Antlers and fancy dress: Stonehenge welcomes 8,000 visitors for summer solstice
STONEHENGE, England (AP) — All hail the rising sun.
Around 8,000 revellers gathered around a prehistoric stone circle on a plain in southern England to express their devotion to the sun, or to have some communal fun.
Druids, pagans, hippies, local residents and tourists, many clad in an array of colorful costumes and even antlers, stayed and celebrated at Stonehenge for the night and greeted sunrise on Wednesday, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
At dawn, the sun rose behind what is known as the Heel Stone in the northeast part of the horizon and the first rays shone into the heart of Stonehenge, one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments and a World Heritage Site.
A sun-filled dawn followed a slightly misty sunrise, which was greeted with drumming, chanting and cheering.
“Stonehenge continues to captivate and to bring people together to celebrate the seasons, just as it has done for thousands of years,” said Nichola Tasker, director of Stonehenge at English Heritage, a charity that manages hundreds of historic sites.
“There was a wonderful atmosphere from sunset to sunrise, and everybody enjoyed a very atmospheric morning," she added.
Local police said two people were arrested on suspicion of a public order offense after they were refused entry due to intoxication.
“Everyone has been joyous, enjoying the event and having a glorious time and it has been peaceful and safe," said Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper, who attended the solstice for the first time.
In addition to the 8,000 people present, English Heritage said that approximately 154,000 people tuned in from around the world to watch the sunset and sunrise on the charity’s livestream
All over the U.K., optimism will reign supreme as summer officially starts. It's no coincidence that the nearby Glastonbury Festival, one of the world's biggest music events, opens its doors on Wednesday, too. Both Stonehenge and Glastonbury supposedly lie on ley lines — mystical energy connections across the U.K.
For the thousands making the pilgrimage to Stonehenge, approximately 80 miles (128 kilometers) southwest of London, it is more than looking forward to Elton John at Glastonbury or a few ciders in the sun. Many of those present at Stonehenge will be making the short 50-mile (80-kilometer) journey further west to Glastonbury over the coming days.
For druids, modern-day spiritualists linked to the ancient Celtic religious order, Stonehenge has a centuries-long importance, and they performed their rituals around the solstice in their traditional white robes. It's effectively all about the cycle of life, of death and rebirth.
This year, the summer solstice at Stonehenge started at 7 p.m. Tuesday and ran through 8 a.m. Wednesday. For this one night, worshippers are allowed to spend time inside the stone circle. Some chanted or played their acoustic guitars or banged their drums. Alcohol was prohibited, as were sound systems. Blankets were allowed, but no sleeping bags, please. And definitely, no climbing on the stones.
The rules have been tightened over the decades, certainly during the coronavirus pandemic. Back in the less-restrained past, tens of thousands would travel by foot, car, bus or motorcycle to worship at the solar temple, or just have a bit of fun.
Stonehenge is a symbol of British culture and history and remains one of the country’s biggest tourist draws, despite the seemingly permanent traffic jams on the nearby A303 highway, a popular route for motorists traveling to and from the southwest of England.
Stonehenge was built on the flat lands of Salisbury Plain in stages starting 5,000 years ago, with the unique stone circle erected in the late Neolithic period about 2,500 B.C. Some of the stones, the so-called bluestones, are known to have come from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) away, but the origins of others remain a mystery.
The site’s meaning has been the subject of vigorous debate, with some theories seemingly more outlandish, if not alien, than others.
English Heritage notes several explanations — from Stonehenge being a coronation place for Danish kings, a druid temple, a cult center for healing, or an astronomical computer for predicting eclipses and solar events.
The charity said the most generally accepted interpretation "is that of a prehistoric temple aligned with the movements of the sun.”
After all, the stones match perfectly with the sun at both the summer and winter solstices.
___
Pylas reported from London.
Pan Pylas And Kin Cheung, The Associated Press
STONEHENGE, England (AP) — All hail the rising sun.
Around 8,000 revellers gathered around a prehistoric stone circle on a plain in southern England to express their devotion to the sun, or to have some communal fun.
Druids, pagans, hippies, local residents and tourists, many clad in an array of colorful costumes and even antlers, stayed and celebrated at Stonehenge for the night and greeted sunrise on Wednesday, which is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
At dawn, the sun rose behind what is known as the Heel Stone in the northeast part of the horizon and the first rays shone into the heart of Stonehenge, one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments and a World Heritage Site.
A sun-filled dawn followed a slightly misty sunrise, which was greeted with drumming, chanting and cheering.
