Celebrating Winter Solstice at Stonehenge
Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle Stonehenge to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year. Photographs by Matt Cardy of Getty Images.
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- A couple embrace as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rain falls as druids, pagans and revellers gather at Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- A couple embrace as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- A woman wearing a unicorn mask watches as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- People listen as Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, (not pictured) conducts a ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, (R) conducts a ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, (R) conducts a ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- A man wearing a pagan mask poses for a photograph as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, turns to the stones as he conducts a ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, (R) conducts a ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- People touch a stone as druids, pagans and revellers gather at Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- People touch a stone inside Stonehenge as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- A woman hugs the stones as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, (centre) conducts a ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druid Merlin poses for a photograph as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druid Merlin poses for a photograph as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge & Britain, (L) blesses baby Jim, held by his father Dan Lobb and watched by mum Kirsty Lobb as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- Rain falls as druids, pagans and revellers gather at Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- People dance as a man dressed in a rag costume plays an accordion, as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- A woman wearing a unicorn mask shelters a girl as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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- A Druid Merlin holds onto his robes as walks from the stones as druids, pagans and revellers gather, hoping to see the sun rise as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at Stonehenge on December 21, 2013 in Wiltshire, England. Despite the rain and wind, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year – an event claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the ‘re-birth’ of the Sun for the New Year.
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Stonehenge Welcomes Record Crowd For Winter Solstice – Guardian Express | Everyday News Update
Dec 21, 2013 @ 15:19:52
[…] The Baltimore Sun […]
Stonehenge Welcomes Record Crowd For Winter Solstice
Dec 21, 2013 @ 14:58:57
[…] The Baltimore Sun […]