What is the solstice and equinox. Summer Solstice Month Winter Solstice Southern Hemisphere

27.11.2021Heading: Payment

Many have heard of the summer solstice. What is this phenomenon? From point of view an ordinary person, it's simple - this is the longest day of the year. Why? At noon, the sun reaches its most high level above the northern hemisphere horizon, so it takes longer to rise and then sit down. The shortest shadows are cast on this day. In addition, unusual and even wonderful properties are attributed to him. To understand this unique astronomical phenomenon will help not only proven facts, but also beautiful ancient legends.

Scientific facts

From the point of view of a specialist, this is an astronomical event. On this day, the Earth in its constant rotation crosses the point of the summer solstice. That is, in fact, this phenomenon is not fixed, but instantaneous and lasts literally one moment. A natural question arises about what is, in fact, the point of the summer solstice. And here it seems that special astronomical terms should be needed. But in reality, everything is simple. This is the point of maximum declination on the day of the summer solstice of the earth's axis in relation to the sun. The closer it gets, the hotter it gets, right?

So it turns out that this phenomenon heralds the beginning of the astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And in the South, accordingly, an astronomical winter begins. And this time, as a rule, falls on 20.21 or 22 June. The inaccurate date is a consequence of minimal deviations in the annual trajectory of the globe. For example, in 2015, the summer solstice was recorded on June 21 at 16 hours 38 minutes, and in 2016 - on June 20 at 22 hours 34 minutes UTC - universal time.

And a day lasts longer than a century ...

The length of a day at the summer solstice depends on the area in which it is observed. At this time, at the latitude of Moscow, the sun rises to a height of about 57 degrees above the horizon. This means that daylight hours will last approximately 17.5 hours, while dark hours will last only 6.5 hours. The Arctic Circle says goodbye to the night. There comes the polar day, which lasts the whole day.

The South Pole, on the other hand, is visited by the polar night. Over the next few days, the sun rises to about the same level. Therefore, this phenomenon is called the solstice. After that, days begin to decrease in the Northern Hemisphere, and to increase in the Southern Hemisphere. And the natural cycle enters another phase. Now everything is slowly but surely starting to move towards the winter solstice. And this is a completely different story, with which our strands were also associated with many beliefs and legends.

The nearest solstice

I must say that in our latitudes the day of the summer solstice occurs mainly on June 21. An exception will be 2024. According to astronomers' calculations, this year the sun will pass through the summer solstice point on June 20 at 23 hours 50 minutes Moscow time. In 2018, this astronomical phenomenon will occur on June 21 at 13 hours 07 minutes Moscow time.

What does this moment mean for us? First of all, the astronomical summer of 2018 will come. In addition, the sun, according to the zodiac calendar, will move into the Cancer zodiac sign. Of course, the day will gradually start to decrease. And most importantly - the shortest night of the year awaits us! A time fanned by numerous rumors and legends.

It is interesting that at the dawn of this day, a ray of sun will surely touch the cherished mark in Stonehenge. The ancient building was intended for calculating calendar time. And such an event as the maximum declination of the sun on the day of the summer solstice never passed unnoticed for our ancestors.

Solstice and Equinox

Let's ask ourselves the question of how the days of the solstice and the equinox differ. There are several differences. Let's consider each of them:

Seasons. The solstice is observed at diametrically opposite temperature conditions. And, accordingly, natural conditions - in winter and summer. Equinox occurs twice a year - in spring and autumn.
The duration of the dark and daylight hours. At the equinox they are equal, but at the solstice they are not.
The position of the sun above the horizon. Solstice is extreme. That is, the sun, depending on the season, occupies either the maximum or minimum position above the horizon. At the equinox, the sun is at the center of these two extremes.
The activity of the sun's rays. During equinox periods, heat is dissipated evenly throughout the hemisphere. During the solstice, experts record either the maximum or minimum of solar heat.
The location of the sun at its zenith. At the solstices, it can be seen in the tropics at 23.5 ° south or north latitude. At the equinox, the inhabitants of the equatorial regions observe it strictly overhead, that is, at the very zenith.
Time of manifestation. The spring and autumn equinox are observed on March 20/21 and September 22/23, respectively. The summer solstice, as we already know, is June 20/21, and the winter solstice is December 20/21.

Ancient rites

Our ancestors attached great importance to the day of the summer solstice. Their lives were subject to the forces of nature. And the sun was considered a symbol of unyielding divine power. The pagans considered this day sacred. They spent magic rites calling out to their gods for help and support. Children born on this day were supposed to have tremendous strength and indestructible health.

Before Christianity took root, the Kupala holiday also fell on the summer solstice. People honored the ancient pagan God and honored him in every possible way. On this day, wreaths of flowers and meadow grasses were woven, there were round dances, large fires were burned, over which one was required to jump. The wreaths were floated down the river. This was done in memory of the ancestors. In addition, the Slavs created a stuffed animal in the form of a wheel and solemnly burned it. It symbolized the sun (Yarilo).

Magic fern

The main role in ancient pagan beliefs was assigned to the fern. The Slavs associated the legend of the treasures with him. On the day of the summer solstice, they waited for the night and went far into the forest, looking for a magic plant. It was believed that the magic fern flower opens at midnight. He is only for a few moments, and this moment countless treasures can be found. They are hidden nearby. A Magic power the shortest night of the year will help you find them, no matter how deep they are.

Folk omens

As mentioned above, on the day of the summer solstice, the Slavs honored Kupala. A huge number of signs are associated with this holiday. The people believed that whoever did not go to the Baths would be a stump, and whoever went to the Baths would be white-birch, "to Kupala, the sun for the winter, and the summer for the heat," etc. The holiday had several shtetl names. He was called Kupala, Kres, Kolosok Ivan the herbalist, Yarilin's day, Kupalye, Ivan Koldunsky, the Feast of love and the Sun, Spirits day, the Feast of the dew, etc. From all these names, fragrant herbs, warm nights and pagan romance emanate from all these names. Summer warmth was accepted as the highest gift from heaven. And after him a rich harvest should have followed, which means - peace and prosperity in the family.

With the advent of Christianity

After the Orthodox religion came to Russia, folk festivities on Kupala were not canceled. It's just that now people did not relate it to the summer solstice. What a holiday without the main hero of the celebration? And the Slavs combined it with the day of remembrance of the Christian saint - John the Baptist. The holiday was postponed to June 24. Everything went as well as possible. However, according to the new style, Kupala is celebrated on July 7th. And this date runs counter to the onset of the astronomical solar equinox.

In Europe

It was not only the Slavs who held a holiday when the summer solstice came. The Celtic peoples of Britain also celebrated the onset of the astronomical summer. They called this holiday Lita and also associated it with the pagan cult of the sun.

In Norway, they still celebrate Midsummer's night, in which they walk until dawn. It is believed that a sleepless night will provide well-being for the whole year. In addition, at dusk, you can hear the magic singing of elves, and this also brings happiness. Official name holiday - the night of St. Hans (Sankthansaften). The Norwegians have put into it all the poetry of their northern region.

In Sweden, Midsummer is held on the last Saturday of June. It usually falls on June 21-26. Moreover, the Friday before him is also a non-working day. And the Swedes celebrate midsummer on a grand scale.

In Finland, the holiday of Johannus (this is the outdated name of John the Baptist) was completely combined with the official holiday date - the Day of the country's national flag. And earlier it was called Ukon Yukhla and was celebrated in honor of the almighty God of Fire.

Modern approach

The days of the summer solstice are called days of Power. This is a time of special energetic and natural vibrations. Experts advise using it to purify consciousness and establish inner harmony. All desires and aspirations of a person acquire a special meaning. The period from 20 to 23 June is called the strongest in terms of energy. At 4 days of the summer solstice, you need to be especially careful. During this time, your thoughts, deeds and actions are of extraordinary importance. They can affect the future destiny over the next three years.

There are many rituals for the solar solstice. But they all boil down to a few basic rules:

Now you have an idea of what the summer solstice is. Be happy and healthy!

The winter solstice falls on the shortest day and longest night of the year when the sun rises in the sky at its lowest. The phenomenon occurs when the inclination of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction from the Sun takes the greatest value. In the southern hemisphere, the December solstice is summer, and the June (June 21) solstice is winter. The further north the region is located, the shorter the daylight hours will be.

