With winter solstice on Dec. 21, 2012 and coincidentally the end of a 5,125 year long cycle according to the Mayan Calendar, with many predicting the end of the world, thousands have gathered around Stonehenge.
The Telegraph reported that because the date coincided with the Mayan Apocalypse there was an "End of the World Party" at Stonehenge.
The BBC reported that over 5,000 people have gathered to watch the sunrise over Stonehenge some of which are Druids and pagans. The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
This year there has been more than 5 times the amount of people that showed up in comparison to last year's winter solstice celebration.
Wiltshire Police said to the BBC that one person was arrested for being drunk and disorderly. "This is the only time when people are allowed into the circle of stones," said BBC Wiltshire reporter Annie Weston,
"It is absolutely packed. People are cheering and chanting and everybody was looking towards the sun for that special moment. There are flags flying, druids here too and people of various religions and faiths."
Another visitor, Shelby McCabe from Honolulu, Hawaii said to the BBC, "All my friends are very jealous that I am here. They would love to be here. They told me to take 1,000 photos which I think I've done."
In the Northern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the entire year while in the Southern Hemisphere that means it has its longest day and shortest night. After the Winter Solstice days get longer and nights get shorter.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
