Thousands of revellers welcomed the dawn with cheers and dancing at Stonehenge on Sunday, marking the annual winter solstice at the iconic prehistoric site.
A Spiritual Gathering in the Pre-Dawn Chill
Before sunrise on the shortest day of the year, large crowds assembled in the cold, dark fields of Wiltshire. Many attendees wore elaborate costumes, while others beat drums or sang. Some chose a quieter moment for personal reflection amongst the towering ancient stones. For numerous participants, this journey to the stone circle is a biannual spiritual pilgrimage, undertaken for both the summer and winter solstices.
The Ancient Significance of the Solstice Alignment
The monument, constructed between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago, was deliberately engineered to align with the sun's movements on the solstices. For ancient farming communities, these dates were pivotal markers in the yearly calendar. The winter solstice sees the sun trace its lowest and shortest arc across the sky in the Northern Hemisphere, heralding the official start of astronomical winter.
A Turning Point: The Return of the Light
Although Sunday 21 December 2025 represented the year's lowest point of sunlight north of the equator, it is widely celebrated as a moment of renewal. From this day forward, the sun begins to climb higher, and daylight hours will gradually lengthen each day until the summer solstice in late June. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere experienced its longest day and the commencement of summer.
The event, captured by The Associated Press, continues to draw people from across the UK and beyond, connecting modern celebrants with the profound astronomical knowledge of their ancient ancestors.