The length of daylight hours is not related to temperature and the longest night of the year will not become the coldest - severe cold will come only in January-February.

In different cultures, the winter solstice was treated in its own way, but for most peoples it has long been regarded as a rebirth, at this time, holidays, meetings, rituals and other celebrations were arranged. The importance of this phenomenon in ancient cultures is evidenced by the layout of archaeological sites of the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age, such as Stonehenge in Great Britain and Newgrange in Ireland. The major axes of both of these monuments have been carefully aligned with the line of sight of the sunrise on the winter solstice (Newgrange) and the sunset on the winter solstice (Stonehenge).

The winter solstice was extremely important in the life of the primitive community, as people were not sure that they had well prepared for winter during the previous nine months, and that they would be able to survive this time of year. From January to April, famine was common.

In temperate climates, the Midwinter Festival was the last festival before the start of the hard winter period. Most of the livestock were slaughtered during this time, as there was nothing to feed them during the winter, so the time of the winter solstice was the only time of the year when the most fresh meat was consumed. During this time, most of the wine and beer made during the warm season was finally ready to be drunk. The festivities most often began on the eve of the solstice.

The days of the winter solstice are celebrated in almost all cultures around the world.

Christians who have switched to the Gregorian calendar celebrate the Nativity of Christ on these days. Orthodoxy uses the Julian calendar, according to which the date of Christmas coincided with the winter solstice 2,000 years ago, but has now shifted later by half a month. The Slavs celebrated the national holiday Kolyada on the day of the winter solstice, the Germanic peoples - Yule, the Romans until the 3rd century - Sol Invictus, "invincible sun".

In the USA, in the state of Illinois, there is a group of mounds of the North American Indians of Cahokia. There are temple pyramids, similar to the buildings of the Aztecs. Among them stands out the construction of wooden pillars arranged in a circle - Woodhenge. There is researchers, who believe that the locals watched the sunrise at the winter solstice from here. Local Indians revered the sun as a deity and, obviously, this affected their architecture.

The Zuni Indians from the New Mexico region pray and fast for several days before the solstice, and at sunrise the ritual dances of shalako begin, in which 12 dancers in special masks participate.

"The Zuni believe that their ceremony is important not only for the well-being of the tribe, but for the whole world," says religious researcher Tisa Wenger.

In Scandinavia, a festival of lights in honor of the Christian martyr Saint Lucia is timed to coincide with the winter solstice. China celebrates the Dongzhi holiday, which welcomes the return of longer days and a corresponding increase in "positive energy." In Japan, bonfires are lit on Mount Fuji to encourage the return of the sun. During the winter solstice, it is a widespread practice to take a warm bath with a citrus fruit scent, which the Japanese believe will ward off colds and promote good health. Many public baths and hot springs leave citrus fruits in the water during the winter solstice.

It is interesting that after the solstice it is wrong to associate the addition of the day with the morning hours: the first days after the solstice the sunrise occurs even a little later, while the increase in daylight occurs due to slightly later sunsets, that is, the day begins to increase in the evening.

This happens due to the fact that the Earth, due to the elongation of the orbit along which it revolves around the Sun, is slightly closer to the Sun in winter and begins, according to Kepler's second law, which describes the motion of bodies in an elliptical orbit, to move faster. The moment of closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, and the moment of the solstice can be separated by several days (the rotation of the moon also affects the date of perihelion, which can vary in the range of one or two days). All this, in combination with the Earth's own daily rotation, gives the effect of an "evening" increase in daylight hours.

There is a solstice on other planets of the solar system - the tilt of the axis of rotation in relation to the ecliptic leads to the presence and change of seasons, equinox, winter and summer solstices.

The change in the amount of light affects the human body. In particular, in the months when it is minimal, more people are born with schizophrenia. This was previously thought to be due to a lack of vitamin D in the mother, but according to research experts from the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute, the problem may be in melatonin and the temperature of the mother's body.

By the day of the winter solstice, the concentration of melatonin in the mother's body reaches its maximum, and the body temperature at night, on the contrary, decreases to a minimum.

