Stonehenge enthusiasts celebrated the first sunrise following the Winter Solstice within 24 hours of toasting the new day on the shortest year.
Although the moment of solstice (when the northern hemisphere was farthest away from the sun) occurred at 3.59pm yesterday afternoon, the pagans and the druids celebrated another morning at the site to welcome the new day.
Today is both the official shortest day in the year, and also the first day for astronomical winter. This differs from meteorological winter that begins December 1. Shetland, which has just 5 hours and 49 minutes of sunlight, is the extremest example.
As the sun rises at 8.10 am, photographs show thousands of people congregating around Stonehenge. One woman stood against one of the stones while another climbed on it.
The site was shut down last year, so those who celebrated today could see the miracle in person.
As the sun rises over Amesbury, a Stonehenge stone circle druid emits a sound as it welcomes in winter solstice. The actual moment of solstice, when the northern part of the earth is closest to the sun at 3:59pm yesterday was actually at 3.59 pm yesterday. However, pagans and druids welcomed another day at Stonehenge stone circle for the second morning.
Today marks the official shortening of the year. It also marks the beginning of astronomical Winter, which is different to the meteorological winter. Shetland, which has just 5 hours and 49 minutes of daylight, is the extremest example.
Photographs capture hundreds of people gathered around Stonehenge Monument as the sun rose at 8.10 am. One woman did an armstand, while another climbed on the rock.
Stonehenge, which marks the New Year’s’rebirth’ of sun is considered more important than the summer solstice in pagan calendars.
The Stonehenge sunrise was enjoyed by participants on 22 December in Amesbury. English Heritage manages the site and has permitted visitors to enter the event.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, December 22, 2012: Druids and revellers gathered to celebrate the winter solstice.
Although the site was closed in 2020, many Pagan worshippers attended it to worship. There were also a few security guards. However, most people went online to catch a glimpse at the sunrise from the English Heritage site.
Heather Sebire (Curator of Stonehenge) stated to BBC Radio Wiltshire that Stonehenge’s entire monument was oriented towards the midwinter sunrise or the midsummer sun. Today marks the beginning of the new year.
“The Stonehenge builders were farmers. They knew the benefits of growing food and that their harvests would continue to grow.
Traditionally, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21. But the most astronomically precise shortest day can change by a few days.
English Heritage, for example, commemorates Stonehenge’s Winter Solstice every year on the astronomically correct date of December 22.
As Stonehenge rises, revellers blow horns inside the Stone circle to celebrate the winter solstice.
People participate in the Winter Solstice Celebrations at Stonehenge Prehistoric Monument on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Stonehenge celebrates the solstice at sunrise this morning, but it was only 10.59 am on Tuesday.
A reveller wrapped up in thick scarf, hat, and mask, raised their arms in celebration of the rising sun.
As they welcome the winter solstice, Revellers dance and sing at Stonehenge Stone Circle.
A person sits upon the Stonehenge Stone circle as they welcome the winter solstice.
According to it, because there is a discrepancy between solar year and calendar, the date of the December solstice cannot be fixed.
The winter solstice is juxtaposed by the summer solstice which typically falls on June 21 and marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.
Stonehenge, built thousands of years before machinery was invented, features rocks that weigh upwards of several tonnes each.
Some of the stones are believed to have originated from a quarry in Wales, some 140 miles (225km) away from the Wiltshire monument.
To move them would have required a high degree of ingenuity, and experts believe the ancient engineers used a pulley system over a shifting conveyor-belt of logs.
Historians now think that the ring of stones was built in several different stages, with the first completed around 5,000 years ago by Neolithic Britons who used primitive tools, possibly made from deer antlers.
Modern scientists now widely believe that Stonehenge was created by several different tribes over time. After the Neolithic Britons – likely natives of the British Isles – started the construction, it was continued centuries later by their descendants.
Over time, the descendants developed a more communal way of life and better tools which helped in the erection of the stones. Bones, tools and other artefacts found on the site seem to support this hypothesis.
Meanwhile, hopes have risen today for a White Christmas in the north of England as the Met Office predicts snow fall for December 25 – but the south can expect rain.
Parts of Britain face a ‘whiteout’ Christmas with snow expected to start falling to herald a wintry run-up to Christmas Day and beyond – although which regions will be hit worst is still in doubt.
Scotland, the far North of England and Northern Ireland are the areas most likely to enjoy a white Christmas on December 25, particularly on higher ground, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -6C (21F).
It comes after the UK’s coldest night of the winter for the third night in a row, with -9.3C (15.3F) at Braemar in the Cairngorms Monday night, after -9.1C (15.6F) on Sunday night and -8.9C (16F) on Saturday night in the same village.
But the Met Office admitted that it was still unclear exactly where the boundary between cold and milder air will be, saying that this was ‘key as to where can expect any snow over Christmas’.
Conditions are forecast to become more unsettled from today, with bands of rain expected across the UK. Sleet, snow and ice are predicted over higher ground in Scotland before more snow is expected on Thursday.
Blizzards could be in store in Scotland on Christmas Eve thanks to strong winds. Edinburgh and Leeds are joint favourites with William Hill for snow at 4-9, with Newcastle, Birmingham and Manchester all at 10-11.
Some chose to clamber on the rocks while one woman did a handstand up against one. The English Heritage for instance, celebrates the winter solstice at Stonehenge on this astronomically accurate date which will this year fall on December 22
Some stones may have come from a quarry in Wales 140 miles (225 km) from the Wiltshire monument.
Areas further south are expected to remain mild and cloudy with some rain, and there is also the risk of fog across southern parts of England and Wales on Christmas Eve, which could affect travel.
The Met Office is uncertain about where Britain’s snow ‘boundary’ might be – between snowy and non-snowy parts of the country – but its official Christmas outlook, predicted Scotland is the most likely place to see snow.
The boundary will be driven by strengthening northerly winds during Christmas Eve. They will make it feel very cold, with the chance of blizzards over high ground. In the south, mild air remains in place, with cloud and spells of rain from the west.
The ‘blizzard’ forecast for Scotland could precipitate severe weather warnings for the festive period. Temperatures will dip through the week, with overnight freezes as cold as -6C (21F).