English Heritage , the Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae that manages many historical sites around the U.K. , has banned alcohol at Stonehenge during today ’s annual celebration of the summer solstice . The mathematical group said it wasconcerned for the safety of the monumentand attendees , after boozy misbehavior marred the occasion in previous years . spectacular members of the druid community of interests ( yes , there are enough Druid in universe to comprise a biotic community ) , who label the tenacious day of summertime with ritual at sunset , have already talk out against the ban .
Pagans , including druids , keep each of the class ’s eight solstice and equinox with revelry — often involve hard drink . Attendance at the Stonehenge solemnization has exploded in late years , from 10,000 multitude in 2000 to about 40,000 in 2014 , as more people ( both pagan and not ) have grab wind of the tipsy festivity and want a chance to see Druid get down in full ceremonial regalia . regrettably , for every well - meaning mathematical group of druid supporters , there have also been group of vandals , who disfigure the monument so marvellously in the past tense that the Heritage Journal push last year toban revelersfrom even getting near the stones .
Similarly , Steve Andrews , known in the druid residential district as the Bard of Ely , paint a picture believer attend celebration atmore hospitable Oliver Stone round . The bard added that the ban at Stonehenge might even encourage covert drinking and illegal drug use .
Flickr/Tom Goskar
It ’s unreadable as of yet how the conflict will affect festivities at Stonehenge in seasons to come . For this yr at least , it front like a discreet flask — per the bard ’s observation — is the estimable way to ring in the solstice . Good matter there ’s plentitude of room to veil one in those druid gown .
Update ( June 21):Attendance at the solstice festival fall sharply from years past , mayhap because of the updated spirits policy . Only about 12,000 people testify up to the monument on Monday . English Heritage attributed the low railroad siding to poor weather , the weekday timing , and the English and Welsh Euro 2016 matches on the same mean solar day . We just consider no one wanted to face blusterous English weather without a beverage to lace the ( pagan ) spirit .
