Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice

London - Thousands of modern Druids, admirers of Celtic culture, pagans, and curious onlookers participated this early morning in the traditional summer solstice celebrations at England's Stonehenge. The event culminated at the moment the Sun rose above the horizon to initiate the longest journey across the sky today, the longest of the entire year. The celebrations of the solstice were the main festival of the year in the pre-Christian calendar and continue to survive in many European countries as a reminder of pagan times.
    A group of Druids dressed in black robes and oak leaves welcomed the sunrise at 05:58 CEST by the mighty pillar known as the Heel Stone on the edge of the famous prehistoric monument.
    Approximately 20,000 people arrived at the site, dancers twisted to the rhythm of drums and flutes, some fortified themselves with alcohol and energy drinks, while colorful spotlights bathed the ancient stone columns in pink and purple hues.
    Among the pagans was 23-year-old New Yorker Jeanette Montesan, a recent graduate in religious studies. She saved all year to make the trip to Stonehenge, which she compares in significance to the Muslim Mecca. "It’s not the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), but there are 19,000 people here in a small circle. It’s something I wanted to experience,” said the devotee of ancient rituals to the AP agency.
    Due to the unruly behavior of participants and repeated clashes with the police, access to Stonehenge was restricted in 1984. However, since 2000, the organization English Heritage, which manages the monument, has fully allowed celebrations at this site again.
    Stonehenge, constructed roughly between 3000-1600 BC, is one of the oldest prehistoric cult sites in the world. In 1986, this stone circle in Wiltshire County was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Despite years of research, scientists have yet to determine the purpose for which the construction of stone monoliths, standing three to six meters tall, was built. Stonehenge, located about 130 kilometers southwest of London, is now among a group of 20 monuments vying for inclusion as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
    The summer solstice is also celebrated in other countries, although the festivities are mostly delayed until the last weekend of June. Swedes gather to drink spiced schnapps, Danes light bonfires, and Finns, along with the inhabitants of the Baltic states, flock to the countryside to dance, sing, and revel in nature.