Summer Solstice 2013: Google Doodle Celebrates Longest Day Of The Year [PHOTO]

In the tradition of celebrating everything that is relevant, the latest Google Doodle pays tribute to the summer solstice. The longest day of the year began on Friday at 1:04 a.m. when the sun reached its northernmost point in the sky, yielding the year’s longest stretch of daylight.

The Doodle, which can be seen above the Google search bar, features an animation of five cartoon swimmers bobbing around in the sea as waves wash over them and features a message wishing the search engine's users a happy summer.

The Doodle has been created by artist Christoph Niemann and shows a combined scarf and glove being knitted into the shape of the Google logo.

During the summer solstice 2013, the sun can be seen at its highest point straight overhead along the Tropic of Cancer. Depending on where you live, it’s estimated that there will be up to 16 hours' worth of enjoyable daylight.

Depending on the calendar year, the summer solstice happens annually in December for the Southern Hemisphere and on June 20 or 21 in the northern half of the world.

The summer solstice happens precisely when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined toward the sun, at the degree of 23° 26', at its most extreme. In June, the tilt is toward the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, while the second yearly solstice, the winter solstice in December, is away from the sun in the Southern Hemisphere.

The annual happening is also a time of celebration for Christians and Pagans. In Christianity, the first day of summer marks the festival of St. John the Baptist, and in Paganism followers celebrate what they call "midsummer" with bonfires and feasts.