Winter Solstice at Stonehenge 2024

The Winter Solstice, also known as the shortest day of the year, takes place this year on Saturday 21st December. For thousands of years, civilisations and cultures would mark the winter solstice with feasts and celebrations. This time of the year also marks the beginning of the astronomical winter, where the Earth’s north pole tilts farthest away from the Sun’s light. This is reversed in the astronomical summer in March when the Earth tilts furthest towards the Sun’s light.

The passing of the winter solstice and creating a measurement of the seasons was monumentally important to the everyday lives of the farmers and their families. During the long winter months and cold wet weather, crops would not grow and herds would become too expensive to feed. This led some to believe the winter solstice feasts where families would bring the last of their fruitful crops and bounties of meat products.

One theory for the existence of Stonehenge, according to English Heritage, is that Neolithic people constructed Stonehenge as a monument aligned to the movements of the Sun. By noting the position of the Sun behind specific stones, people were able to recognise the changing seasons throughout the year.

Traditionally, people from all over the world would gather at Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice. These people would include neo-Druids, neo-Pagans, tourists and anyone who appreciates and wishes to partake in the celebrations. In previous years, people would gather at Stonehenge and watch the sunrise over the stones, celebrating the arrival of the sun and the promise of days getting longer.

The passing of the winter solstice and creating a measurement of the seasons was monumentally important to the everyday lives of the farmers and their families. During the long winter months and cold wet weather, crops wouldn’t grow and herds would become too expensive to feed. This led some to believe the winter solstice feasts where families would bring the last of their fruitful crops and bounties of meat products.