Newgrange, County Meath, Eire
From the surface it seems like a grass-covered UFO, its curved, chalk-white partitions gleaming amid the inexperienced countryside. But inside is likely one of the most spectacular prehistoric constructions in Europe. Rediscovered in 1699, however solely excavated within the Sixties, Newgrange within the Boyne Valley is a Neolithic passage tomb that has been dated to about 3,200BC (older than the Egyptian pyramids) and is so properly made it’s by no means as soon as sprung a leak. However that’s not its most spectacular function – the builders created an elaborate roof field that annually, on winter solstice (shortly after dawn on 21 December 2024), permits gentle to creep into the principle passageway and illuminate the tomb chamber for 17 minutes. An annual lottery decides who will get to witness it, however guests can wait exterior and cheer the arrival of the daylight. For those who miss it, they artificially recreate the phenomenon on each tour.
Tickets €18 per grownup, or watch it stay on-line
Glastonbury Tor, Somerset
Yearly, pagans and druids descend on this 158-metre-tall hillock – AKA the Isle of Avalon – to welcome the dawn on the winter solstice (in addition to dawn the day after). For them it marks the “new 12 months” because the solar slowly begins its return. Count on fires, drumming and singing close to the stays of the 14th-century church of St Michael. However it’s not simply the tor that sees the motion. There’s all the pieces from open air celebrations to meditations, hearth ceremonies and workshops on the Chalice Nicely Belief, and a particular celebration within the city’s meeting rooms from 7.30pm with poetry, storytellers and a choir – all free and everyone seems to be welcome.
Burning the Clocks, Brighton
Crowds flock to central Brighton to look at processions of individuals carrying selfmade paper and willow lanterns for the annual Burning the Clocks celebration, to mark the shortest day of the 12 months. Began by SameSky – a community-led arts charity – 2024 marks the thirtieth time it’s taken place and can see the parade weave from New Highway close to the Pavilion at round 6pm, by way of town centre, ending at Kemptown at 8pm the place – as a protest in opposition to the materialism of Christmas – the lanterns are burned on a bonfire; fireworks are additionally set off to mark the beginning of a brand new 12 months to come back. All welcome, no payment – although donations are gratefully acquired.
Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Again in Roman occasions, fairly than have a good time the solstice per se, a pageant was held known as Saturnalia to honour the god of farming (Saturn), the tip of the harvest and begin of a brand new 12 months. It was celebrated on 17 December however over time was prolonged till the twenty third and was the one public vacation when even slaves might have the time off. Troopers on Hadrian’s Wall are believed to have marked the pageant by ingesting, consuming and being merry. Again in 2022 (to mark 1,900 years for the reason that wall was constructed) a particular pageant was held throughout the month, together with on the solstice. Now, with the information that the tree stump left at Sycamore Hole is beginning to present indicators of regrowth after vandals reduce it down, it’s the proper place to go to see the dawn and have a good time a brand new daybreak on this outdated wall.
Bryn Celli Ddu, Anglesey
Very similar to Stonehenge, this 4,000-year-old Neolithic burial chamber (constructed on the location of a former henge) is a spot pagans go to each summer time solstice, to witness an illuminating inner gentle spectacle very like that of Eire’s Newgrange. But this “Mound within the Darkish Grove” (its English translation) can be price a go to in December when the native Anglesey Druid Order have a good time the returning of the longer days. Each they and locals collect on the chamber’s entrance over the last hour of daylight to have a good time the land, sea and sky, and supply their due to legendary Welsh figures from the Mabinogion.
Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, Orkney
Orkney is residence to greater than 200 recognized Neolithic websites – lots of which pre-date Stonehenge. Ten miles west of Kirkwall, on Orkney Mainland, lies a big grass-covered mound often known as Maeshowe Chambered Cairn. Its entrance is aligned in order that for six weeks over winter (roughly from the tip of November by way of to the center of January) the setting solar shines into the central chamber of the cairn and light-weight performs throughout the again wall of the burial chamber – alleged by some to be a doorway into one other world. Pre-booking is suggested; to see the setting solar select the 2pm tour. Can’t make it? Try the video of the spectacle.
Clava Cairns, Inverness
One among Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric websites (and not too long ago starring within the Outlander TV present) Clava Cairns is a round chamber tomb cairn, constructed greater than 4,000 years in the past. What might be seen at the moment – prehistoric burial mounds and the stays of a medieval chapel – would have been a part of a a lot bigger advanced the place individuals would collect on the shortest day to look at the interior passageways glow golden because the solar units. In the present day these ancients traditions come alive at solstice with music, tales and silence for non secular reflection. The location is open all day and is free. Sundown occurs round 3.30pm.
Kenidjack Holed Stones, Cornwall
On the jap slopes of Carn Kenidjack, a rocky outcrop close to Tregeseal, is that this cluster of 4 stones. Each encompasses a round gap – for causes nobody can say with any certainty, although its believed by many to be some type of celestial calendar. On the winter solstice certainly one of them captures the setting solar fantastically inside its cutout. You gained’t discover crowds up right here because it’s primarily flown below the radar, however you can be rewarded by an ideal sundown stroll from St Simply or Botallack, to a spot the place two miners as soon as mentioned they noticed a wrestling match presided over by the satan.
Druid’s Temple, North Yorkshire
Don’t be fooled. Masham shouldn’t be residence to the northern Stonehenge – or not one as outdated anyway. Commissioned again within the late 1700s/early 1800s by eccentric landowner William Danby, it was his manner of attempting to cut back unemployment figures by making locals construct this folly, that includes stone circles, sarsens and dolmens, He even provided a wage to anybody who was keen to stay right here as a hermit (apparently there was one, however he solely lasted 4 years). Over time this place has been adopted for rituals by varied teams, however most not too long ago by these visiting the Swinton Bivouac on which it sits to get pleasure from a espresso from the on-site cafe, earlier than welcoming within the longer days forward on certainly one of many strolling trails.
Castell Henllys, Pembrokeshire
A reconstruction of an iron age village might not be the plain place to spend a winter solstice, however this one sits on the very same spot as one did greater than 2,000 years in the past. Actors dressed as villagers supply demonstrations of what life would have been like, there’s a barefoot strolling path (to wander like a Celtic warrior) in addition to a restaurant and play space for youths. And on the shortest day, from 11am-3pm there might be a bonfire, festive crafts, tales and a go to from Mari Lwyd – a mischievous white horse from Welsh mythology who solely seems in mid-winter. Tickets are £10 grownup, £9 concession, £8 youngster, £32 household (2+2).
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