Summer Solstice

It has been a really big weekend for Stonehenge.  Not only did it get the ultimate privilege of appearing in part one of the Doctor Who finale, it is also the Summer Solstice.  Stonehenge doesn't normally entertain visitors but it makes a special exception for the longest day of the year.  When Stonehenge throws a party it doesn't do it by halves, roughly 20,000 people were there last night to watch sunrise over Stonehenge on the Summer Solstice. 


It seems that the first parts of Stonehenge were built about 3100 BC with the stones going up around 2500 BC.  The site has been a burial ground at various times.  As the people who built it left no records no one really knows why it was built.  People seem to think that Stonehenge was built to mark the summer solstice hence the big midsummer party but evidence points to celebrations of the winter solstice in ye olden days.

I'm going to guess that this is because The Big Stoney is getting on a bit and doesn't like the cold so much so it's moved it party to the summer.  Well why not, if you're a 4500 year old prehistoric monument that no one really understands who's going to argue?



6 comments:

Unknown said...

I can only imagine the diversity of people who come to witness that event. I imagine it can be quite the spectacle.

DanWins said...

Always have loved pictures of Stonehenge - for some reason GOOD pictures seem to bring about a form of Peace.

Maybe someday will get a chance to visit in person with my wife and kids.

fizzee rascal said...

"Not only did it get the ultimate privilege of appearing in part one of the Doctor Who finale......."

That's the ultimate privelige? Wow.
Perhaps it's a woman thing, my wife likes Dr who as well.

I am quite interested in Amy's crack though. Make up your own punchline to that one.

Anonymous said...

Must be awesome to be near enough to Stonehenge to experience that. Some of us have never been.

The Beans said...

I would LOVE to see Stonehenge! If I make it back to the other side of the pond, I want to visit!

-French Bean

Mrs Midnite said...

I've never actually been to Stonehenge, I would like to but it's not worth it unless you can go right up to the stones, you normally can't. We have quite a few similar standing stones in Scotland, hoping to see some thins summer, I'll get pictures.

I think the Doctor Who bit might have included some sarcasm!

Post a Comment

About me

My photo
30 something female, GSOH, independent, unreliable, seeks sanity. Must like dogs and handbags!