What comes to mind when you think of the word “summer”? Maybe it brings to mind images of relaxation and escape, with long days spent soaking up the sun. Perhaps it’s a time to work harder, capitalizing on the season’s growth and harvest to prepare for the months ahead. Or is it the season for your favorite holiday, filled with warm and vibrant celebrations? Even with the universal experience of the changing seasons, how we experience summer across cultures shows that #culturematters.

The word “summer” itself is a fascinating cultural study. Its English variant has cognates such as somer (Afrikaans), hama (Armenian), and zomer (Dutch). The etymology of “summer” in various languages traces back to different root words, each inspiring unique associations. For instance, the Latin aestas (meaning burn or fire) reflects the season’s intense heat.

One of the most exciting aspects of summer is the array of vibrant festivals that come to life around the world. If you find yourself in Buñol, Spain in August, be sure to pack a change of clothes–you may get caught in La Tomatina, a playful food fight festival where participants joyfully throw tomatoes at each other! While some festivals like La Tomatina are more playful, others have ancient roots steeped in spiritual traditions.

Take the Wianki Festival in Poland, for example. This event has its origins in an ancient pagan fertility festival. The name “Wianki,” meaning “wreaths,” refers to the traditional practice of women weaving wreaths (a symbol of the cyclical nature of the seasons) and sending them down streams in the hopes that a love interest would find them. Although the festival has grown to include fireworks and live concerts, the tradition of sending wreaths down streams every June endures.

Curious to learn more about summer across cultures? Check out our infographic below!