21 December 2010 Last updated at 09:21
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Druids and Pagans celebrate winter solstice at Stonehenge
More than 2,000 people gathered in the snow of Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice.
Druids, lead by Arthur Pendragon (centre), take part in the winter solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire Photo: PA
Despite the actual sunrise, - which took place at 08.09am - being obscured by mist, Peter Carson of English Heritage said: "Stonehenge looked spectacular in the snow and it was a great way for people to start their festive season."
The Pagan community came out in force to celebrate the annual festival, along with many whom were merely curious to experience the event.
As well as the traditional Druid and Pagan ceremonies, a snowball fight erupted as people enjoyed the cold weather.
"The popularity of the winter solstice has grown over the years as more is known about Stonehenge and the winter solstice and the whole celebration has grown in popularity, " Mr Carson said.
Lance Corporal Paul Thomas, a serving soldier of 15 years who fought in Iraq, was "knighted" with a sword by a Druid calling himself King Arthur Pendragon.
The word solstice comes from the Latin phrase for "sun stands still". During the winter solstice the sun is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year, meaning shorter days and longer nights. The day after the winter solstice marks the beginning of lengthening days, leading up to the summer solstice in June.
The Sun's passage through the sky appears to stop, with it seeming to rise and set in the same two places for several days. Then the arc begins growing longer and higher in the sky, reaching its peak at the summer solstice.
The solstices happen twice a year because the Earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun. Since ancient times people have marked the winter and summer solstices.
The stones at Stonehenge are aligned with the sunlight on both the summer and winter solstices. These times told prehistoric farmers that harvest was coming or that the shortest day of winter had passed.
The Sun's passage through the sky appears to stop, with it seeming to rise and set in the same two places for several days. Then the arc begins growing longer and higher in the sky, reaching its peak at the summer solstice.
The solstices happen twice a year because the Earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun. Since ancient times people have marked the winter and summer solstices.
The stones at Stonehenge are aligned with the sunlight on both the summer and winter solstices. These times told prehistoric farmers that harvest was coming or that the shortest day of winter had passed.
Recent excavations of animal bones at the site suggest that huge midwinter feasts were held at Stonehenge, with cattle moved there to be slaughtered for the solstice celebrations.December 21 – The full moon is in total eclipse from 1:12 to 2:47 UT and the solstice occurs later in the day at 16:05 UT 1638
Total eclipses can turn the Moon a shade of pink or dark red. The eclipse began early on Tuesday morning GMT.
It is the first total lunar eclipse in three years and the first to fall on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year - in nearly 400 years.
The Moon is normally illuminated by the Sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the full Moon passes through the shadow created by the Earth blocking the Sun's light.
Some indirect sunlight can pierce through and give the Moon a dramatic shade of red.
The west coast of America saw the eclipse start on Monday night; observers in North and Central America were able to view the whole event.
Total eclipse began at 0741 GMT on Tuesday (0241 EST on Tuesday; 11:41 PST on Monday).
Western Europe sees the start of the spectacle while western Asia catches only the tail end.
The totality phase - when the moon is entirely inside Earth's shadow - lasted a little over an hour.
"It's perfectly placed so that all of North America can see it," said eclipse expert Fred Espenak of Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Skywatchers observe lunar eclipse
21 December 2010 Last updated at 09:28 Help
It is the first time since 1638 that a lunar eclipse has fallen on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
Scotland and Northern Ireland provided the best viewing conditions in the UK.
Professor Alan Fitzsimmons from Queen's University told the BBC's Andy Martin it was a "beautiful" eclipse as he observed it from Belfast.
Scotland and Northern Ireland provided the best viewing conditions in the UK.
Professor Alan Fitzsimmons from Queen's University told the BBC's Andy Martin it was a "beautiful" eclipse as he observed it from Belfast.
Read more
Professor Alan Fitzsimmons from Queen's University, describes the eclipse from Belfast
Skywatchers around the world have been observing a rare total lunar eclipse.
The best viewing conditions for the eclipse were from North and Central America, parts of northern Europe and East Asia.Total eclipses can turn the Moon a shade of pink or dark red. The eclipse began early on Tuesday morning GMT.
It is the first total lunar eclipse in three years and the first to fall on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year - in nearly 400 years.
The Moon is normally illuminated by the Sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the full Moon passes through the shadow created by the Earth blocking the Sun's light.
Some indirect sunlight can pierce through and give the Moon a dramatic shade of red.
The west coast of America saw the eclipse start on Monday night; observers in North and Central America were able to view the whole event.
Western Europe sees the start of the spectacle while western Asia catches only the tail end.
The totality phase - when the moon is entirely inside Earth's shadow - lasted a little over an hour.
"It's perfectly placed so that all of North America can see it," said eclipse expert Fred Espenak of Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Did you see see the lunar eclipse?
