Winter solstice date. Winter Solstice Day: history and traditions

11.11.2019

The winter solstice is the most important astronomical event in December, which falls on the 21st and will reach its peak at 16:28 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 seems to be turned with its “belly” towards the Sun, and with its head (north pole) looking in the other direction, which is why the rays of the star hit the surface casually.

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 will be the longest of the year.

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

The real astronomical winter comes just after the winter solstice. According to experts, in the northern hemisphere it marks the peak of winter, while in the southern hemisphere it marks the equator of summer, with the winter solstice there on June 20th.

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

From the history of the issue

It turns out that the day of the winter solstice was 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 25.

But since the calendar year (365.2500 days) and the tropical year (~365.2421897 days) are not equivalent, every 400 years the actual astronomical solstice shifted by about three days back. In the 16th century, the phenomenon occurred on December 12th.

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

To this day, the solstice fluctuates by one or two days in the Gregorian calendar. In the future, there may be an additional shift of one day every 3000 years.

Scientists believe that solstices have been special moments in the annual cycle since Neolithic times. Astronomical events controlled the cycle of day and night, the ebb and flow of tides, and the mating periods of animals, and people have understood this since ancient times. Focusing on the sun, they sowed and harvested crops, ran the 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, the main axes of the Newgrange monument (Ireland) and the axes of the Stonehenge monument (Great Britain) are carefully aligned and point to the sunrise on the winter solstice.

Feast before the unknown

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

So the winter solstice was the last holiday before the start of the difficult winter period, when the most fresh meat was consumed. Livestock was slaughtered en masse - in the cold there was nothing to feed them.

In addition, by the last ten days of December, most of the wine and beer made in the warm season was ready and could be drunk. A kind of winter festival began - a feast, followed by the unknown.

It was the days of solstices and equinoxes, with the special role of the Sun in the sky, that served as the impetus for the emergence of various deities and traditions.

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

The Slavs celebrated the national holiday Kolyada on the day of the winter solstice, the Germanic peoples celebrated Yule, and the Romans, until the 3rd century, celebrated Sol Invictus.

See with my own eyes

Observing the solstices with the naked eye is difficult: 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.

Knowing the time of an event down to the instant has only recently become possible, thanks to the precise tracking of astronomical data.

The actual moment of the solstice cannot be detected by definition. It is impossible to notice that the object has stopped moving. We can only state that in the current measurement it has not changed its position compared to the previous measurement.

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

Whether we like it or not, everyone participates in all processes occurring in the Universe. Everything that happens affects everyone. That is why it is so important to live in harmony with the rhythm of the Universe. This is one of the most important conditions for a healthy life and prosperity.

Holidays, depending on the time when they occur, have different meanings, but all these days are mystical, they are intended for spiritual work. These are the best days for spiritual practices, meditation, prayer. They are not meant for worldly affairs. It is no coincidence that the ancient sages prescribed certain rituals on these days.

The sages divide the year into two halves - the divine day and the divine night. The period from the winter solstice (December 21-22) to the summer solstice (June 21-22) is day, and the period from the summer solstice to the winter is night. The beginning of each of these periods is marked by a holiday and calendar ritual actions.

The sun is revered and deified by all nations. Solstice days were used to improve the quality of life; it was the starting point of a new life. The days of the equinoxes are also important - these are the most important astronomical events, special energetic times, these are the central points connecting the earth's seasons.

Winter solstice, solstice.

2016: Winter Solstice begins on December 21, 2016 at 10:45 UTC or 13:45 Moscow time, when the Sun enters 0° of the zodiac sign Capricorn

Winter solstice, solstice, one of the most important, special days of the year. Starting from this day, daylight hours increase and night decreases. On this day, the height of the sun in the sky is the lowest. From this day the Sun begins its northern path of growth. At this time, the Earth is at its smallest distance from the Sun. Life on Earth largely depends on the Sun, so the Earth’s approach and distance from the Sun are the most important astronomical events.