All this affects the development of the fetal brain - the size of the hippocampus decreases, dysfunction of the ventral striatum ("objection center") is observed, and the transfer of dopamine associated with cognitive functions, satisfaction, feelings of love and affection is impaired. The researchers speculate that the negative effects can be avoided if pregnant women compensate for the lack of sun with artificial light sources.

The season also affects the work of the already formed brain. Scientists from the University of Liege believe that brain activity associated with sustained attention is highest in June, at the summer solstice, and lowest at the winter solstice. The load associated with short-term memory reached record levels in the fall and decreased by the day of the vernal equinox.

The summer solstice marks the beginning of the calendar summer in astronomical terms. In June, the Sun reaches its zenith at the northernmost point of the Tropic of Cancer.

The summer and winter solstices are characterized by the greatest distance of the Sun from the celestial equator. Moreover, in summer there is the shortest night of the year, and in winter, on the contrary, the longest.

And if the vernal equinox is a sign of the beginning of spring, then the summer solstice is the middle of summer, its zenith. Some peoples still celebrate many holidays these days:

In fact, the days of the solstices are probably the oldest surviving holidays. Thus, references to the longest and shortest days of the year were found on the famous disc from Nerba, which was supposedly created no later than 1600 BC.

Even for the inhabitants of the Neolithic, the solstices were important. This can be seen in the soil footprints of some circular structures, such as at Goseck in Saxony-Anhalt, between 4800 and 4600 BC, where two of the three gates are aligned with those points on the horizon where the sun rose or set on the winter solstice. Well, of course, you shouldn't forget about the fantastic Stonehenge in Great Britain.

It is believed that the ancient people calculated the days of the equinoxes and solstices using such structures, but, most likely, this is not entirely true. To calculate the summer solstice, a simple stick stuck vertically into the ground is enough. And if its shadow on a summer afternoon is the shortest of all recorded, then the solstice has come.

And all the ancient stone buildings, most likely, were sanctuaries.

Summer solstice dates

Modern man does not need any special devices in order to find out the dates of the solstices and equinoxes. Astronomers have long ago figured out everything for several years in advance:

However, the summer solstice does not always fall on June 21, for example, in leap years it shifts, but in general, the dates float from June 20 to 22.

A bit of solstice history

Our ancestors took very, very seriously the solar holidays, especially such significant ones that were tied to astronomical phenomena:

year 2018 2019

Dates and times of solstices and equinoxes
Equinox March		Solstice June		Equinox September		Solstice December
20	16:15	21	10:07	23	01:54	21	22:23	20	21:58	21	15:54	23	07:50	22	04:19
2020	20	03:50	20	21:44	22	13:31	21	10:02
2021	20	09:37:27	21	03:32:08	22	19:21:03	21	15:59:16
2022	20	15:33:23	21	09:13:49	23	01:03:40	21	21:48:10
2023	20	21:24:24	21	14:57:47	23	06:49:56	22	03:27:19
2024	20	03:06:21	20	20:50:56	22	12:43:36	21	09:20:30
2025	20	09:01:25	21	02:42:11	22	18:19:16	21	15:03:01

among the Slavs it was Kupala;

in the Wiccan tradition of Lita (in ancient times the festivities were called Alban Heffin, and all celebrations began on the eve of the longest day);

Many peoples especially celebrated such holidays. This continues to this day, even in spite of the fact that Christian holidays began to push back and overlap pagan holidays.

Related article: Rusal week: traditions and rituals. What holiday is it?

If we talk about the solstice, now it is combined with the celebration of the day of John the Baptist (hence the prefix to the primordial Slavic holiday of Kupala - Ivan).

All festivals dedicated to the Sun, and especially at the peak of its zenith, are much older than the Bible. They have always taken place in:

Germanic,

Scandinavian,

celtic,

slavic

and the Baltic regions.

Even the oldest tower in the world, the Tower of Jericho (Pre-Pottery Neolithic, 8400-7300 BC), shows how essential the Sun played in the lives of people.

During the festivities, there are still echoes of pre-Christian solstice rituals. For example, lighting fires is an old ritual of fertility and purification:

the ash of these fires was scattered over the fields to make them fertile;

and everything old, unfit to be thrown into the fire.

