The Frame
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June 21, 2009
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)

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Thousands of people raise their hands to receive the first rays of the "Tata Inti" (God Sun) through the "Gateway of the Sun" -stone gateway at the Tiahuanaco archaeological site believed to have been used as calendar- in the winter solstice during the Aymara New Year celebration on June 21, in Tiwanaku (or Tiahuanaco), 71 Km east of La Paz, Bolivia. Some 30,000 people will attend the event to receive the Aymara Year 5517. AFP / Getty Images / Aizar Raldes


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People stand on a rocky crest filled with astronomical markers at the megalithic observatory of Kokino, soon after sunrise, early on June 21, -- the day of the summer solstice. The ancient astronomic observatory, about 80 kms northeast of Skopje, is more than 4,000 years old. Kokino includes special stone markers used to track the movement of Sun and Moon on the eastern horizon. AFP / Getty Images / Robert Atanasovski



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People stand on a rocky crest filled with astronomical markers at the megalithic observatory of Kokino, soon after sunrise, early on June 21, -- the day of the summer solstice. AFP / Getty Images / Robert Atanasovski



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The moon is seen on a rocky crest filled with astronomical markers at the megalithic observatory of Kokino, soon after sunrise, early on June 21. AFP / Getty Images / Robert Atanasovski



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A supreme Russian neo-pagan priest beats a tambourine while his followers dance around a bonfire to celebrate the summer solstice in Maloyaroslavets, some 124 miles southwest of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, June 20. The festivities of Ivan Kupala, or John the Baptist, are similar to Mardi Gras and reflect pre-Christian Slavic traditions and practices. AP / Sergey Ponomarev



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A Russian neo-pagan shaman prays to their gods while celebrating the summer solstice in Maloyaroslavets, Russia, early Saturday, June 20. AP / Sergey Ponomarev



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A Russian neo-pagan supreme priest, right, beats a tambourine while his followers dance around a bonfire to celebrate the summer solstice in Maloyaroslavets, Russia, early Saturday, June 20. AP / Sergey Ponomarev



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Russian neo-pagans dance around a tree celebrating the summer solstice in Maloyaroslavets, Russia, early Saturday, June 20. AP / Sergey Ponomarev



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The supreme priest of Russian neo-pagans beats his drum while his followers dance around the bonfire celebrating the summer solstice in Maloyaroslavets, Russia, early Sunday, June 21. AP / Sergey Ponomarev



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Thousands of people raise their hands to receive the first rays of the "Tata Inti" (God Sun) in the winter solstice during the Aymara New Year celebration on June 21, in Tiwanaku (or Tiahuanaco), 71 Km east of La Paz. AFP / Getty Images / Aizar Raldes



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People practice yoga on a rocky crest filled with astronomical markers at the megalithic observatory of Kokino, soon after sunrise, early on June 21, -- the day of the summer solstice. The ancient astronomic observatory, about 80 kms northeast of Skopje, is more than 4.000 years old. Kokino includes special stone markers used to track the movement of Sun and Moon on the eastern horizon. AFP / Getty Images / Robert Atanasovski



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A camera flash illuminates revellers as they celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge on June 21, near Amesbury, England. Record crowds were expected to watch the sunrise over the ancient monument on the longest day of the year at 4.58am. Police had warned they would crack down on anti-social behavior, treating the event as they would a Saturday night in a city centre. Getty Images / Matt Cardy



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Revellers celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge on June 21, near Amesbury, England. Getty Images / Matt Cardy



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A woman is lifted above the crowd as revellers celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge on June 21, near Amesbury, England. Getty Images / Matt Cardy



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Revellers celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge on June 21, near Amesbury, England. Getty Images / Matt Cardy



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Revellers celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge on June 21, near Amesbury, England. Getty Images / Matt Cardy



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The sun tries to break through the cloud as revellers celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge on June 21, near Amesbury, England. Getty Images / Matt Cardy



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Carl Klinkenborg, right, and his wife Gigha kiss during their wedding ceremony as people gather to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge in west England, early Sunday, June 21. The monument attracted some 35 thousand people to mark the longest day of the year when the sunrise was expected at 4:58 am under the cloudy sky. AP / Akira Suemori



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Revellers play poi as people gather to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge in west England, early Sunday, June 21. AP / Akira Suemori



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A police officer takes a photograph of revellers as people gather to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge in west England, early Sunday, June 21. AP / Akira Suemori



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A man receives blessings from a healer during a ritual for the celebration of the "Inti Raymi" (Festival of the Sun), on June 21, in Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The Inti Raymi is a religious ceremony originated in the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti (Sun). It marks the winter solstice and a new year. AFP / Getty Images / Luis Robayo



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A man makes an offering during a ritual for the celebration of the "Inti Raymi" (Festival of the Sun), on June 21, in Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. AFP / Getty Images / Luis Robayo



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A healer leads a ritual for the celebration of the "Inti Raymi" (Festival of the Sun), on June 21, in Cali, department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. AFP / Getty Images / Luis Robayo



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A woman sells traditional grass compositions and wreaths at a Grass Fair in Riga on 19 June. They may be suffering from one of the world's worst recessions, but it appears economic doom and gloom will not keep Latvians from having fun at a midsummer's night festival dating from pagan times. Deeply rooted in pagan customs handed from generation to generation, Latvia's "Jani" festival is held on June 23 and is based on the June 21 summer solstice marking northern Europe's longest day of the year, when Latvia enjoys almost 18 hours of daylight. AFP / Getty Images / Ilmars Znotins



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Russian neo-pagans look on while participating in festivities to celebrate the summer solstice in Maloyaroslavets, some 124 miles south-west from Moscow, Russia, early Saturday, June 20.AP / Sergey Ponomarev



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