Supernatural Friday: ReadaScare This Summer

The first day of summer will be here June 21st.  People are thinking of swimming at the pools while others will spend their vacation time at the beach or camping in the mountains. Others will get their thrills and scares on riding roller coasters at amusement parks. Lounging at the pool or at the beach, even camping, will be time for those to catch up on their reading. Many will read scary reads even though Halloween and autumn is over four months away. Horror books are as good a read for the beach or to read indoors in the AC as that latest bestseller by James Patterson. 

What is horror? Horror fiction, horror literature and horror fantasy is a genre of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, scare or startle viewers/readers by inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural. Often the central menace of a work of horror fiction can be interpreted as a metaphor for the larger fears of a society. The genre has ancient origins which were reformulated in the 18th century as Gothic horror, with publication of the Castle of Otranto(1764) by Horace Walpole.

The reader can even revisit old classics. Like Dracula by Bram Stoker, H P. Lovecraft’s tales, those scary tales by Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson's ghost story, The Haunting of Hill House, and many others. Today, horror has changed into many different ways. From urban fantasy. psychological, to gory fiction to weird, science fiction horror, paranormal romance, and Johnny-come-lately term, cozy horror (can being scared ever be called cozy?). 

 

So many ways to give yourself shuddering palpitations of the heart.

So, what are you planning to read this summer? Leave a comment, so others can find these great reads in their local library, or at their bookstore or online estore.

Happy Haunting. . .I mean Reading! 

 

Supernatural Friday: Summer Solstice is Spooky Sometimes

Haunting Summer Solstice Battle

By

Pamela K. Kinney

Only 19% visible;

the solstice moon

looks down

on the battlefield.

Silence,

except for crickets

in the humid night.

From both sides

comes pale, wisps of

shades on horseback

and many on foot.

Noise of battle erupting.

Out of sync,

no reality

Blue against gray,

Union against Confederate,

cannon fire and guns blasting.

Their ectoplasmic war began late,

All due to the

longest day

of the year

Dawn,

the cock crows

and phantoms

vanish with the sun.

Until the next night…

Now for some facts on the upcoming Summer Solstice:

Solstice comes from the Latin words sol, meaning 'Sun' and sistere, meaning 'to come to a stop or stand still'. Astronomers and scientists use the date of the June Solstice to mark the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. For meteorologists on the other hand, summer began almost three weeks ago, on June 1. Even though most people consider June 21 as the date of the June Solstice, it can happen anytime between June 20 and June 22. June 22 Solstices are rare - the last June 22 Solstice in UTC time took place in 1975 and there won't be another one until 2203. This is when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer. In many Northern Hemisphere cultures, the day is traditionally considered to be the mid-point of the summer season. Many European countries hold midsummer celebrations. And though summer in the Northern Hemisphere, many believe that the earth is closest to the sun during the June Solstice. Actually, the earth is farthest from the sun at this time of the year. Our planet will be on its Aphelion a few weeks after the June Solstice.

The Northern Hemisphere has the longest day of the year in terms of daylight; the June Solstice is also called the Summer Solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year and is known as the Winter Solstice.  Solstices happen twice a year - in June and December. The December one takes place around December 21. On this day, the Sun is precisely over the Tropic of Capricorn.

 The sun reaches its northern-most position, as seen from the Earth. At that moment, its zenith does not move north or south as during most other days of the year, but stands still at the Tropic of Cancer. It then reverses its direction, moving south again. The opposite happens during the December Solstice. The sun reaches its southern-most position in the sky - the Tropic of Capricorn - stands still and then reverses its direction towards the north.

June Solstice happens at the same time all over the world, at the exact instant of time when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer. In 2016, this will happen on June 20 at 22:35 UTC.Time zones differences will cause this event to take place on June 21 at locations that are more than one and a half hours ahead of UTC. That includes all of Europe, Russia and Asia.

The earliest sunrise doesn’t happen on this day either. The earliest sunrise happens a few days before and the latest sunset takes place a few days after the June Solstice.  In the Southern Hemisphere, where this day marks the Winter Solstice, the earliest sunset happens a few days before the solstice, and the latest sunrise occurs a few days after it. It is not even the hottest day of the year, the hottest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere happens a few weeks or sometimes months after the Solstice.

Happy First Day of Summer

What are signs of summer? Temperatures rise. The water levels in ponds, lakes, and rivers drop. Lightning bugs brighten the night sky. Nature’s efforts in the spring to fully bloom prove fruitful as the green leaves of various trees shake and rattle in the cool summer breezes and flowers grace our gardens. Summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere on June 20, 7:09 P.M. EDT.

The timing of the solstice each year depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This always happens either June 20 or June 21 in North America, though it depends on the time zone, too.

The word solstice came from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time. This also happens again at the winter solstice.

In temperate regions, the Sun rises higher in the sky throughout the day, and when its rays strike Earth at a more direct angle, this causes the efficient warming called summer. In the winter, just the opposite occurs: The Sun is at its southernmost point and is low in the sky. The rays strike the Northern Hemisphere at an oblique angle and create feeble winter sunlight.

The Sun hangs overhead at its most northern point at "high-noon" on the summer solstice. This then creates more sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere on this day then any other of the year.

Summer Folklore and Verse:

Deep snow in winter, tall grain in summer.–Estonian proverb

When the summer birds take their flight, goes the summer with them.

If it rains on Midsummer's Eve, the filbert crops will be spoiled.–Unknown

One swallow never made a summer.

Easterly winds from May 19 to the 21 indicate a dry summer.

If there are many falling stars during a clear summer evening, expect thunder. If there are none, expect fine weather.