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Winter Solstice Plans
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Sanctuary
Sanctuary
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Edited Dec 16, 2014, 13:19
Re: Winter Solstice Plans
Dec 16, 2014, 13:05
nigelswift wrote:
"The solstice is traditionally celebrated at the sunrise closest to the time when the sun is stationary before beginning its transit to the north or south. This year this occurs late on 21 December, hence the winter solstice celebrations take place at sunrise on 22 December."

That's all a bit muddling. The actual solstice is at 23.03 GMT on the 21st but the traditional solstice, if you mean a traditional old Stonehenge solstice would be whatever was observable wouldn't it? Earliest sunset, latest sunrise or longest night? None would have been easily visible, i.e. measurable, but it does seem the place was designed to celebrate sunset - the earliest one presumably - which isn't on the 21st or 22nd is it? (George?)

Is EH playing along with a mistaken understanding by Druids of what the monument was most likely to have been designed to observe? Shouldn't they tell 'em to line up their beliefs with the evidence? (And save a lot of overtime payments for EH staff) ;)


And possibly cut down on the numbers by ruling out many who can't come on the Monday due to work commitments? Would it have remained as the 21st if you had to pay...he asked cynically?
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