Thousands of people, including druids, tourists, and pagans, gathered this morning at the ancient Stonehenge monument to mark the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The crowd eagerly awaited the sunrise at 08:09 local time, accompanied by chants and drumbeats, but unfortunately, the sun remained hidden due to overcast skies and strong winds.
A Celebration of Renewal
The event marked the winter solstice, a moment of renewal, rebirth, and reflection, as the days start to lengthen after the shortest day, leading up to the summer solstice in June. “It’s a time of renewal, of entering a new year, and also an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed,” said Kris Smith, 31, one of the attendees.
Stonehenge: A Timeless Mystery
Built around 5,000 years ago during the Neolithic period, Stonehenge continues to be a subject of debate regarding its purpose. Some theories suggest it was a pagan temple, a solar calculator, or even a burial site, while others propose it was a combination of all these functions.
A recent study published in International Archaeology by researchers from the University of London and Aberystwyth University suggested that the site might have had both political and spiritual significance. It was revealed that the central stone, often considered the altar, originated from Scotland, hundreds of miles north of the site. Other stones were brought from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, about 240 kilometers to the west.
A Monument of Unity
Mike Parker Pearson from the Institute of Archaeology at UCL speculated that Stonehenge may have served as “a monument of unity for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal connection with their ancestors and the cosmos.”
