LONDON (AP) — Behold the ascending sun.
A curious amalgamation of druids, pagans, hippies, local inhabitants, and tourists congregated around an ancient stone circle on a plain in southern England, either to express their reverence for the sun or to partake in communal merriment.
Bedazzled in vibrant costumes and even donning antlers, the attendees lingered and reveled at Stonehenge throughout the night, eagerly awaiting the sunrise on Wednesday, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
As dawn broke, the sun emerged from behind the Heel Stone in the northeastern section of the horizon, casting its inaugural rays into the heart of the stone circle.
The sky remained clear, a rarity during an English summer.
Across the entire United Kingdom, a sense of optimism permeates the air, marking the official commencement of summer. It is no mere coincidence that the renowned Glastonbury Festival, one of the largest music events globally, also commences on Wednesday. Both Stonehenge and Glastonbury purportedly reside on ley lines—an enigmatic network of energy pathways traversing the United Kingdom.
For the multitude embarking on a pilgrimage to Stonehenge, situated approximately 80 miles (128 kilometers) southwest of London, the significance extends beyond mere anticipation of Elton John’s performance at Glastonbury or leisurely indulgence in sun-soaked ciders. A considerable number of individuals present at Stonehenge will embark on a brief 50-mile (80-kilometer) sojourn further westward to Glastonbury in the upcoming days.
For the druids, contemporary adherents of the ancient Celtic religious order, Stonehenge holds profound importance spanning centuries, and they diligently carry out their rituals during the solstice, donning their traditional white robes. Their practices revolve around the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
During this year’s summer solstice at Stonehenge, the festivities commenced at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and continued until 8 a.m. on Wednesday. On this particular night, devotees were permitted to spend time within the stone circle. Some engaged in chants, strummed acoustic guitars, or beat on drums. However, alcohol consumption was strictly prohibited, as were sound systems. While blankets were permissible, the use of sleeping bags was not allowed, and climbing on the stones was absolutely forbidden.
Over the years, the regulations surrounding Stonehenge have become stricter, particularly during the period of the coronavirus pandemic. In the more lenient past, tens of thousands of people would travel on foot, by car, bus, or motorcycle to pay homage to the solar sanctuary or simply enjoy themselves.
Stonehenge stands as an emblem of British culture and history, attracting a significant number of tourists despite the perennial traffic congestion on the nearby A303 highway, a popular route for travelers heading to and from the southwest of England.
This world-renowned prehistoric monument, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was constructed in stages on the expansive plains of Salisbury Plain. The unique stone circle, erected during the late Neolithic period around 2,500 B.C., represents the culmination of its development. While the origins of some stones remain enigmatic, certain stones, known as bluestones, have been traced back to the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) away.
Numerous theories have been proposed to unravel the significance of this site, often sparking vigorous debates. Some notions border on the outlandish, even suggesting extraterrestrial involvement. English Heritage, a charitable organization responsible for managing numerous historic sites, presents several interpretations. These range from Stonehenge serving as a coronation site for Danish kings, a druidic temple, a hub for spiritual healing, to an astronomical calculator for predicting solar events and eclipses.
However, the interpretation most widely accepted is that Stonehenge was a prehistoric sanctuary deliberately aligned with the movements of the sun. The positioning of the stones perfectly corresponds with the sun’s alignment during both the summer and winter solstices.
