Isn't a Solstice What You Put On Your Bunions & Boils?

My grandmother, God rest her soul, used to ask us all the time to look at that thing on her shoulder. Of course, there wasn't a thing that could be done about it, but I do recall her givin us a recipe for something like a solstice. It involved baking soda and clay and seltzer water, I think.


Anyway, the Principessa says we got it all wrong, that a solstice is "more celestial" in nature. 
Okay.
It's your party, ma'am.


So naturally we went to the world's highest authority again, and damn if she ain't right. Again. 


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice

The summer solstice occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the summer solstice is an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used like Midsummer to refer to the day on which it occurs.

Oh! MIDSUMMER! Now we're talkin the same language.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer

Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 to June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different cultures. 

SO, little missy (we said to the Principessa), you must be draggin up your European roots (are they red, too?) to expose us all to a little culture down on the farm. We are: Ever. So. Grateful.


In fact, we're thoroughly intrigued now.
How 'bout y'all come and frolic about with us? And bring that cousin of yours. And a bottle of the hard stuff. And some chicken. Cooked ones, that is...

The Principessa takes some damn good shots.
But then it ain't that hard when your subject looks like this...

Summer Solstice, right here in Swanky Rosanky. Who'da thunk it?