Watching the sun rise at Stonehenge might just be the perfect way to welcome the Autumn season.
The first offical day of Autumn brought together people from all walks of life to watch the sunrise from 06.15 this morning.
Celebrations were marked by England's New Age Tribes (neo-druids, neo-pagans, Wiccans) along with families, tourists and travellers from across the country.
Modern druid ceremonies took place as Mabon - the second harvest festival.
Stonehenge Autumn Equinox Celebrations 2021. #Mabon #OpenAccess 😇 pic.twitter.com/4hQ5cMJi23
— Stonehenge U.K (@ST0NEHENGE) September 23, 2021
Mabon is seen as a time of gratitude and to celebrate the balance that the Equinox brings.
This is because the equinox is when day and night are actually the same length and is something celebrated across different cultures and traditions.
Stonehenge Autumn Equinox Celebrations 2021. #Mabon #OpenAccess 😇 pic.twitter.com/i9TZ4lgB5u
— Stonehenge U.K (@ST0NEHENGE) September 23, 2021
Onlookers were given access to the site before it was opened to the public.
English Heritage approved access to tourists to witness the first light of Autumn from 06.15 until 08.30 this morning depending on current Covid guidance.
Autumn Equinox is one of the rare ocassions that the stones are opened for public access.
While English Heritage approves managed open access to the stones for Summer and Winter Solstice celebrations, Spring and Autumn solstice typically do not fall under this contract.
They work in partnership with Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Council.
English Heritage encourages anyone that wishes to attend these events to do so as long as they follow with the event's conditions of entry and respect the stones.
The stones are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.
No one can touch, lean against, stand on or climb on or disturb the ground around the stones in any way.
Check out the conditions of entry for this and future events at Stonehenge.
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