Today is the start of #Winter in the astronomical calendar and is marked by the #WinterSolstice
Why do people descend on Stonehenge for the winter solstice?
As scores arrive at the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire to mark the shortest day of the year, we explain why the site is of such importance.
People gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire on the Winter Solstice to witness the sunrise on the shortest day of the year (Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph)
Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, is carefully aligned on a sight-line that points to the winter solstice sunset (opposed to New Grange, which points to the winter solstice sunrise, and the Goseck circle, which is aligned to both the sunset and sunrise).
Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC and it is thought that the winter solstice was actually more important to the people who constructed Stonehenge than the Summer solstice.
The winter solstice was a time when cattle was slaughtered (so the animals would not have to be fed during the winter) and the majority of wine and beer was finally fermented.