“Stonehenge continues to captivate and to bring people together to celebrate the seasons, just as it has done for thousands of years,” said Nichola Tasker, director of Stonehenge at English Heritage, a charity that manages hundreds of historic sites.
“There was a wonderful atmosphere from sunset to sunrise, and everybody enjoyed a very atmospheric morning," she added.
Local police said two people were arrested on suspicion of a public order offense after they were refused entry due to intoxication.
“Everyone has been joyous, enjoying the event and having a glorious time and it has been peaceful and safe," said Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper, who attended the solstice for the first time.
In addition to the 8,000 people present, English Heritage said that approximately 154,000 people tuned in from around the world to watch the sunset and sunrise on the charity’s livestream
All over the U.K., optimism will reign supreme as summer officially starts. It's no coincidence that the nearby Glastonbury Festival, one of the world's biggest music events, opens its doors on Wednesday, too. Both Stonehenge and Glastonbury supposedly lie on ley lines — mystical energy connections across the U.K.
For the thousands making the pilgrimage to Stonehenge, approximately 80 miles (128 kilometers) southwest of London, it is more than looking forward to Elton John at Glastonbury or a few ciders in the sun. Many of those present at Stonehenge will be making the short 50-mile (80-kilometer) journey further west to Glastonbury over the coming days.
For druids, modern-day spiritualists linked to the ancient Celtic religious order, Stonehenge has a centuries-long importance, and they performed their rituals around the solstice in their traditional white robes. It's effectively all about the cycle of life, of death and rebirth.
This year, the summer solstice at Stonehenge started at 7 p.m. Tuesday and ran through 8 a.m. Wednesday. For this one night, worshippers are allowed to spend time inside the stone circle. Some chanted or played their acoustic guitars or banged their drums. Alcohol was prohibited, as were sound systems. Blankets were allowed, but no sleeping bags, please. And definitely, no climbing on the stones.
The rules have been tightened over the decades, certainly during the coronavirus pandemic. Back in the less-restrained past, tens of thousands would travel by foot, car, bus or motorcycle to worship at the solar temple, or just have a bit of fun.
Stonehenge is a symbol of British culture and history and remains one of the country’s biggest tourist draws, despite the seemingly permanent traffic jams on the nearby A303 highway, a popular route for motorists traveling to and from the southwest of England.
Stonehenge was built on the flat lands of Salisbury Plain in stages starting 5,000 years ago, with the unique stone circle erected in the late Neolithic period about 2,500 B.C. Some of the stones, the so-called bluestones, are known to have come from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) away, but the origins of others remain a mystery.
The site’s meaning has been the subject of vigorous debate, with some theories seemingly more outlandish, if not alien, than others.
English Heritage notes several explanations — from Stonehenge being a coronation place for Danish kings, a druid temple, a cult center for healing, or an astronomical computer for predicting eclipses and solar events.
The charity said the most generally accepted interpretation "is that of a prehistoric temple aligned with the movements of the sun.”
After all, the stones match perfectly with the sun at both the summer and winter solstices.
___
Pylas reported from London.
Pan Pylas And Kin Cheung, The Associated Press
References
By Jamie Carter published 2 days ago
The summer solstice falls on June 20 or 21 every year in the Northern Hemisphere. Here's why this day is the longest day of the year, with the most hours of daylight.
On the summer solstice, the sun appears high in the sky at noon. In contrast, the noon sun appears low in the sky on the winter solstice.
(Image credit: (C) Jonathan Chiang/Scintt via Getty Images)
Why does the date vary?
Earth's distance from the sun
How long is summer?
What does "solstice" mean?
Why isn't it the warmest day?
When is it?
Summer solstice celebrations
The summer solstice heralds the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the day with the most daylight for the year. But what's the science behind the longest day and shortest night above the equator?
Solstices and equinoxes are markers of the seasons, which are caused by Earth's axis being tilted 23.5 degrees with respect to its orbit around the sun, according to NASA. That tilt means different parts of Earth receive sunlight for different lengths of time depending on the time of year. On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, receiving the full glare of the sun's rays — which means the longest day of the year.
At the North Pole, the sun literally does not set on the summer solstice. The exact opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere, which experiences its winter solstice on the same day; at the South Pole, the sun will not rise.
In 2023, the summer solstice will occur at 10:57 a.m. EDT (1457 GMT) on June 21, according to timeanddate.com. Here's everything you need to know about the Northern Hemisphere's longest day of the year.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SUN ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?
On the summer solstice, there are more hours of sunlight the farther north you go in the Northern Hemisphere. People in this hemisphere might notice that the sun is very high in the sky at noon.
