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Pagans litter Stonehenge as 35,000 celebrate the summer solstice

mirror.co.uk: “The summer solstice passed off peacefully at Stonehenge with only a few arrests and litter proving the biggest bugbear from the record 35,000 crowd.

There was a carnival atmosphere as pagans, Morris dancers and others gathered at the ancient stone landmark on Salisbury Plain to celebrate the longest day of the year yesterday.

Druid Jim Saunders, 33, from Reading, said: ‘It is upsetting to see so much litter, and some people can be disrespectful. But it is nice to see a lot of people here. There is no better place to learn about our culture and history.’

Crowds began to gather at 7pm on Saturday.

There was music and dancing all night and cheers to greet the 4.58am sunrise.”

Proud pagans party for magical time

ajc.com: “The annual Atlanta Pagan Pride festival draws hundreds of Wiccans, witches and other earthy worshippers to Decatur’s Glenlake Park. Last weekend, the fourth celebration brought together 800 colorful characters.

As in Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ’ fairies showed up —- the youngsters wearing synthetic wings made of wires and see-through cloth. ‘Lords’ and ‘Ladies’ walked amongst commoners. Children danced the maypole.

Pentagram amulets, ponytails and tattoos —- the quarter-moon on the forehead —- were everywhere. Vendors hawked Doritos, detachable horns and magic potion —- actually bath salt that promises to spike your income for $3.”

Summer solstice at Stonehenge

The Frame: Summer solstice: “STONEHENGE, England (AP) — Pagans and partygoers drummed, danced or gyrated in hula hoops to stay awake through the night, as more than 35,000 people greeted the summer solstice Sunday at the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge. Despite fears of trouble because of the record-sized crowd, police said the annual party at the mysterious monument was mostly peaceful. Stonehenge, which sits on Salisbury Plain about 80 miles southwest of London, is one of Britain’s most popular tourist attractions, visited by more than 750,000 people a year. It was built in three phases between 3,000 B.C. and 1,600 B.C. Mystery surrounds the monument’s original purpose. The solstice is one of the few times during the year that visitors can get close enough to touch the rocks. (25 images)”

(Via http://www.sacbee.com.)