Winter solstice at English Stonehenge celebrated by thousands of people

London - Thousands of people gathered yesterday at the world-famous landmark Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice. Dawn on the shortest day in the northern hemisphere at the prehistoric site in southern England was watched by 3,500 people, according to the English Heritage organization, as reported by the BBC.
    The ancient stone circle, which attracts not only admirers of the mysterious monument but also self-proclaimed wizards and followers of alternative thinking, was filled with singing and the sound of drums. According to Kate Davies, who manages the site for English Heritage, the celebration was not disrupted by wind or rain.
    Fewer visitors came compared to a similar celebration on the summer solstice, when up to 30,000 people arrive at the ancient site. However, according to the police, the situation was still difficult due to limited parking areas.
    "We cannot use the fields (for parking) as during the summer solstice," said local police representative Christian Laynge according to the BBC. "Once there are 5,000 people here, that’s it, we have to close it," he also stated.
    The enormous stone circle, whose origins and purpose remain unclear to scientists, stands on the plain near Salisbury about 130 kilometers southwest of London. According to site manager Sara Lunt, there is still much to discover, as only just under half of the site has been excavated so far.
    Stonehenge, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, attracts nearly a million visitors each year. This week, a new museum opened at the site, mapping the history of the monument.