Around the world, summer is experienced and celebrated in many different ways. Some languages describe it with words that evoke warmth and light, others associate it with rest, harvest or memory.
In Italy, summer is estate, from the Latin aestas, which recalls the heat of the sun. Its symbolic moment is Ferragosto, on 15 August: a day of trips, outdoor lunches, fireworks and relaxation. A pause that is both sacred and secular, bringing the whole country together under the sign of conviviality.
In Sweden, the warm season is short but intensely celebrated with Midsommar, the summer solstice. People dance around the majstång, weave flower crowns and share traditional dishes. It is a ritual of light after the long Nordic winters.
In Japan, summer is natsu (夏), and it carries a sense of memory. The Obon festival in August is dedicated to ancestors: lanterns are lit, dances are performed, and people reflect on the cyclical nature of life. A spiritual, introspective summer.
In East Africa, the Swahili word kiangazi conveys the idea of heat and dryness. In Tanzania, summer is a time of sherehe—celebrations—often linked to the harvest. People sing, dance and give thanks to the spirits of the land for the fruits received.
Finally, in Peru, in Cusco, 24 June marks the celebration of Inti Raymi, the ancient “Festival of the Sun” in honour of the Inca god. A grand event of costumes, music and rituals that welcomes the return of light and celebrates the connection with the earth.
Whether it is été, summer, verano, natsu, ṣayf or kiangazi, summer speaks many languages and tells similar emotions: vitality, lightness, pause, transition. It is a season that teaches us to slow down, to listen to the warmth of life, and to enjoy the present.
For us at Finking, too, summer is a time rich in encounters, interpreting assignments and words to translate. It is also the moment when, even between one conference and another event, we allow ourselves a pause to reflect on the meaning of our work: being a bridge between cultures, in every season. ☀️
