Today is the shortest day. The shortest day. What is the astronomical meaning of the winter solstice & nbsp. The winter solstice of the ancient Slavs

The solstice moment is shifted annually, since the duration of the solar year does not coincide with the calendar time.

In 2016, the winter solstice begins on December 21. The sun, moving along the ecliptic, at this moment will reach the farthest position from the celestial equator towards the South Pole of the world. Astronomical winter will come in the northern hemisphere of the planet, and summer in the southern hemisphere. On these December days, beyond the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees north latitude), a polar night sets in, which does not necessarily mean complete darkness throughout the day. Its main feature is that the sun does not rise above the horizon.

At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, and the location of the star can only be found by the constellations. A completely different picture is in the area of \u200b\u200bthe South Pole of the Earth: in Antarctica at this time the day lasts round the clock. On December 21, the Sun crosses the 18-hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, starting the path to the vernal equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.

Different cultures interpreted the winter solstice in different ways, but most peoples perceived it as a rebirth, setting the beginning of a new one. At this time, they arranged holidays, meetings, held appropriate rituals, arranged festivities with songs and dances.

The solstice and the equinox were some of the most revered days among the ancient Slavs, as they embodied the incarnations of Dazhbog. The Slavs considered this holiday a time of renewal and the birth of the sun, and with it all life, a time of spiritual transformation, a time conducive to both good material changes and spiritual. The night that precedes the winter solstice was considered the patroness of all nights.

During the winter solstice, the Slavs celebrated the pagan New Year, which was personified with the deity Kolyada. The main subject of the festival was a large bonfire, invoking and depicting the sun, which after one of the longest nights of the year was supposed to rise higher in the sky. Also, ritual Christmas cakes of a rounded shape reminiscent of a heavenly star were surely baked.

In Europe, pagan festivities started the 12-day cycle of magnificent festivities, which marked the beginning of the renewal of nature and the beginning of a new life.

In Scotland, there was a tradition of launching a burning wheel, symbolizing the solstice. The barrel was abundantly coated with tar, set on fire and launched from the hill, resembling a fiery luminary in rotating movements.

In China, the winter solstice was a worthy celebration, as it was considered a happy day. Residents of the country performed rituals and rituals to protect themselves from disease and evil spirits. Winter Solstice is still one of the Chinese traditional holidays.

Hindus call the winter solstice Sankranti. The holiday was celebrated in both Sikh and Hindu communities, where at night, on the eve of the festival, bonfires were lit, the flame of which resembled the rays of the Sun, which warm the earth after a cold winter.

December 21 (date indicated for 2016) is the day of the winter solstice. The solstice is one of two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is minimal or maximum. In the year there are two solstices - winter and summer. The solstice is one of two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is minimal or maximum. In the year there are two solstices - winter and summer. On the day of the winter solstice, the sun rises to the lowest height above the horizon.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, and then the shortest day and the longest night are observed. The solstice moment is shifted annually, since the duration of the solar year does not coincide with the calendar time.

In 2016, the winter solstice will happen on December 21 at 13.45 Moscow time

After the longest night of the year, which will last about 17 hours, a real astronomical winter will come. The sun will go down as far as possible into the southern hemisphere of the sky, that is, moving along the ecliptic, will reach its least declination. The longitude of the day at the latitude of Moscow will be 7 hours. The sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic. This means that after crossing the celestial equator, the star will begin the path to the vernal equinox.

During the winter solstice, the sun does not rise above the latitude of 66.5 degrees at all - only twilight in these latitudes indicates that it is somewhere below the horizon. At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, and the location of the star can only be found by the constellations. On December 21, the sun crosses the 18-hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, starting the path to the vernal equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.

The winter solstice of the ancient Slavs

Winter Solstice has been seen since ancient times. So, in Russian folklore, this proverb is dedicated to this day: the sun - for the summer, winter - for the frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease. By the winter solstice they judged about the future harvest: hoarfrost on trees - to a rich grain harvest.

In the XVI century in Russia, an interesting rite was associated with the day of the winter solstice. The tsarist headman of the Moscow Cathedral, who was responsible for the watch’s fight, came to the king to bow. He reported that from now on the sun turned for the summer, the day was increasing, and the night was shrinking. For this good news, the king granted the headman money.

The ancient Slavs celebrated the pagan New Year on the winter solstice, he was associated with the deity Kolyada. The main attribute of the festival was a bonfire, depicting and invoking the light of the sun, which, after the longest night of the year, was supposed to rise higher and higher. The ritual New Year's cake - a loaf - also resembled the sun in shape.

The day of pagan worship of Karachun (Chernobog's middle name) falls on the day of the winter solstice (celebrated depending on the year from December 19 to December 22) - the shortest day of the year and one of the coldest days of winter. It was believed that on this day, the formidable Karachun takes his power - the deity of death, the underground god commanding frosts, an evil spirit. The ancient Slavs believed that he commands the winter and frosts and shortens the daylight hours.

