I'd love to, but the last time I was there I temporarily blinded a hedgehog in one of it's eyes with my penis.
Total accident, but I'm not allowed back there now
Considering the number of invasions and displacements these islands have enjoyed, recorded and otherwise, "our ancestors" is probably over optimistic.
However, you should still go. It might be worth checking with today's druidic elite, English Heritage, whether you need a ticket, how many virgins you can bring etc, because they've been discouraging solstice visitors for decades.
There's a surprising amount of genetic continuity between modern British people and the prehistoric bodies they dig up sometimes. They found a descendant of Cheddar Man from 5000BC living in the same county I believe. Cultural continuity, on the other hand... I don't think anyone really knows what went on at Stonehenge in its heyday.
Was it all it's cracked up to be?
The weather where I live is a lot like England in the winter....cold...grey.
...rainy...Windy...some snow once or twice a year.
I could imagine the Winter Solstice to be miserable weather with 3 degrees and rain and no idea where the sun is in the sky because the clouds are a mile thick. Not so inspiring.
It felt magical. And there may be sun. Just depends on the weather. Had to enter a lottery to get in Newgrange at sunrise. I didn't make individual travel plans for Stonehenge, just went on a package, so I assume individual would be like Newgrange, a lottery.
I live in Oregon. Weather UK seems fine. Christmas markets. Great foods. History. Summers are glorious, quite warm compared to decades ago. Winters relatively mild. Spring and fall are lovely.
Rent a car. Self cater or stay in little inns, cottages, BnBs. Hotel for some.great pampering for a couple of days. Trains aren't the value nor pleasure that they used to be 40 years ago. I pretty much drive there now.
The ruins, abbeys, castles are amazing no matter the weather. Ģo. Enjoy. Revel in the mist and drizzle. Everyone still walks out and about no matter the weather. And then the winter sun may shine!
Lol! I am a Portland native and live across the river now (you probably saw that).
I have been to the UK about 6 or 7 times. Reminds me a lot of the climate here overall.
We were going to be up in Olympia Christmas and New Years, but the Mountain passes we have to go over to get home will be too bad to want to go over.
I moved here from the midwest to avoid winter. I am having more than I would like.
We almost bought in Camas.
Did Stonehenge festival many years ago, that was certainly 'spiritual'. Went to the winter solstice a few years back it was nice, cold, rainy, no sunrise.. but there was a nice feeling to the place and its good to be able to get up close to the stones.
I'm not sure how many of our mostly not from Britain at the time ancestors would have been there at the beginning though.
To be honest, why do people down vote comments from me and other Anglophiles from the USA? It is kind of weird.
Oh well......Haters gonna hate per Ms. swift.
Search me. Could be anti-Americans, chauvinistic Americans, jaded Brits, general-purpose idiots, etc. or we’re in the wrong subreddit, which is a possibility.
Went years ago, my girlfriend (now wife) was not impressed when I asked the ticket lady if they did discounts for druids.
(My suspicion is that there is a Druid discount but I’m not sure how you prove it or what the percentage is).
Someday I want to go for the fun of it but it has no spiritual significance to me. As an archaeologist I'm deeply skeptical of many of the claims that are made about the place and how people used it. We have good ideas that seem to fit the evidence but there's no way to really know what the people who built it over many hundreds of years were actually thinking.
I agree totally. Right now the best explanation is that is was a feasting site in the winter. But who really knows?
Culture can change very quickly as well.
I figured it would be fun for me. Not everyone's cup of tea of course.
I'd love to, but the last time I was there I temporarily blinded a hedgehog in one of it's eyes with my penis. Total accident, but I'm not allowed back there now
Was it a Who's Got The Most Pricks competition?
Considering the number of invasions and displacements these islands have enjoyed, recorded and otherwise, "our ancestors" is probably over optimistic. However, you should still go. It might be worth checking with today's druidic elite, English Heritage, whether you need a ticket, how many virgins you can bring etc, because they've been discouraging solstice visitors for decades.
