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Thousands mark winter solstice at Stonehenge

Visitors take photos amongst the prehistoric stones of the Stonehenge monument at dawn on Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, near Amesbury in south west Britain, December 21, 2016. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
Visitors react amongst the prehistoric stones of the Stonehenge monument at dawn on Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, near Amesbury in south west Britain, December 21, 2016. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
Visitors and revellers react amongst the prehistoric stones of the Stonehenge monument at dawn on Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, near Amesbury in south west Britain, December 21, 2016. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
Visitors and revellers gather at the prehistoric stones of the Stonehenge monument at dawn on Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, near Amesbury in south west Britain, December 21, 2016. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
Visitors and revellers celebrate the winter solstice at the prehistoric stones of the Stonehenge monument near Amesbury in south west Britain, December 21, 2016. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
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December 21, 2016 - 8:55 am
 

STONEHENGE — More than five thousand pagans, druids and revellers gathered at Britain’s ancient monument Stonehenge on Wednesday to celebrate the winter solstice.

The sun rose at the sight of the famed standing stones in the southwest English county of Wiltshire at 08:09 GMT, beginning the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.

People played musical instruments, while others sang and took photographs of the rising sun which will provide just under eight hours of sunlight on Wednesday, said English Heritage, which protects the historical site.

Thursday marks the start of longer days before the summer solstice in June.

“I am from South Africa, I came for the solstice, especially for the solstice. I am a Pagan, a witch and this is about the best place to be,” one woman said.

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