Ancient rites of the summer solstice

The summer solstice, also called the summer solstice, is a celebration of the sun and fire. This is a fun holiday filled with delight. If the winter solstice was associated with anxiety about the imminent onset of cold weather, then the summer solstice is a celebration of the pure joy of life. People had no reason to worry, the earth produced the first fruits, and everything went on as usual.

Everything around him smelled of abundance. But survival was difficult in those distant times, and it was not easy as it is now. But during the summer solstice, the celebration of life could be celebrated carefree. The land was fertile, the plants grew quickly and promised a rich harvest. Nature lived as if there were no yesterday and tomorrow. Summer, with its own melody, filled people's hearts with happiness.

Huge bonfires were lit, people danced around them and jumped over the fire. It was supposed to bring good luck and protect from evil. There are also versions that children were thrown over the fire to protect them from diseases. And smoldering logs were taken into the house to bless the dwelling.

They celebrated the solstice until late at night, until morning came: they rolled burning wheels and logs from the hills.

On this day, women collected herbs:

delphinium,

and especially St. John's wort.

These herbs were tied around the thighs and worn until morning. On their heads, they wore wreaths of verbena and earthen ivy (gunderman). It was believed that this promotes clairvoyance in people predisposed to this.

The herbs on the night of the summer solstice were getting wonderful strong healing properties which were most effective when the celebrations fell on a full moon.

People danced naked, only covering their waist and hips with a "grass skirt". This was supposed to increase fertility. The nakedness of that night was sacred, it was a connection with the authenticity of human nature.

In addition, with the help of magical herbs, a strong beer was prepared, which had a particularly intoxicating effect and was an aphrodisiac.

Ancient gods

The pagan priests, also known as Bilvi's priests, served the sun god Belenus or Baldur. Their task was to bless the fields in the middle of summer. Especially honored the god of nature, Cernunnos, nicknamed "Horned".

In Greek mythology, he is known collectively as Pan.

His Germanic name was Freyr.

He, the king of beasts and faithful companion of the great goddess of the Earth. It is he who is the deity of nature, forest, forces of nature, fertility, creative power, growth, reincarnation, as well as love, prosperity and wealth. Paying homage to him meant increasing one's own vitality and fertility.

In honor of this deity, special "wolf" herbs were placed around the fields:

raven and others.

Now, of course, all the rituals have changed a lot. We will write an article about the Celtic holiday of Lita and the Slavic holiday of Kupala, and we will tell you more about everything in these articles. You can subscribe to blog updates.

Signs for the summer solstice

We already had an article in which every day of the national calendar for June is signed, of course, the 21st is also there. People call this day Fyodor Kolodeznik.

Most will accept the summer solstice - weather predictions, and this is not surprising, the harvest depends on the weather.

Bad weather on June 21 to crop failure and bad summer
But a lot of dew in the morning - to a bountiful harvest.
The starry sky on the night of June 21 (20) promised mushrooms in early autumn.
If you see the dawn on the day of the summer solstice, you will be strong and healthy for the next year.
On the day of the summer solstice, dreams can come true, especially if you make a cherished wish and climb over 12 fences.
Children born on June 21 (20) have an "evil eye", that is, maybe not wanting to, they can jinx them or cause trouble. But this is just a version. There is also a second, that such children are under the protection of the Sun itself.
If some guy accidentally (or maybe not) pours water on the girl, then there will be an imminent wedding.
And if you dance all night around nine bonfires, then the red maiden will marry one hundred percent this year. Our ancestors thought so.

In the most ancient mythological studies, especially in the Teutonic and Celtic, the sun was a female deity;

The longest day of the year is not always the warmest;

On the night of the solstice, various forest spirits, for example, fairies and elves, freely roam the earth;

The Norwegians believe that on this night one must not sleep, but must have fun;

In June, the distance to the Sun is greater than in December;

The earliest sunrise does not occur on the summer solstice, but earlier;

The dew that fell on the longest day of the year was usually collected and poured into a separate vessel, as it was believed to have a rejuvenating and healing effect.

The summer solstice is still celebrated in Stonehenge.

A simple summer solstice ritual

At the end of the article, I would like to cite one of the most ancient cleansing rituals.

Take a small linen bag and fill it with herbs:

lavender;

St. John's wort;

verbena;

earthen ivy.

