There are plentitude of reasons to receive the kickoff of summertime . Today , people bring down Stonehenge took that festivity to a whole new stratum .
The BBCreportedthat an estimated 10,000 the great unwashed made the pilgrimage to the 5000 - yr - oldsiteto partake in summer solstice festivities . " Stonehenge was build to align with the Sun , and to Neolithic people , the sky were arguably as important as the surrounding landscape,“Susan Greaney , a senior historian atEnglish Heritage , said in a argument . " At solstice we think of the changing daytime hours , but the deepen seasons , the cycles of the Moon , and movement of the Sun are likely to have underpinned many hardheaded spiritual aspects of Neolithic liveliness . "
These spiritual face are just one of the manyfascinating factsabout the summer solstice ; the day is an extremely erstwhile calendar event recognized by ancient refinement across the globe . They include the Druids and other pagans , whose tradition of discover the solstice at Stonehenge has long been upheld by forward-looking reveler .
Scientifically speak , Stonehenge is an optimal viewing place for the solstice due to its structure . grant toTIME , the site ’s architects appeared to have keep both the summer and wintertime solstices in brain during its construction , as the positions of the rock are specifically tune up to complement the sky on both occasions .
The solstice were sacred to the pagans , whose modern - day followerscontinueto honor their rite . Pagans in particularreferto the daylight asLitha , and mark it with activities such as meditation , fervency rites , and outside yoga .
“ What you ’re observe on a mystical level is that you ’re looking at light at its strongest , " Frank Somers , a member of the Amesbury and Stonehenge Druids , saidin 2014 . " It represents thing like the triumph of the king , the power of light over darkness , and just animation — life at its full . "
Those who were unable to make the journey can lead over to theStonehenge Skyscapeproject ’s website , where English Heritage ’s interactive lively feed to the full enamour the experience .
