- Title: Thousands celebrate summer solstice with ancient rituals at Stonehenge
- Date: 21st June 2023
- Summary: AMESBURY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 21, 2023) (REUTERS) PEOPLE JUMPING, CLAPPING AND BANGING CYMBALS IN FRONT OF STONEHENGE PEOPLE SITTING ON RUG, SURROUNDED BY OTHER PEOPLE STANDING AROUND AND LYING IN SLEEPING BAGS TWO PEOPLE LOOKING AT STONEHENGE AND THE CELEBRATIONS TAKING PLACE PEOPLE WATCHING THE SUNRISE AT STONEHENGE PEOPLE FILMING CELEBRATIONS INSIDE STONEHENGE MAN CHANTING TO CROWDS IN FRONT OF STONEHENGE SUN RISING BEHIND STONEHENGE, PEOPLE GATHERING IN FRONT OF THE MONUMENT PEOPLE CHANTING, HOLDING DRUMS IN FRONT OF STONEHENGE
- Embargoed: 5th July 2023 10:00
- Keywords: Revellers Stonehenge summer solstice celebrations
- Location: AMESBURY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: AMESBURY, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: UK
- Topics: Europe,Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001154821062023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Several thousands of people celebrated summer solstice at Britain’s Stonehenge on Wednesday (June 21), watching the sun rise behind the ancient stone circle built by our Neolithic ancestors over 4,500 years ago.
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been celebrated for millennia at Stonehenge, a World Heritage Site in the southwest county of Wiltshire.
The crowd of pagan and Christian worshipers cheered, played cymbals and clapped as the sun rose over the horizon shortly before 0400 GMT. Pagans, including a bearded druid in white robes and a straw hat, performed rituals.
Many also wore flower crowns and traditional clothing.
Crowds also gathered at other prehistoric sites in Britain, including at Glastonbury Tor, a hill in the neighbouring county of Somerset which has drawn worshippers for centuries.
(Production: Lisa Keddie, Francesca Halliwell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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