On the equinoxes — the two days of the year when both hemispheres experience the same amount of daylight and nighttime — the sun appears directly overhead, at 90 degrees above the equator at noon. But on the northern summer solstice, the noon sun appears directly overhead at a higher latitude: the Tropic of Cancer, which sits about 23.5 degrees north of the equator and runs through Algeria, Niger, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, Mexico, the Bahamas, Mauritania and Mali. The Tropic of Cancer is the most northerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon, according to the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, a project based at the University of Hawaii.
WHY DOES THE SUMMER SOLSTICE DATE VARY?
Each year, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on one of two days: June 20 or June 21. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice happens on Dec. 21 or Dec. 22.
The date varies because the Gregorian calendar has 365 days, with an extra leap day added in February every four years. In reality, Earth's orbit around the sun takes 365.25 days, according to NASA. Due to this discrepancy, the solstice doesn't always occur on the same day.
EARTH'S DISTANCE FROM THE SUN
Some parts of the Northern Hemisphere get so hot during the summertime that you might think Earth is closer to the sun. However, it's actually the opposite: Earth is farthest from the sun when it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, according to timeanddate.com.
On average, Earth is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the sun, according to NASA. However, Earth will be farthest from the sun — a moment called aphelion — at 4:06 p.m. EDT on July 6, 2023, when it will be 94,506,364 miles (152,093,251 km) from the sun, according to Almanac.com. That's about two weeks after the June solstice.
Similarly, Earth will be closest to the sun, a point called perihelion, at 7:38 p.m. EDT on Jan. 2, 2024 — two weeks after the December solstice — when it will be 91,404,095 miles (147,100,632 km) from our star.
HOW LONG IS SUMMER?
There are two definitions and dates for each season: astronomical and meteorological.
Astronomically — that is, defined by the solstices and equinoxes — summer in the Northern Hemisphere begins on the summer solstice and ends on the autumnal or fall equinox. So, summer in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from June 20 or June 21 until Sept. 21, 22, 23 or 24.
However, the seasons do not last an equal number of days because Earth's speed varies as it travels around the sun on an elliptical, or egg-shaped, orbit. Summer lasts an average of 93.6 days in the Northern Hemisphere and an average of 89 days in the Southern Hemisphere, according to timeanddate.com.
Meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from June 1 through Aug. 31, according to the U.K.'s Met Office. Using this definition, winter lasts exactly three months, as do all seasons.
WHAT DOES "SOLSTICE" MEAN?
"Solstice" means "sun stands still" in Latin, according to NASA. That's because the sunrise on the solstice is the farthest northeast and sunset is the farthest northwest of the year. For a few days before and after the solstice, the sun also appears close to these farthest points before slowly drifting back to rise and set due east at the following equinox.
WHY ISN'T THE SUMMER SOLSTICE THE WARMEST DAY?
If there's so much sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice, why isn't it the warmest day of the year?
It's because it takes time for Earth's land and water to heat up, otherwise known as a seasonal lag, according to the Royal Meteorological Society. Seasonal lag is caused by Earth's water, which covers about 70% of the planet's surface and soaks up a lot of the heat, meaning it takes longer to heat up the land.
After the summer solstice, the days begin to get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere. Northern midlatitudes experience about 15 hours of daylight in the weeks following the summer solstice, compared with around 9 hours of daily sunlight around the winter solstice. In addition, the Northern Hemisphere is still tilted toward the sun, making it warm.
WHEN IS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?
Year
Earth's distance from the sun
How long is summer?
What does "solstice" mean?
Why isn't it the warmest day?
When is it?
Summer solstice celebrations
The summer solstice heralds the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the day with the most daylight for the year. But what's the science behind the longest day and shortest night above the equator?
Solstices and equinoxes are markers of the seasons, which are caused by Earth's axis being tilted 23.5 degrees with respect to its orbit around the sun, according to NASA. That tilt means different parts of Earth receive sunlight for different lengths of time depending on the time of year. On the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, receiving the full glare of the sun's rays — which means the longest day of the year.
At the North Pole, the sun literally does not set on the summer solstice. The exact opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere, which experiences its winter solstice on the same day; at the South Pole, the sun will not rise.
In 2023, the summer solstice will occur at 10:57 a.m. EDT (1457 GMT) on June 21, according to timeanddate.com. Here's everything you need to know about the Northern Hemisphere's longest day of the year.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SUN ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?
On the summer solstice, there are more hours of sunlight the farther north you go in the Northern Hemisphere. People in this hemisphere might notice that the sun is very high in the sky at noon.
