First day of summer or midsummer?

Midsummer, also known as St John's Day, is the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, and more specifically the Northern European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice or take place on a day between June 21 and June 25 and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different cultures. Because he was alleged to have been born on that day, the Christian Church designated June 24 as the feast day of the St John the Baptist, and the observance of St John's Day begins the evening before, known as St John's Eve. These are commemorated by many Christian denominations.^[ Midsummer is especially important in the cultures of Scandinavia, and the Baltics. In Sweden the Midsummer is such an important festivity that there have been serious discussions to make the Midsummer's Eve into the National Day of Sweden, instead of 6 June. It may also be referred to as St. Hans Day.

The summer solstice is today, June 21, 2014, in the northern hemisphere.

Call it midsummer or the start of summer, it's a day to celebrate however you choose.

I note that making John the Baptist's birthday today (there is no historical evidence for choosing the date) made it fall six months before the birth of Jesus. Since Luke 1:21 says that Gabriel visited Mary to announce the incarnation of Jesus "in the sixth month," this has been understood as meaning in the sixth month of the pregnancy of Elizabeth (mother of the Baptist). Which would mean Jesus would be born six months after John. Since the date for Christmas was associated with the winter solstice, that put John near the summer solstice. I also puts John in a certain sense at the turning-of-the-year, in other words, makes his birth a hinge in history representing the opening of a new door.