Winter Solstice Stonehenge

Back in grade school we had to pick out books for book reports.  I can't remember how old I was when I saw The Once and Future King in the school library.  From that moment, I was hooked on the Arthurian Legend.  King Arthur, Camelot, Guinevere and the Knights of the Round Table.  During my time in London, I took a day trip out to Stonehenge and Avebury. From London: Stonehenge & the Stone Circles of Avebury 2024

But my favorite characters were the Morgan le Fay and Merlin. I was fascinated with the mystical side of the legend. I've read the Mists of Avalon many times. Druids were high ranking powerful members of the ancient Celts. Mostly priests, teachers and judges. They relied on the ancient knowledge of herbal medical and paganism.

Druids Today:

In modern times druids are a subset of Neo-Paganism which includes Wicca. Modern Druids believe that Stonehenge was built by ancient Druids as a place of worship. It is aligned with the summer and winter solstice. To them Stonehenge represents the spiritual connection of man and the elements.

When choosing a tour of Stonehenge I tried to get as close to the winter solstice as I possibly could. Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. I awoke to cloudy skies and a threat of rain. The first stop of the tour was Avebury.

Avebury:

Avebury henge and stone circles were built and much altered during the Neolithic period, roughly between 2850 BC and 2200 BC. The henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury village. Within the henge is the largest megalithic stone circle in world - originally of about 100 stones - which in turn encloses two smaller stone circles. Unlike Stonehenge, a small village grew up around the Avebury henge.

The Avebury area is a world heritage site including a series of chambered tombs built around 3650 BC, known as West Kennet Long Barrow, where fifty people were buried. A group of three concentric but intermittent patterns known as Windmill Hill, where many animal bones were found, suggesting animal feasting or rituals by Neolithic peoples. and Silbury Hill, an artificial mound, the largest of its kind in Europe, was completed in 2400 BC.

The purpose of these prehistoric, monuments is unknown. But several archaeologists suggested that Aubrey Burl believed that whichever group of people built the Avebury Stone Circle used it as a peace offering to the gods who controlled the climate and other natural occurrences so that they might be protected from diseases and disasters that could harm them. A different theory, supported by the animal bones found around the area, suggests that it was a site for feasts and gatherings of Neolithic peoples. As the times changed, Stonehenge is known for its religious significance. A Strange Phenomenon- 'Avebury Stone Circle' in the county of Wiltshire, England

After Avebury with a stop for lunch we made our way to Stonehenge. In the distance we saw brightening skies and trying not to get my hopes up for a peak of the sun. For centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the many mysteries of Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument that took Neolithic builders an estimated 1,500 years to erect. Located in southern England, it is comprised of roughly 100 massive upright stones placed in a circular layout.  Stonehenge - Location, Definition & Age | HISTORY

Stonehenge:

There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and perhaps spiritually connect with distant ancestors. Others believe the stones were used as an astronomical calendar, perfectly shaped to the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice.

Just as I was about to leave at 3:30PM the sun peaked over the horizon and there it was. Light through the stones. I was mesmerized by the sight as well as many Druids who camp out each year.