Servants of the formidable Karachun - connecting rods, in which the snowstorms turn around, and blizzard-wolves. It was believed that, as a result of a bear’s desire, the icy winter lasts: the bear will turn on its other side in its den, which means that in winter exactly half the way to spring is left. Hence the saying: “In the Solstice, the bear in the den turns from one side to another.” Among the people, the concept of "karachun" in the sense of death, death is still used. They say, for example: “a karachun came to him”, “wait for a karachun”, “ask a karachun”, “grabbed a karachun”. On the other hand, the word "punish" can have the following meanings - backing up, crawling, "gripping" - writhing, cramped. Perhaps Karachun was so called precisely because he seemed to make daytime go in the opposite direction, back off, crawl crawling, giving way to the night.

Gradually, in the popular mind, Karachun became close to Frost, who fettered the earth with cold, as if plunging it into a mortal dream. This is a more harmless image than the harsh Karachun. Frost is simply the lord of winter cold.

Winter Solstice of other nations

In Europe these days began a 12-day cycle of pagan festivities dedicated to the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature.

On the day of the winter solstice in Scotland, it was a custom to launch the sun wheel - the "solstice". The barrel was coated with burning tar and let down the street. The wheel is a symbol of the sun, the spokes of the wheel resembled rays, the rotation of the spokes during movement made the wheel alive and resembled a star.

The winter solstice was determined in China before all other seasons (there are 24 seasons in the Chinese calendar). In ancient China, it was believed that from this time the male power of nature rises and a new cycle begins. Winter Solstice was considered a happy day worthy of celebration. On this day, everyone - from the emperor to the commoner - went on vacation.

The army was brought into a state of waiting for orders, border fortresses and trading shops were closed, people went to visit each other, gave gifts to each other.

The Chinese sacrificed to the god of heaven and their ancestors, and also ate porridge made from beans and glutinous rice to protect themselves from evil spirits and diseases. Until now, the winter solstice is considered one of the traditional Chinese holidays.

In India, the winter solstice - Sankranti - is celebrated in Hindu and Sikh communities, where bonfires are lit on the night before the celebration, the heat of which symbolizes the warmth of the sun, which begins to warm the earth after winter cold.

The calendar of Russian folk will take on December 21 (December 8 according to the old style) - Anfisa Needlewoman

On this day they commemorate St. Anfisa of Rome, who suffered for the Christian faith in the 5th century. Anfisa was the wife of a Roman dignitary and professed Christianity (according to legend, she was baptized by St. Ambrose the Mediolan, whose memory is celebrated the day before). Once the wife of the mayor invited her to accept Arian baptism (Arian teaching denied the unity of God the Father and Jesus Christ). Anfisa refused and, at the libel of the woman, was burned at the stake.

On Anfisa, all the girls in Russia were supposed to do needlework: spin, weave, sew, embroider. It was desirable to do this alone, and if it did not work out or did not want to be isolated, conduct special rites of corruption.

The girl sews on Anfisa, but the extra eye at that sewing is on the evil eye, our ancestors said and advised the young needlewomen to wrap a silk thread around the wrist so as not to prick the fingers with a needle. The same rite protected from yawning and hiccups.

The embroidery itself also possessed magic power, in which various symbols were often encrypted. So, lozenges on towels indicated fertility; round rosettes and cross-shaped figures on clothes guarded its owner from misfortunes. In the traditional patterns of embroidery, there are also images of the sun, trees, birds, personifying the vital forces of nature. Our ancestors believed in their strength, believing that they would bring prosperity and prosperity to the house.

The calendar of Russian folk will take on December 22 (December 9 according to the old style) - Anna Zimnyaya. Anna Dark. Conception of St. Anne.

The church celebrates not only birth, but also conception. From the Feast of the Conception of Anna, winter begins: autumn ends, winter begins. The beginning of this harsh winter. In the meantime (lace) in the trees at the Conception of Anna for the harvest. If the snow rolls down to the hedge - a bad summer, and if there is a gap - fruitful. December 22 is the shortest day of the year, the solstice day.

At the Conception of Anna, pregnant women have strict fasting (on other days, pregnant women are released from fasting), to avoid any quarrels and troubles, not to catch the eye of cripples and disabled people; you can not light a fire, knit, embroider and take up any work, so as not to accidentally harm the unborn child. People who are knowledgeable on these issues assure that the fire kindled on this day can leave a red mark on the child’s body, tangled threads twist his umbilical cord, and the wretched, ugly, seen by his mother, can convey their injuries to the child. At Conception, the wolves converge, and after Baptism scatter.

