Stonehenge welcomed thousands of people for the winter solstice sunrise, as they focused on “renewal, rebirth and good vibes,” despite the windy Wiltshire morning. The ancient landmark opened its Monument Field early so that crowds could view the sunrise over the iconic stones. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, after which the nights will begin to shorten, and the days will gradually become longer.
Civil servant Chris Smith reflected on why he travelled to the site: “This is all about renewal, rebirth, we’re entering into the new year, and it’s also a good time to acknowledge what’s taking place in the year that’s been. For me, I’ve gone through a bit of a tumultuous year, there’s been lots that has taken place for me in the past 24 months, and this is an opportunity to consolidate everything that has taken place this year and bury that in the past and be able to move forward then into this next new year.”
The stones, which date back to around 2,500 BC, align with the movements of the sun during the two solstices, symbolising the changing of the seasons. Normally restricted to crowds of people, English Heritage opened up the area for the summer and winter solstices. Steve Bax, Director of Stonehenge, welcomed about 4,500 individuals to the monument, with another 100,000 tuning in to live coverage of the event streamed online.
The winter solstice was not just confined to Stonehenge. Celebrations also took place in nearby Avebury, where people flocked to watch the sunrise over the fields, and in Glastonbury Tor, where visitors climbed the hill to watch the same event and sing songs
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