As the sun set over Stonehenge Aotearoa, near Carterton, before the longest night of the year on Saturday, a group of about 200 gathered in a druid ceremony to ensure its safe return. The winter solstice, a day when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky, is celebratedby druids the world over although in the Northern Hemisphere the day falls in December. The event, hosted by Carterton's Phoenix Astronomical Society, could have easily had twice the numbers, organiser Richard Hall said. He said the event was a "dry run" for the future, when the occasion could become a major feature as it is in the Northern Hemisphere, and potentially a tourist attraction. Beginning at 4.30pm, druids led participants into the stone arena, to gather in concentric circles, to watch the sun go down, and to breathe, chant, shout and join in druidic prayers. The ceremony invoked the elements of air and fire, the directions of north, south, east and west, the plants oak and mistletoe, and featured small flaming torches to signify the return of light after darkness. The Maori deities of Rangi the sky and Papa the earth were also given mention, along with the heavens, the earth and the sea, sacred breaths and a sun-child soon to be born. Honor Burbidge, of Carterton, and her friend Jan Anderson, all the way from Hamilton, for the event, made their own robes for the occasion. Decorated with various Celtic symbols fashioned from cloth, leather and metal, the pair admitted they pretty much invented the costumes to get into the mood of the occasion. "It just felt right," Ms Burbidge said. "To put our energies into the ceremony ahead of time seemed like a good thing to be doing, and the build-up, making our costumes, has been a lot of fun." Ms Burbidge, who is a member of the Phoenix Astronomical Society associated with Stonehenge Aotearoa, said they had been "booked out for four weeks", leading up to the event.
