiti, The New Blues Bang at the Giangio Garden, and for cinema lovers, the Bobyreva-Angileri Duo at the Bar Ambarabà.
Details and further information
The artistic direction was entrusted to the singer Kamilla Karginova and the project enjoys the support of the municipal administration, fitting into the rich calendar of events of Udinestate 2024. For more details on the participating venues and the concerts scheduled for June 21st, visit the official website solstiziodestate.com.
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