On the equinoxes — the two days of the year when both hemispheres experience the same amount of daylight and nighttime — the sun appears directly overhead, at 90 degrees above the equator at noon. But on the northern summer solstice, the noon sun appears directly overhead at a higher latitude: the Tropic of Cancer, which sits about 23.5 degrees north of the equator and runs through Algeria, Niger, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, Mexico, the Bahamas, Mauritania and Mali. The Tropic of Cancer is the most northerly latitude at which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon, according to the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, a project based at the University of Hawaii.
WHY DOES THE SUMMER SOLSTICE DATE VARY?
Each year, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on one of two days: June 20 or June 21. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice happens on Dec. 21 or Dec. 22.
The date varies because the Gregorian calendar has 365 days, with an extra leap day added in February every four years. In reality, Earth's orbit around the sun takes 365.25 days, according to NASA. Due to this discrepancy, the solstice doesn't always occur on the same day.
EARTH'S DISTANCE FROM THE SUN
Some parts of the Northern Hemisphere get so hot during the summertime that you might think Earth is closer to the sun. However, it's actually the opposite: Earth is farthest from the sun when it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, according to timeanddate.com.
On average, Earth is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from the sun, according to NASA. However, Earth will be farthest from the sun — a moment called aphelion — at 4:06 p.m. EDT on July 6, 2023, when it will be 94,506,364 miles (152,093,251 km) from the sun, according to Almanac.com. That's about two weeks after the June solstice.
Similarly, Earth will be closest to the sun, a point called perihelion, at 7:38 p.m. EDT on Jan. 2, 2024 — two weeks after the December solstice — when it will be 91,404,095 miles (147,100,632 km) from our star.
HOW LONG IS SUMMER?
There are two definitions and dates for each season: astronomical and meteorological.
Astronomically — that is, defined by the solstices and equinoxes — summer in the Northern Hemisphere begins on the summer solstice and ends on the autumnal or fall equinox. So, summer in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from June 20 or June 21 until Sept. 21, 22, 23 or 24.
However, the seasons do not last an equal number of days because Earth's speed varies as it travels around the sun on an elliptical, or egg-shaped, orbit. Summer lasts an average of 93.6 days in the Northern Hemisphere and an average of 89 days in the Southern Hemisphere, according to timeanddate.com.
Meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere lasts from June 1 through Aug. 31, according to the U.K.'s Met Office. Using this definition, winter lasts exactly three months, as do all seasons.
WHAT DOES "SOLSTICE" MEAN?
"Solstice" means "sun stands still" in Latin, according to NASA. That's because the sunrise on the solstice is the farthest northeast and sunset is the farthest northwest of the year. For a few days before and after the solstice, the sun also appears close to these farthest points before slowly drifting back to rise and set due east at the following equinox.
WHY ISN'T THE SUMMER SOLSTICE THE WARMEST DAY?
If there's so much sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice, why isn't it the warmest day of the year?
It's because it takes time for Earth's land and water to heat up, otherwise known as a seasonal lag, according to the Royal Meteorological Society. Seasonal lag is caused by Earth's water, which covers about 70% of the planet's surface and soaks up a lot of the heat, meaning it takes longer to heat up the land.
After the summer solstice, the days begin to get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere. Northern midlatitudes experience about 15 hours of daylight in the weeks following the summer solstice, compared with around 9 hours of daily sunlight around the winter solstice. In addition, the Northern Hemisphere is still tilted toward the sun, making it warm.
WHEN IS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE?
Year
Northern Hemisphere summer solstice
Southern Hemisphere summer solstice2023
10:57 am EDT, June 21 Dec. 22
2024 4:50 pm EDT, June 20 Dec. 21
2025 10:42 pm EDT, June 20 Dec. 21
SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATIONS
Many cultures have recognized and marked the summer solstice. The most famous prehistoric site that ties in with the solstice is Stonehenge in England. When the sun rises on the longest day of the year, the sun's rays align with Stonehenge's Heel Stone. The moment is livestreamed on the official English Heritage YouTube channel.
From the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, the sun appears to set between the ancient pyramids of Khafre and Khufu on the summer solstice.
2024 4:50 pm EDT, June 20 Dec. 21
2025 10:42 pm EDT, June 20 Dec. 21
SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATIONS
Many cultures have recognized and marked the summer solstice. The most famous prehistoric site that ties in with the solstice is Stonehenge in England. When the sun rises on the longest day of the year, the sun's rays align with Stonehenge's Heel Stone. The moment is livestreamed on the official English Heritage YouTube channel.
From the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, the sun appears to set between the ancient pyramids of Khafre and Khufu on the summer solstice.
