With the Summer Solstice on 20th June, did you know that noon isn’t at 12?
Well this was certainly news to us! There's clock noon, the 24-hour affair that we track with our watches. And then there's solar noon – that moment of each day when the sun is directly overhead. If the Earth's orbit were a perfect circle, and if its axis weren't tilted, clock noon and solar noon would be one and the same, but alas they are not! On the Solstice, solar noon will actually be at 1.08pm! It makes us wonder how those cowboys managed to coordinate their shootouts!
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the Summer Solstice, traditionally in Northern Europe, the solstice was celebrated with bonfires, feasts, and ceremonies to ensure a successful harvest. These traditions reflected a deep connection to the cycles of nature and the power of the sun.
If you’re hankering for a site to watch the sunrise that will be less mobbed and closer to Tamworth than Stonehenge, why not set your alarm clock and head to The Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the Peak District? It’s about 1hr 20mins by car and is regarded as a sacred site by modern Pagan groups who conduct rituals there.
A small early Bronze Age stone circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. It is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor.
Image Credits: Pixabay.com
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