2015 Winter Solstice Lantern Parade

Left: Lighting the candle at sunset on solstice eve. This is the light that will be kept alight during the longest night of the year, until the sun arises a new on the next day.

Pictured, John (Mayor of Amesbury) with a representative of English Heritage and this years lantern bearer.

The lantern is taken to the sacred spring to be presented to the community.

Friends start to gather for the lantern parade

As if knowing the importance of this parade to so many people, the stormy wet wether abated, allowing a dry clear and virtually wind free pause whilst the parade and ceremony were completed. Frank led the community ceremony at the lantern.

For the first time this year we had song, in the form of ‘Let it go’ from Frozen, sang for us by the lovely Lucy Howell, and Jingle-bells as sung spontaneously by everyone.

Thanks to the organisers and everyone who came in their hundreds to take part, this year was a wonderful event.

The photo’s below are available to be seen on ‘inside Wiltshire’ website gallary, who very kindly allowed us to reproduce them here:

http://www.insidewiltshire.co.uk/photos-of-amesbury-lantern-parade-2015/