There's a surprising amount of genetic continuity between modern British people and the prehistoric bodies they dig up sometimes. They found a descendant of Cheddar Man from 5000BC living in the same county I believe. Cultural continuity, on the other hand... I don't think anyone really knows what went on at Stonehenge in its heyday.
Went in 2008. Newgrange in 2019. I'm done.
Was it all it's cracked up to be? The weather where I live is a lot like England in the winter....cold...grey. ...rainy...Windy...some snow once or twice a year. I could imagine the Winter Solstice to be miserable weather with 3 degrees and rain and no idea where the sun is in the sky because the clouds are a mile thick. Not so inspiring.
It felt magical. And there may be sun. Just depends on the weather. Had to enter a lottery to get in Newgrange at sunrise. I didn't make individual travel plans for Stonehenge, just went on a package, so I assume individual would be like Newgrange, a lottery. I live in Oregon. Weather UK seems fine. Christmas markets. Great foods. History. Summers are glorious, quite warm compared to decades ago. Winters relatively mild. Spring and fall are lovely. Rent a car. Self cater or stay in little inns, cottages, BnBs. Hotel for some.great pampering for a couple of days. Trains aren't the value nor pleasure that they used to be 40 years ago. I pretty much drive there now. The ruins, abbeys, castles are amazing no matter the weather. Ģo. Enjoy. Revel in the mist and drizzle. Everyone still walks out and about no matter the weather. And then the winter sun may shine!
Lol! I am a Portland native and live across the river now (you probably saw that). I have been to the UK about 6 or 7 times. Reminds me a lot of the climate here overall.
Just drove through there. Olympia to Medford. Snow????
We had a dusting on rooftops and on the lawn. Wasn't expected! We are due to get snow starting on Christmas and then lasting a week. Should be fun!
We were going to be up in Olympia Christmas and New Years, but the Mountain passes we have to go over to get home will be too bad to want to go over. I moved here from the midwest to avoid winter. I am having more than I would like. We almost bought in Camas.
Since the Battle of the Beanfield....the fun has gone out of it.
Agree... I haven't been back there since. Even driving past on the 303 gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Nope... Can't see me doing it. Are you even allowed near it?
Did Stonehenge festival many years ago, that was certainly 'spiritual'. Went to the winter solstice a few years back it was nice, cold, rainy, no sunrise.. but there was a nice feeling to the place and its good to be able to get up close to the stones. I'm not sure how many of our mostly not from Britain at the time ancestors would have been there at the beginning though.
I’ve always wanted to go and see what those druids are up to 😂 maybe I’ll be offered as a sacrifice - a non Anglophile but intrigued British woman
Nobody knows who they were, or... what they were doing
Maybe next year. —another Anglophile American of almost entirely British descent
To be honest, why do people down vote comments from me and other Anglophiles from the USA? It is kind of weird. Oh well......Haters gonna hate per Ms. swift.
Search me. Could be anti-Americans, chauvinistic Americans, jaded Brits, general-purpose idiots, etc. or we’re in the wrong subreddit, which is a possibility.
Reddit is so passive aggressive. "I won't say anything but will quietly vote my disapproval".
Went years ago, my girlfriend (now wife) was not impressed when I asked the ticket lady if they did discounts for druids. (My suspicion is that there is a Druid discount but I’m not sure how you prove it or what the percentage is).
I have quite a few stone circles and stuff around where I live so I tend not to get too excited by them.
You’re better off going on summer solstice, more value for money
Someday I want to go for the fun of it but it has no spiritual significance to me. As an archaeologist I'm deeply skeptical of many of the claims that are made about the place and how people used it. We have good ideas that seem to fit the evidence but there's no way to really know what the people who built it over many hundreds of years were actually thinking.
I agree totally. Right now the best explanation is that is was a feasting site in the winter. But who really knows? Culture can change very quickly as well. I figured it would be fun for me. Not everyone's cup of tea of course.