List all your worries, fears and problems in your mind and put them together with the herbs in your bag. Then tie the bag tightly and throw it into the fire.

The bonfire should be lit together with your like-minded people and friends, this will give more effect. If the fire is small enough, jump over it (only if it is completely problem-free and safe) to clear all kinds of negativity.

Of course, the Christian Church has a very negative attitude towards all these ancient rites. And that is why some of them have already been lost in the centuries, and some have become closely intertwined with the beliefs of Christians. But something, nevertheless, still managed to be preserved, after all, it is our culture and our heritage.

That's all. Have a nice and cheerful summer.

There are four points in the annual cycle that play a significant role in life on Earth.

People have long known about the existence of these transition points, but the physical essence of these phenomena became clear only with development. We are talking about two solstices (winter and summer) and two equinoxes (spring and autumn).

What is Solstice?

At the everyday level, we understand that the solstice is the day with the longest (summer solstice) or shortest (winter solstice) daylight hours. Our distant ancestors knew well that before the winter solstice the day is shrinking, and after it it starts to increase. In the summer, everything happens the other way around. It was also noticed that on the day of the winter solstice, the sun occupies the lowest position above the horizon, and at the time of the summer solstice it passes the highest point for the entire year.

What is happening to our planet and the Sun from a scientific point of view? Let's recall some astronomical concepts.

Celestial sphere- an imaginary surface that we look at while on Earth and examining the sky. For us, terrestrial observers, it is along the celestial sphere that all celestial objects move, including the sun.

Ecliptic- a circle located on the celestial sphere, along which the movement of the Sun relative to the Earth takes place.

celestial sphere- a circle located perpendicularly on the celestial sphere coincides with the equator of the Earth.

Due to the fact that the axis of the Earth is tilted to the orbit of the planet's revolution around our star, the equator of the celestial sphere and the ecliptic do not coincide. Due to this, the seasons change from the moments of transition - the solstices.

On the day of the solstice, the Sun passes through the ecliptic points farthest from the celestial equator. Otherwise, it can be expressed as follows: the solstices are the moments of the greatest (in winter) or the smallest (in summer) deviation of the earth's axis from the Sun.

Winter and summer solstice

The winter solstice occurs on December 21st or 22nd (the date may differ for different time zones). On this day, the northern hemisphere has the shortest daylight hours and the longest night. The summer solstice falls on June 21 and differs in that this date has the longest daylight hours and the fastest night.

In the southern hemisphere, the opposite processes take place: the summer solstice occurs there in December, and the winter solstice in June.

What is Equinox?

There are two more important points in the annual cycle - the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes. These days the Sun passes the points of intersection of the celestial equator and the ecliptic. The days of the equinoxes fall in the middle of the period from one solstice to another (although due to the fact that the earth moves around the Sun not in a circle, but along an ellipse, the dates shift slightly).

The vernal equinox falls on March 20 or 21, and the autumn equinox falls on September 22 or 23. As the name suggests, equinoxes are times when the day is as long as the night.

How do solstices and equinoxes affect life on earth?

People have always known that critical points in the movement of our luminary across the celestial sphere affect nature. This is especially true for residents of northern latitudes, where the change of seasons is more pronounced. For example, from the day of the March equinox, real spring comes to us: it gets warmer, the soil warms up, plants come to life. This is of great importance for agriculture.

It is no coincidence that the agricultural calendar has always been associated with the days of the solstices and equinoxes. On these dates there were important pagan holidays, some of which were adopted by Christianity. These are the holidays:

Winter solstice - Catholic Christmas and Kolyada;

Spring equinox - Shrovetide;

Summer solstice - the holiday of Ivan Kupala;

The autumn equinox is a harvest festival.

As you can see, in the technocratic 21st century, we celebrate these events without even thinking that they are related to the annual solar cycle and how our ancestors were dependent on natural phenomena.

The night of December 21-22 is very special. Firstly, it will be the moment of the Winter Solstice (1:23 am on December 22, Moscow time). Secondly, the Moon will be in the full moon phase, its maximum light, and also in Taurus - the sign of its exaltation (Vedic horoscope).

