Summer solstice 2019: From Stonehenge to Times Square, people across northern hemisphere celebrate longest day of the year
Bonfires and folk dancing among ways of marking 21 June - although they do things a little differently in New York...
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mass bonfires, magical lantern events and a, er, mass yoga session have all been taking place as people across the northern hemisphere celebrate summer solstice.
The longest day of the calendar – 16 hours and 38 minutes this year, fact fans – was marked with events from tiny Mongolian villages (where Shaman host fire rituals) to Times Square in New York (where hipsters hold an annual yoga-thon).
An estimated 10,000 revellers descended on the UK’s own Stonehenge to cheer the sun as it rose behind the area’s ancient circle. A day of spiritualism, stone-touching and singing – often by people in elaborate headdress – followed.
A live stream from the 4,500-year-old Wiltshire site broadcast parts of the day to viewers online.
"We live in quite large cities sometimes with tall buildings so we don't see so much of the sky, and at night-time there is lots of light pollution, so we are losing that access," said Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the scientist who worked with English Heritage to create the online broadcast.
"We don't often just step out and look at the night sky - and with a monument like Stonehenge, that is just what our ancestors were doing."
Elsewhere, traditional paper lanterns were released in Spain, folk songs and dancing was performed in Belarus, and mass bonfires were built in Finland.
All good fun because, remember, folks: from here on in, the days start getting shorter.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments