Stonehenge
So. I have just learned about Stonehenge from some guy (who's name I forget) who is apparently one of the leading experts on Stonehenge inthe country. This would be good if he also happened to be one of the leading lecture givers in the country but he wasn't, but that's another story. Anyway, possibly the most interesting thing he talked about was the possible use of stonehenge. Everyone knows it aligns with the sun on the summer solstice, but it is now thought that the henge (which it actually isn't) was used at midWINTER, not midsummer because it kinda makes more sense to pray for the return of longer days than it does to celebrate the days becoming shorter. This makes so much sense to me. I had never thought about it before... But going to stonehenge on June 21st doesn't really seem to make that much sense any more. Going on Dec 21st, on the other hand, to pray for the return of longer days, really really does. But it's colder. And people who dress up in floaty white robes and pretend to do magic probably don't want to get quite _that_ cold!
Anyway, having just insulted many people, I will go. The people who built it, please remember, were not pagans. Mid summer may be a spiritual time for pagans (I really don't know) but there is no evidence at all to suggest it was for these kids.
I may be wrong, but it does make the place seem more likely to me. And no one can prove one way or the other so it doesn't matter.
Anyway, having just insulted many people, I will go. The people who built it, please remember, were not pagans. Mid summer may be a spiritual time for pagans (I really don't know) but there is no evidence at all to suggest it was for these kids.
I may be wrong, but it does make the place seem more likely to me. And no one can prove one way or the other so it doesn't matter.