The memory of St. Anne, the mother of Mary, the future Mother of God, is celebrated twice a year: on August 7, a service is performed in the churches after Anna is conceived, her death. December 22 is the day of the winter equinox, in the south of Russia it is considered the beginning of winter. A change is also noted in the weather: “The sun for the summer, winter for the frost.” This morning, divine services in the churches are conducted more solemnly than on ordinary days, because December 22 is the day “the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived”.

Equinox and Solstice 2017

vernal equinox - March 20 at 10:29
summer solstice - June 21 04:24
autumnal equinox - September 22, 20:02
winter solstice - December 21 16:28

Equinox and Solstice 2018

vernal equinox - March 20 16:15
summer solstice - June 21 10:07
autumnal equinox - September 23 01:54
winter solstice - December 21 22:23

Equinox and Solstice 2019

autumnal equinox - September 23 07:50
winter solstice - December 22 04:19
vernal equinox - March 20 21:58
summer solstice - June 21 15:54

Days of the equinox and solstice 2020

vernal equinox - March 20 03:50
summer solstice - June 20 21:44
autumnal equinox - September 22 13:31

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, and it is given great importance. Our ancestors honored this time, monitored the weather to predict whether next year will be fruitful.

In 2017, the shortest day will be held on December 21. This is the time when the Sun sets course for the summer and the length of the day begins to increase gradually. A significant event for our ancestors was necessarily marked by a kindling of fires in order to drive away the winter cold and help the Sun return to the horizon.

The shortest day of the year: traditions and signs

The longest night of the year was special for our ancestors. It was believed that at this time the deity of death, or Karachun, commands the winter cold, especially frosts break out and a sudden snowstorm can begin. At this time, the Sun energetically charged space. It was believed that on this day the fate of people is changing, and life begins with a new sheet.

If the bright Sun is shining on the street, and the frost is on the street, then the frost will get stronger by the New Year. If it is cloudy on the street, a large amount of hoarfrost lies on trees and shrubs, then by the New Year holidays you can expect a thaw and cloudy weather.

A windless day promised a plentiful harvest of fruits and fruits. Hoarfrost on trees, shrubs and houses delighted our ancestors, because it promised a wonderful harvest that would allow us to live the next icy winter without any problems.

People helped the sun regain strength to deal with winter time. Large fires were lit everywhere, and burning wheels were launched on the slopes to disperse the winter darkness. Young people sculpted snowmen and snow women, who were then smashed with snowballs to drive away the annoying cold.

In Slavic culture, the New Year was celebrated on the day of the winter solstice, glorified light forces that defeated darkness and cold.

On the day of the winter solstice, you can make cherished desires, write notes with wishes, ask the Sun for help in their fulfillment.

On the shortest day of the year, our ancestors got rid of negativity, threw away old things, dismantled corners and closets in order to get rid of everything that was not useful to them. Old furniture and wooden utensils with clothes were burned at the stake, thus getting rid of the ailments.

Do not forget about the forest gods. They were brought cakes and fresh bread, poured sweet drinks to appease the forest spirits in the hope of a rich harvest from fruit trees.

In the modern world, you can also celebrate the winter solstice by lighting a bonfire. Write notes with the wishes of what you would like to get rid of, throw in the flames. Throw away all the trash, and what can be burned, without regret, bring to the fire.

On the day of the winter solstice, everyone can make their innermost desire, get rid of bad habits and start a new, happy life. You can attract well-being with the help of ancient rituals, which were traditionally held on the longest night of the year. We wish you good luck and prosperity, and do not forget to click on the buttons and

The winter solstice is the most important astronomical event of December, which falls on the 21st and reaches its peak at 16 hours 28 minutes Moscow time.

“Belly” to the Sun

What is the astronomical meaning of this phenomenon? December 21 marks the moment of the maximum possible angle of inclination of the Earth relative to the Sun. This angle is 23 ° 26. The earth, as it were, is turned "belly" towards the Sun, and its head (the north pole) is looking in the other direction, because of which the rays of the sun shine on the surface in passing.

Each of us has noticed that in winter the sun never rises high. So, on December 21, 2017 it will be as low as possible above the horizon. Because of this, the day will be the shortest (in Moscow - only seven hours), and the night - the longest in the year.

At some point, the Earth will cross an imaginary line, after which each next day will give us a little more light, and by New Year the daylight will increase by almost eight minutes.

Real astronomical winter comes just after the winter solstice. According to experts, in the northern hemisphere it has a peak in winter, while in the southern hemisphere it is the equator of summer, the winter solstice is there on June 20.

The date of the winter solstice almost never changes. The exception is leap years: then the event shifts to December 22 (June 21 - for the south). Other important dates similar to this one are the summer solstice, the spring and autumn equinoxes.

From the history of the issue

It turns out that the winter solstice is set more than two thousand years ago. Back in 45 BC e. Emperor Julius Caesar in his calendar officially determined the date of the winter solstice for Europe - December 25th.

