By Stephen Blease

Last updated at 10:30, Saturday, 21 June 2008

AT half past four in the early hours of this morning, while most of us were fast asleep, about 100 people gathered in the Cumbrian countryside to beat drums and shake rattles.

Pagan Marcus Katz from Keswick

In doing so they were taking part in a ritual which has taken place for thousands of years, long before the coming of Christianity.

Local pagans, druids and partygoers gathered at Castlerigg stone circle near Keswick to mark the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

The summer solstice, which usually falls on June 20 or 21, is the day when the sun rises at its earliest and sets at its latest, giving us the maximum hours of daylight.

Ancient peoples were amazed by the power of the sun, and so for many thousands of years the summer solstice has been celebrated.

But today there are still those who belong to the ancient pre-Christian religions such as paganism, who regard it as an important occasion.

One local pagan is Marcus Katz, from Keswick.

Marcus, 43, said paganism encompassed a variety of different beliefs such as druidism and wicca, or witchcraft.

But he said most agreed that nature was sacred, and that humans were part of the natural world rather than above it.

He said: “Everyone shares a common belief that the longest day of the year shows the triumph of the sun, the triumph of light, and so it’s important to mark the event.”

He added that paganism was growing in popularity as more people became concerned about the environment and responded to their belief in respect for nature.

Around 100 people were expected at Castlerigg this morning, and Marcus said: “We all react to light and darkness, so at the summer solstice everyone tends to feel a lot better.”

First published at 09:19, Saturday, 21 June 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk