A day that has the least hours of sunshine hardly sounds like something worth celebrating, but the Winter Solstice is a day that has deep roots in many ancient traditions and cultures, and is a beloved event in the New England.
There is perhaps no more significant way to mark the day in our region than at the Australian Standing Stones in Glen Innes.
“The Stones officially opened in February 1992 and they were very cleverly aligned astronomically to True North and True South – not only is this significant from the perspective of tracking the daylight hours, as the ancient Celts would have, but it is also symbolic of an ancient Celtic Cross,” Judi Toms from the Australian Standing Stones Committee said.
“It’s a link between not only the ancient Celts and those of Celtic lineage today, but it’s also a link between Celts around the world to Celts in Australia.”
There will be two events held at the Standing Stones. The first, and perhaps the most spectacular is the observation of the sun rising through the avenue of stones and the first rays hitting the central stone, known as the Australis Stone.
Gathering for this event will commence from around 6.15am, but for exact timings, keep and eye on the Australian Standing Stones Facebook page.
“Weather permitting we’ll observe the stunning sunrise and then a member of our committee will give a brief talk about the history and significance of the Stones and their relationship to the Solstice,” said Ms Toms.
For those not keen to brave the cold at dawn, there will be a secondary event around 11.30am which will acknowledge the sun reaching its highest point for the day, hitting the solar noon shadow markets and the sundial.
“Standing Stones like ours can be found all around Celtic occupied regions in Europe, they were a vital way of guiding the ancients in their lifestyle by giving them the opportunity to track their seasons, and plan their lives accordingly.”
“The committee does its absolute best to try and retain the authenticity of this in our commemorations,” said Ms Toms.
Also on Friday 21 June, The Glen at Uralla will commemorate the evening with a family stargazing event from 6pm – 8pm.
After enjoying a hot drink and some music, you can head out into the fields via the newly commissioned granite constellation statues, before getting hands on with some giant telescopes for a selfie with the moon.
Astronomer Professor Fred Watson AM will also be on hand for a Q&A before you get the chance to test your knowledge with a space themed trivia night.
If you’d rather mark the day from the warmth of indoors, the Armidale Playhouse is hosting a Winter Solstice themed concert on Saturday 22 June from 6pm – 7.30pm.
The official event page describes the concert as one that will illuminate the darkness and fill the night with warmth and joy. The concert will feature uplifting music, stunning operatic singing and narration to help listeners follow the music and its themes.
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