winter solstice

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the annual cycle centered around 21st December; a turning point of the year venerated by ancient cultures worldwide. Accurately built into sophisticated megalithic monuments, this alignment has now been recorded in temples that date to nearly 12,000 years ago. Hugh Newman reveals seven remarkable ancient sites aligned to the winter solstice that can still be visited today. Every year, on December 20th-23rd the sun reaches the most southerly point on the horizon, appearing to rise in the same location for a few days. Solstice literally means ‘standstill of the sun’ and the sunrise appears to do just this. Christmas marks the time when the sun is reborn and longer