Winter Solstice: Sunrise celebration at Stonehenge on the shortest day of the year

On December 21, 2024By Littum

Join us for the shortest day of the yearpublished at 06:23 Greenwich Mean Time

A crowd stood in front of Stone Henge. A woman closest to the camera wears a multicolored cloak and a large flower crown with a horn — caption,

Visitors to Stonehenge wait for sunrise next to the standing stones last year

Today is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Many around the Northern Hemisphere will participate in Winter Solstice celebrations.

The winter solstice ushers in the pagan Christmas – but the astrological phenomena have been observed by cultures around the world for thousands of years. Typically, festivals marking the solstice are a celebration of the light that marks the symbolic rebirth of the Sun.

The winter solstice is still celebrated in many parts of the world today. Its observance in early Germanic traditions forms some of our modern festive customs, including Christmas trees and putting wreaths on the front door.

Stonehenge is a popular destination for people observing the day, but events take place in many other countries.

We’ll be covering these festivities throughout the day – so stay with us right here.