But since the calendar (365.2500 days) and the tropical year (~ 365.2421897 days) are not equivalent, for every 400 years there was a shift in the actual astronomical solstice about three days ago. In the XVI century, the phenomenon occurred already on December 12.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII decided to restore the exact correspondence between the seasons and the civil year. Guided by the provisions of the Council of Nicaea in 325, he annulled the ten-day error accumulated from the 4th to the 16th centuries. True, I did not take into account the three days running between the 1st and 4th centuries. This calendar adjustment shifted the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere until around December 22nd.

Until now, the Gregorian calendar solstice fluctuates for one or two days. In the future, an additional shift may occur by one day for every 3000 years.

Scientists believe that solstices have been special moments in the annual cycle since the Neolithic. Astronomical events controlled the change of day and night, the tides, the periods of mating animals, and people from ancient times understood this. Guided by the sun, they sowed and harvested, kept household, celebrated holidays and prayed to their gods.

This is evidenced by the layout of many archaeological sites of the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age. For example, on the day of the winter solstice, the main axis of the Newgrange monument (Ireland) and the sunset of the axis of the Stonehenge monument (Great Britain) are carefully aligned and indicate the sunrise.

Feast before the unknown

The winter solstice was extremely important in the life of the primitive community: people doubted that they could survive the winter months - not only frosty, but also hungry.

So, on the day of the winter solstice, it was the last holiday before the beginning of the difficult winter period, when fresh meat was consumed most. Livestock was massively slaughtered - there was nothing to feed it in the cold.

In addition, by the last decade of December, most of the wine and beer made in the warm season reached readiness and could be drunk. A peculiar winter festival began - a feast, followed by suspense.

It is the days of the solstices and equinoxes, with the special role of the Sun in the sky, that triggered the emergence of various deities and traditions.

For example, in Greek mythology, gods and goddesses met the winter and summer solstices. These days, even the god of the underworld, Hades, was allowed to appear on Mount Olympus.

The Slavs celebrated the Kolyada folk festival on the winter solstice, the Yule among the German peoples, and the Sol Invictus among the Romans until the 3rd century.

See with your own eyes

It is difficult to observe the solstices with the naked eye: the star moves to the peak point so slowly that it is difficult to determine the specific day of the phenomenon, not to mention its instant.

It became possible to find out the time of an event up to the moment only recently, thanks to the accurate tracking of astronomical data.

The actual moment of the solstice cannot be detected by definition. Notice that the object stopped moving cannot be. We can only state that in the current measurement he did not change his position compared to the previous measurement.

Thus, most of the observations state the day of the solstice, and not its instant.

Surely each of you at least once, but it was interesting when it happens the shortest and longest day of the year. In fact, the answer to this question is very simple and known for a long time. By the way, this phenomenon even has its own name - the solstice day.

Types of Solstice

There are two types of solstice - summer and winter, in which the longest and shortest light days, respectively, are observed on the surface of the planet. As for the winter solstice, it occurs in the northern hemisphere of the Earth and occurs either on December 21 or 22 - the length of daylight is only 5 hours 53 minutes, after which it begins to grow. Accordingly, the longest night is observed on the same day. The summer solstice can be observed on one of three days - June 20, 21 or 22, it lasts 17 hours 33 minutes, after which the days begin to become shorter and the nights longer.

Solstice Traditions

Interestingly, various traditions are associated with both of these events. For example, in Russia, as well as in some other countries, a holiday called "Kalyada" was celebrated, dedicated to the shortest day of the year - it was traditionally dedicated to Christmas time and Christmas. It all started in his home, where the eldest in the family baked bread, served kutia and porridge, pies, pretzels, and figures of animals made from wheat dough. The latter, by the way, it was also customary to decorate the premises, to give them to neighbors and loved ones. Only the elders could talk at the table, while the younger ones could only listen and wait until they had the opportunity to get outside and start caroling - this is such a ritual of visiting houses, in which a group of participants performs benevolent songs addressed to the house owners, for which they were supposed to have tasty refreshment.

As for the summer solstice, even more interesting things are known about it. So, historians claim that even the ancient Egyptians knew about the longest day of the year, who built their huge pyramids in such a way that the sun would set neatly between the two (they say that this phenomenon can be seen if you look at the pyramids from the Sphinx) .

Pro Stonehenge and the longest day

Also, with the summer solstice it is customary to associate the famous Stonehenge - a British building located 130 kilometers from London. They say that it was built just with an eye on the longest day of the year - only then the sun rises above the Hillstone stone, which is located separately from the main circle of stones.

Be that as it may, in the modern world, the days of the solstices do not have the importance that our ancestors gave them. However, modern pagans consider them holidays and invariably celebrate.