The editor and staff of Heritage and Destiny wish all readers a very happy Summer Solstice today.

Europeans have celebrated this day since Neolithic times, marking the turning point of the year and its longest day.

Whatever your religion (or lack of religion), the Solstice is a time when we are in touch with our ancestors, and when we renew our commitment to preserve European identity.

At this time we also pay tribute to the astonishing ingenuity of our ancestors in creating monuments associated with the Solstice, notably Stonehenge in Wiltshire, whose construction began more than 5,000 years ago.

This year the Solstice happens to coincide with the European football championships, though how European some of the ‘national’ teams are is very questionable!

It also coincides with a UK General Election campaign, on which H&D will be reporting further in the next few days.

For electoral and other reasons, as Europe faces military assault from the Kremlin and cultural assault from within, it would be easy to despair.

But the Solstice reminds us that our culture has survived many threats. Europeans have a great future as well as a great past. All we need is the will to assert our identity: pride in the achievements and continuing potential of our race.