Summer Solstice 2013 Celebrated By 15,000 Yoga Enthusiasts In NYC And 20,000 At Stonehenge In England

Summer solstice 2013 is celebrated at two world landmarks: New York City's Times Square and England's Stonehenge.

15,000 yogis gathered at Manhattan's Times Square to celebrate the longest day of the year, The Province reports. The "Mind over Madness" event on Friday included free classes, activities and giveaways from 7.30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Yoga enthusiasts are invited to roll out their mats in the center of the city, at one of the busiest crossroads in the world, and all skill levels and ages are welcome to join in.

President of Times Square Alliance and co-founder of the event Tim Tompkins says that part of the event's appeal was finding stillness and calm in the middle of the city rush, The Province writes.

The tradition of practicing yoga at Times Square on the summer solstice started 11 years ago, and began with just three people.

In England, authorities say more than 20,000 people gathered at the famous Stonehenge monument, considered a World Wonder, to celebrate the solstice Friday morning.

Though cloud cover and overcast skies prevented sunshine from casting down at dawn, JSOnline.com reports that those that made it out to Stonehenge were still in a "joyous spirit."

According to CBS News, the longest day of the year is the cause of the sun reaching the point where it appears to shine farthest to the north of the equator, over the Tropic of Cancer, marking the start of northern summer.