What International Day of Yoga, Summer Solstice, and Sun Salutations Have in Common
Tamara Y. Jeffries
Tue, June 20, 2023
This article originally appeared on Yoga Journal
International Day of Yoga (IDY), as the name implies, acknowledges the worldwide significance of yoga. The designation recognizes the practice not only as a part of the intangible cultural heritage of South Asia, but also as a global phenomenon. Celebrated annually on June 21, the day coincides with the summer solstice.
How did International Day of Yoga become a thing?
We have Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank for IDY. In 2014, he proposed that the United Nations officially recognize the practice. "Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition," he said during his address. "Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and...nature." Based on yoga's popularity, its ancient tradition, and its scientifically shown effects on health, the U.N. General Assembly voted to make June 21 International Day of Yoga.
What's the Summer Solstice?
In the Northern Hemisphere, summer solstice is the longest day of the year, which coincides with the Sun being at its highest point in the sky, offering us the most hours of daylight. It marks the official beginning of summer. The exact moment of the solstice occurs on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:58 am ET, according to Almanac.com. It's considered a significant time astrologically as it delineates the beginning of another season, both in nature and astrology, as we transition into summer and Cancer season.
RELATED: What Does the Summer Solstice Mean?
What's the Connection Between Summer Solstice and Yoga?
Two words: Surya Namaskar. Also known as Sun Salutations, this traditional sequence was created out of reverence for the Sun and became an integral part of the practice of yoga. Indian sages are believed to have practiced Sun Salutations to awaken the body, align the mind, and tone and activate the Manipura, or solar plexus chakra, which is associated with intuition, self esteem, motivation, discipline, and a sense of purpose.
Since IDY became a thing, yoga practitioners all over the world have taken the longest day of the year as an opportunity to get outside, practice yoga, and appreciate the Sun.
Why Do Some People Avoid Celebrating International Day of Yoga?
You have Modi to thank for that, too. There's concern that his conservative government is using IDY to promote Hindu Nationalism-the idea that India is a Hindu nation. While he has ensured that India receives credit as the birthplace of yoga, his Hindu-first narrative is seen as a way to exclude other South Asian groups, particularly Muslims.
How You Can Participate in International Day of Yoga Classes
Politics aside, many practitioners take the day as an opportunity to celebrate the community and benefits of yoga. Following are a handful of the hundreds of gatherings taking place all over the world in honor of the day.
Tamara Y. Jeffries
Tue, June 20, 2023
This article originally appeared on Yoga Journal
International Day of Yoga (IDY), as the name implies, acknowledges the worldwide significance of yoga. The designation recognizes the practice not only as a part of the intangible cultural heritage of South Asia, but also as a global phenomenon. Celebrated annually on June 21, the day coincides with the summer solstice.
How did International Day of Yoga become a thing?
We have Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank for IDY. In 2014, he proposed that the United Nations officially recognize the practice. "Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition," he said during his address. "Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and...nature." Based on yoga's popularity, its ancient tradition, and its scientifically shown effects on health, the U.N. General Assembly voted to make June 21 International Day of Yoga.
What's the Summer Solstice?
In the Northern Hemisphere, summer solstice is the longest day of the year, which coincides with the Sun being at its highest point in the sky, offering us the most hours of daylight. It marks the official beginning of summer. The exact moment of the solstice occurs on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:58 am ET, according to Almanac.com. It's considered a significant time astrologically as it delineates the beginning of another season, both in nature and astrology, as we transition into summer and Cancer season.
RELATED: What Does the Summer Solstice Mean?
What's the Connection Between Summer Solstice and Yoga?
Two words: Surya Namaskar. Also known as Sun Salutations, this traditional sequence was created out of reverence for the Sun and became an integral part of the practice of yoga. Indian sages are believed to have practiced Sun Salutations to awaken the body, align the mind, and tone and activate the Manipura, or solar plexus chakra, which is associated with intuition, self esteem, motivation, discipline, and a sense of purpose.
Since IDY became a thing, yoga practitioners all over the world have taken the longest day of the year as an opportunity to get outside, practice yoga, and appreciate the Sun.
Why Do Some People Avoid Celebrating International Day of Yoga?
You have Modi to thank for that, too. There's concern that his conservative government is using IDY to promote Hindu Nationalism-the idea that India is a Hindu nation. While he has ensured that India receives credit as the birthplace of yoga, his Hindu-first narrative is seen as a way to exclude other South Asian groups, particularly Muslims.
How You Can Participate in International Day of Yoga Classes
Politics aside, many practitioners take the day as an opportunity to celebrate the community and benefits of yoga. Following are a handful of the hundreds of gatherings taking place all over the world in honor of the day.
