Advent Calendar 22nd December 2007

yesterday's pic

Advent means 'the coming', and is a month of expectation, anticipation and preparation for the Winter solstice/Yule and Christmas

Advent calendar

Happy Winter Solstice 2007

The winter solstice sunset is now believed to have been the main celebration at Stonehenge. The massive sarsens would have been silhouettes against a golden sky as our ancestors watched the sunset, knowing that with the next dawn nature would begin to stir again, as the days got steadily longer and warmer. The winter solstice marked their triumph over the winter darkness.

Although, many have long believed that the marking of the Summer solstice is the main reason behind the building of the magnificent Stonehenge, citing the position of the midsummer sunrise over the outlying Heel stone. Others see the Heel Stone as just a remnant of a series of pairs of stones marking a processional way for the all important winter festival.

Whichever is true, standing in the circle at Stonehenge at the summer or winter solstice is one of the best places to watch the sunrise - magic...