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Winter solstice crowds gather at Stonehenge in celebration - BBC.com

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By Sammy Jenkins , Dan O'Brien & Karen GardnerBBC News, Wiltshire

Ben Birchall/PA Woman in headdress looking up, in front of a stone at StonehengeBen Birchall/PA
People came to celebrate the winter solstice at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument in Wiltshire

Crowds have gathered at Stonehenge to welcome the sunrise for this year's winter solstice.

Marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year, the sun rose at 08:09 GMT and will set at 16:02 GMT on Friday.

In the northern hemisphere, the Earth's axis is tilted at its furthest point from the sun on Friday.

The solstice is one of the key occasions where English Heritage allows people near to the stones.

Ben Birchall/PA People gathering at Stonehenge for the winter solsticeBen Birchall/PA
The solstice is one of the key occasions where English Heritage allows people near to the stones
Ben Birchall/PA Man dressed in robes at StonehengeBen Birchall/PA
Crowds started to gather in the early morning to watch the Sun rise at Stonehenge
Rhiannon and James
James Vivian-Irving said: "It's a pretty special thing to come here"

Celebrated by cultures all over the world for thousands of years, the winter solstice is also known as Yule, a celebration of light and the symbolic rebirth of the sun.

Rhiannon Vivian-Irving said she and her husband James decided to visit after experiencing a solstice at Stonehenge when she was pregnant with their young son.

"We kept saying we should come back," said Rhiannon.

"I think the atmosphere here is lovely. It's very gentle and it just feels like everybody is here for a nice reason."

"It's a pretty special thing to come here," said James.

"There's something very simple and honest about it because it's not got any societal or cultural trappings other than we're celebrating the turning of the sun coming to this point.

"It's just the basic nature and appreciation of it."

Crowds watching the sun rise at Stonehenge
Hundreds turned up to watch the Sun rise, with Stonehenge's car park at full capacity
Ben Birchall/PA Woman celebrating the winter solstice at StonehengeBen Birchall/PA
Celebrations took place from dawn at the World Heritage site

Wiltshire Police said nearby roads were "extremely busy" due to people gathering to mark the occasion and the English Heritage site's car park was at "full capacity" at dawn.

Anna, who travelled from Bournemouth to visit Stonehenge for the first time, said it was "really lovely" to be able to get so close to the stones.

Anna and friends
Anna and friends travelled from Bournemouth to visit Stonehenge for the first time

On why she made the visit, Anna said: "Just the energies of the stones, knowing it's one of the ancient wonders of the world. I've always had the passion to come and see Stonehenge.

"It's just very magical. If you do come for the first time I would highly encourage just connecting to the people and the land and not [using] your phones," she added.

Experiencing their first solstice at Stonehenge, musicians Nick and Rosie travelled from Frome, Somerset, accompanying their local Morris dancing group.

Nick and Rosie
Rosie said the experience was "very special"

Rosie said: "It was the dancers - dancing the dawn in - that we were playing for. It was a very special moment."

"Everybody piled here in the dark to dance by the stones and it's a lovely atmosphere," said Nick.

Ben Birchall/PA Crowds at Stonehenge including a man wearing a white robe while playing the bag pipesBen Birchall/PA
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year
Ben Birchall/PA Woman in a light-up headdress in front of StonehengeBen Birchall/PA
Some people who attended this year's Winter Solstice described it as "magical"
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