summer solstice = World Music Day – Fête de la Musique

The Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day is a festival taking place on June 21, it’s also the summer solstice most of the time. It began in France and has since spread to Belgium, Britain, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Israel (in Tel-Aviv), China, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan and other countries. New York City will host its first festival in 2007.

The idea was conceived by French Music and Dance director Maurice Fleuret for Minister of Culture Jack Lang in 1981 and first took place in 1982.

It is the occasion of a mass celebration which has grown more and more successful over the last two decades.

Its purpose is to promote music in two ways:

• Amateur musicians are encouraged to perform in the streets. The slogan Faites de la musique (Make music), a homophone of Fête de la Musique, is used to promote this goal.
• Many free concerts are organized, making all genres of music accessible to the public.
• This is one of the only nights in the year where, under French law, there is no sound restriction at nighttime. One can party on without being bothered by neighbors calling the police.

(21 June 2007 | 19:29 – Source: Wikipedia.org)