Thousands gather at Stonehenge for winter solstice sunrise

Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge on the winter solstice Friday to witness the sunrise and mark the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. With Britons experiencing seven and a half hours of daylight today, the sun rose at 8:03 a.m. over the prehistoric circle in Wiltshire, drawing revelers from across the country to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gates opened at 5:15 a.m., and long queues formed for the cafe as the crowd braved an 8C morning. A family from Nottingham woke at 2 a.m. to drive three hours to join the ceremony, saying the early start was worth it. Emma, Tom and Bella Ridley-Thompson said they were very excited to be at Stonehenge. "It's just nice to get involved. This is a ceremony after all, so it's nice to dress up and have a bit of respect," they said.

As dawn broke, celebrations unfolded around the stones, including folk dancers and pagan rituals. Some sang and beat drums, while others took time to reflect among the huge pillars. One couple described their visit as a spiritual journey, with another attendee noting the communal atmosphere that accompanies the turning of the year. Kim Tester told the BBC they return to Stonehenge every equinox to "recharge" and that the moment feels like rebirth; she added, "We just love the atmosphere, it's beautiful."

Will Scutt, of English Heritage, described the moment as a "revered cultural moment in ancient history." Visitors were allowed to get closer to the stones than ever before, and officials emphasized respect for the 2,500 B.C. to 3,500-year-old monoliths. Organizers highlighted rare lichens and the intricate carvings on the stones as reminders of the site’s fragile, ancient heritage.

Morris dancers performed in traditional attire to celebrate the Earth being "reborn" and the promise of longer days. The folk dance tradition mirrors ancient fertility rituals tied to the turning of the seasons, and attendees described the experience as both a celebration and a meditation on history.

The stone circle at Stonehenge was erected over thousands of years, with construction spanning from about 5,000 to 3,500 years ago. It was built to align with the movements of the sun on the solstices, a feature that continues to draw visitors seeking connections to ancient calendars and agricultural life. For many, the winter solstice marks a moment to reflect on the passing of darkness and the return of light as days slowly lengthen.

Today’s solstice also marks the first day of winter in the astronomical calendar. In astronomical terms, winter begins on the solstice when the tilt of the Earth's axis—about 23.5 degrees—causes the sun to trace its lowest arc in the sky. This year, astronomical winter begins on December 21, 2025, and runs through March 20, 2026. In contrast, the meteorological calendar defines winter as December 1 to February 28 (or 29 in a leap year).

The afternoon and evening carried on with additional performances and reflections as crowds lingered among the stones, sharing stories of personal connections to the site. For many, the ritual is a long-standing tradition—some visitors return year after year for solstice and equinox celebrations as a way to feel connected to the landscape and to each other. The solstice event at Stonehenge remains a powerful reminder of ancient engineering, solar alignment, and the enduring human impulse to mark the passage of time together.