Castlerigg Stone Circle, Lake District National Park, England

© John Finney Photography/Getty Image

Bring on the light. December solstice

Here's to a great night out or a cosy night in on the longest night of the year! On this day, the Northern Hemisphere, where the United Kingdom is located, is tilted the farthest from the sun, resulting in the earliest sunset and the shortest day of the year. Called the December solstice, it marks the official beginning of winter and longer days ahead, giving a nice boost to the festive mood.

Archaeologists believe that ancient civilisations arranged stone circles to align with lunar and solar positions and used them to celebrate events like the solstice. Pictured here is one such site—Castlerigg Stone Circle, located in the Lake District, North West England. With 40 stones arranged in a circular pattern, this Neolithic monument dates back to 3000 BCE. While some aspects of Castlerigg's solar alignments remain a mystery, the allure of its ancient charm has magnetically drawn visitors throughout the centuries.