Equinox day in 2018

The night of December 21-22 will be the longest in 2018 in the entire northern hemisphere. This phenomenon occurs for the reason that it is at this time that the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation relative to the Sun becomes greatest. In the calendar, this date is called the Winter Solstice. The exact date and time of the winter solstice in 2018: Greenwich time - December 21 22 hours 23 minutes GMT Kiev time - December 22 at 00 hours 23 minutes Moscow time - December 22 at 01 hours 23 minutes December 21 and 22 are the shortest days of the year, and between them the longest night of the year. An astronomical summer will begin in the Southern Hemisphere at the winter solstice. In astrology, the winter solstice is the moment when the Sun passes into the constellation Capricorn and the beginning of an astronomical winter, which will last right up to the vernal equinox.

WHAT IS THIS DAY IMPORTANT?

First, we have 4 important points in the wheel of the year - the spring and autumn equinox, summer and winter solstice. They divide the solar year into a cross - a key symbol of the cyclical nature of the universe and the Sun (Slavic and Vedic swastika).

Each of these 4 stages has its own qualities, and on the day of the Winter Solstice, we in the northern hemisphere live the longest, darkest night, after which the day begins to grow.

Secondly, in 2018 this day coincides with the full moon - a special phase of the moon, in which we receive the maximum light of the night luminary. This day is very important for practice and work with intention, rituals are performed on it.

STARTING A NEW CYCLE

The Winter Solstice is the moment of the Sun's rebirth, when its light will be more and more. Within our human cycle, this corresponds to spiritual ascent, a movement from darkness to light. The full moon strengthens the energies of this day, further energizing the practices and intentions that are worth undertaking on this day.

Such an important day in the annual cycle should not be overlooked. Our ancestors always performed holiday rituals on such days, which showed their deep understanding of the laws of the universe, connection with the cycles of nature, life in harmony with the surrounding world and space. Recommended Practices:

1. Cleansing. To enter the new, you must leave the old. Therefore, on the eve it will be very good to do the cleansing practices:

House cleaning, getting rid of old things.
Cleansing the body. Any method available and shown to your health to cleanse or unload the body.
Repayment of debts, completion of "imperfections". Sit down and make a list of what you owe someone, or once promised, or perhaps promised yourself, started and didn't finish. Something you can complete already before December 22, and something - in the near future, in order to free up space for a new cycle.
Forgiving and letting go Practice forgiveness. Remember and write the situations, people you have grudges, write the words of forgiveness, speak out loud, release them from the emotional field with gratitude. Burn this piece of paper. K. Tipping's book "Radical Forgiveness" will help you.

Our ancestors knew and honored the laws of nature, so they celebrated events such as the winter solstice.

Despite the tremendous progress made, even modern technology is unable to break the magic of natural cycles: the lunar day will not change places, and summer will not come after autumn.

In 2018, the winter solstice will occur on December 22 at 01:23 am Moscow time. On this day, the Sun reaches its lowest position. Further, at the end of December and January, daylight hours become longer.

In astrology, on this day, the Sun passes from the zodiac sign Sagittarius to the sign of Capricorn, and the astrological winter begins.

Note that the astronomical winter begins on the night of December 21-22. This is because the height of the sun rises in the sky is the lowest on this day. In the old days, on this day, our ancestors celebrated it at night, before sunrise. Various rituals and conspiracies were performed.

The traditions of many peoples have implied the celebration of the Day of the Winter Solstice as the birth of a new Sun.

It is worth saying that for the Winter Solstice, our ancestors tried to prepare their homes: a general cleaning was carried out, and the rooms and houses outside were decorated with fir branches.

The day of the winter solstice among the Slavs was considered the New Year. The celebration was called in honor of Kolyada, the god of the new Sun.

As for the longest day, it is observed on June 22, then in the future it gradually decreases. At the end of June, the days begin to gradually decrease, and by December they will reach their minimum. In the northernmost cities, the polar night will even come.

In turn, the day of the autumnal equinox occurs from September 21 to 23, when the day is the same in length as the night. After this day, the night begins to increase and the day decreases.

According to universal time, the vernal equinox occurs on March 22, when the sun passes from the southern hemisphere to the northern one. This is the period when day is almost equal to night.