Summer Solstice, sometimes called Midsummer or Litha is a major celestial event, resulting in the longest day and the shortest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. Sol and stice are a combination of Latin words meaning Sun and to stand still.
Great spiritual significance is attached to the date, with humans having been amazed at the powers of the sun for thousands of years. Christians place the feast of John the Baptist towards the end of June, Celts celebrated with bonfires to add to the suns energy and it is also the festival of Li – the Chinese Goddess of light.
Druids celebrate the day as the wedding of Heaven & Earth whilst Pagans call it the Honey Moon after the mead made from fermented honey. Ancient Pagans celebrated with bonfires similar to Celts, alongside wearing protective garlands of herbs and flowers such as St Johns Wort (still used today by many herbalists as a mood stabiliser).
Many believe that it is a time to celebrate growth and life, but also to recognise the balance needed in ones life and the world in general and to acknowledge the shifting of seasons, as the sun begins to decline again towards winter.
English Heritage are providing “Managed Open Access” to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice on the 20th & 21st June 2015. As it falls on a weekend, there is likely to a build-up of traffic, and as such they strongly advise using public transport.
You can keep up to date on Twitter: @eh_stonehenge
SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS 19.00 hours (7pm) Saturday 20 June
ACCESS TO STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD19.00 hours (7pm) Saturday 20 June
LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK 06.00 hours (6am) Sunday 21 June – or earlier if full
STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD CLOSES 08.00 hours (8am) Sunday 21 June
SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED 12.00 hours (12 Noon) Sunday 21 June
• Sunset on Saturday 20 June 2015 is at 21.26 hrs (9.26pm)
• Sunrise on Sunday 21 June 2015 is at 04.52 hrs (4.52am)