English Heritage opened the site for those celebrating the end of the longest night of the year. The sun rose over Stonehenge at 08:11 GMT.
Crowds brave the Wiltshire cold to watch the sun rise after the longest night of the year
- Around 5,000 people gathered at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to mark the winter solstice on Sunday morning
English Heritage opened the ancient Neolithic site to those celebrating end of the longest night of the year
The winter solstice occurs around December 21, when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun
Jenny Davies, from English Heritage, said about 5,000 people had come, ranging from pagans and Druid groups, families and tourists.
The solstice marks the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun, and begins the gradual lengthening of days and shortening of nights.
Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2019 News Links:
Winter solstice: Thousands gather at Stonehenge at dawn – BBC NEWS
Druids and dancers gather at Stonehenge to mark winter solstice – THE GUARDIAN
Winter solstice 2019: Why do pagans celebrate the shortest day of the year? – THE TELEGRAPH
WINTER WONDER Thousands celebrate Winter Solstice at Stonehenge as crowds hug the stones on shortest day of the year – THE SUN
Heathens’ greetings! Drum-banging druids join thousands marking Winter Solstice at Stonehenge – THE DAILY MAIL
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