The sun rises behind Stonehenge on the morning of the summer solstice. June 21 2016. See SWNS story SWHENGE; Solstice celebrations have taken place at both Stonehenge and Avebury in a positive and peaceful manner, with approximately 12,000 people attending to see the sunrise at Stonehenge. Supt Mark Sellers, said: ìThe policing operation this year focused on protecting the monument and environment by maintaining the integrity of the road network, minimising any impact on local communities and ultimately supporting English Heritage to ensure a safe and peaceful event for all. "With an event of this size and nature a large amount of traffic is inevitable but our forward planning with Wiltshire Council, security staff and stewards, the Highways Agency and English Heritage meant that any issues were dealt with effectively.
The sun rises behind Stonehenge (Picture: SWNS)

Tens of thousands of pagans celebrated the summer solstice this week at dozens of stone circles across Britain.

But that isn’t the only ancient standing stone celebration of the week.

Midsummer 2016 is this Friday and is marked with a series of traditions and customs that can be traced back thousands of years.

MORE : 11 tips on what to do at the summer solstice – by an actual druid

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When is Midsummer’s Day 2016?

Midsummer’s Day is on Friday June 24

What about Midsummer’s Night?

It is always the evening before, so will be the night of Thursday June 23.

Okay so what’s Midsummer all about?

People gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to see in the new dawn during this year's Summer Solstice. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday June 21, 2016. See PA story HERITAGE Stonehenge. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
People gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire (Picture:PA Wire)

Midsummer has a few different names including John’s Day, Saint John’s Festival, Rasos (Dew Holiday) and Kupole.

The date is – as the name implies – a celebration of the middle of summer. However, not so commonly known is that the date is also called the Celtic Fire Festival, when people mark the shortening of days.

Thousands of years ago our ancestors would flock to stone circles around Britain, including Stonehenge, to watch the sunrise over the heel of the stones.

Fires are also said to have been lit on hilltops across the countryside in celebration, with people dancing around and even jumping through the flames.

The height reach by the most athletic jumper was traditionally seen as the height of that year’s harvest.

Hang on… why is the day called St John’s Day?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypericum_perforatum#/media/File:Saint_johns_wart_flowers.jpg

The name was adopted after Christianity arrived in Britain. The name comes from St John The Baptist as it was an important day spiritually and seen as a time when the veil between this world and the next was at its thinnest.

The herb St John’s Wort is also traditionally harvested on Midsummer’s Day, hence its name. Some people believe the plant to have the ‘powers of the sun’ too along with other flowers and herbs.

These plants were held in high regard and sometimes placed under a pillow to encourage romantic dreams.

What’s this about fairies then?

'The Inquisitive Fairy' featuring Shayla Rose Kim Hamilton, 9 months old. See SWNS story SWIMAGINE; Award winning photographer has developed a stunning digital techniques to bring kids imagination to life. Vicki -Lea Boulter from Torquay was inspired to invent the style after a child came to her studio kicking and screaming in a pretty dress, shouting 'I don't want to smile, I just want to play'. Vicki said:íThis got me thinking. Why am I buying in to the idea of making children look pretty and pose for a camera at such a young age? "Don't we all get sad when our teens become obsessed with selfies, the way they look, and about being pretty, when they have so much more to offer? That's when I decided that from now on, when a child comes to the studio, I will talk to them first, find out about them and the person they are and what they love to do! Vicki's work is now going on show on 10th January at Hannahs at Seale Hayne in Newton Abbot.
‘The Inquisitive Fairy’ (Picture: SWNS)

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is full of tales of fairies – and for good reason.

Traditionally, Midsummer’s Eve is a time thought to be when fairies are at their most powerful. Some even believe that if they spent the night at a sacred site they may gain the powers of the bard – or worse case end up mad, dead, or spirited away by fairies.

MORE : Stonehenge? Pfffff! 11 alternative stone circles to celebrate the summer solstice