The moment of solstice is a critical moment of transition. About 3 days before and after the solstice, the Earth receives a huge flow of creative energy; this is a magical, sacred time of transition. Like any time of transition, it is intended for spiritual practices. It is believed that this time is not for material matters. It greatly promotes God-centeredness, not self-centeredness. The winter solstice marks the beginning of the astronomical new year. This is a holiday of rebirth, the birth of a new sun.

From this moment a new cycle of time begins. The moment of the solstice, the end of long nights - this is the mystery of the birth of a new one, renewal, rebirth, the transition from an old life to a new one. This is the mystery of renewal, the day of laying hopes, a solid foundation for a bright future.
This is both death and resurrection, the mystery of the rebirth of old age into youth.

During this energetically special, charged time, you can burn your sins, change your destiny, and be reborn, just as the renewed Sun is born again.

In the coming days before the solstice, it is favorable to get rid of everything that is outdated, disturbing, unnecessary (both in the house and in terms of personality, habits, relationships, etc.). It would be good to let go of grievances, leave quarrels, resolve conflicts, make donations favorably, and pay off debts. It is better to enter a new life lightly.

With gratitude to God, with pure thoughts, pure intentions and wishes for happiness.
And in a clean place (you first need to clean the area, get rid of trash, debris and dust on the physical plane as well). It is very favorable to light lamps and incense.

The night before this day is the longest of the year. This is a dark, feminine, magical time. This night opens the door to a new life. It’s good to sum up the past year and thank God for everything He gives. It is important to free yourself from worries, anxieties and enter a new life in a harmonious state.

At this time, together with the sun, all living things begin their path of growth and ascension. It is very important to be God-centered, to step away from the bustle, and turn inward.

Prayer and meditation at this time will have tremendous power, as well as your good intentions and goals for the future. The rhythms of the Universe at this time greatly contribute to this. The power of the regenerating Sun, the powerful energy of creation will fill them.

It is auspicious to meet the sunrise, express your respect to it, congratulate it on its birth, and thank it for its gifts. It is important to feel this transitional sacred period, the turn from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, from death to immortality. If you do this consciously (discard the negative, the outdated and create the intention to acquire the bright), then there really is a bright path of revival and growth ahead.

At this time, the sky opens, strong flows of energy flow to the Earth. This is a time of Hope and Opportunity. It is very important to use it for your growth and improvement. This is a time of meditation, prayer, a time of good intention. Is it worth missing out on this chance?

This is a great time to improve, change what needs changing; get rid of what gets in the way; lay a solid foundation for growth.

This day is celebrated in the culture of every nation. An indispensable attribute of the holiday is fire - these are candles, lamps, bonfires.

In the Slavic tradition, Christmastide was celebrated.

Like the ancient Slavs, the inhabitants of central and northern Europe performed symbolic actions with fire during the winter solstice, celebrating Yule.

In the Zoroastrian tradition, these days celebrate the Festival of Mithra. Mithra is the God of justice, the all-seeing eye of Asha (Truth). Mitra is associated with the Sun, monitors the observance of dharma and order. On this day, 21 candles are lit.

In Holland they celebrate St. Thomas's Day. This is the last day of classes before the Christmas holidays. On this day, it is very important not to be the last to arrive at school, otherwise they will be teased as “sleepy Thomas.” On this special day, even children should not sleep long

Source: chela.ru

The winter solstice is a good time for those who are engaged in spiritual self-development, it inspires the opening of spiritual spaces and reveals past lives.
During the Night of Svarog - the darkest time of the year - a gap opens between the worlds. This allows creatures to move freely in and out of our world. Although the most severe cold is still ahead (and they are needed to crystallize the intention laid down these days), the middle of Winter falls precisely in this period. Three days are especially important during this period.

On the day of the Winter Solstice, you can tell fortunes in any way, using both ancient fortune-telling with the help of various objects, runes, and fortune-telling on various symbolic and metaphorical cards (Tarot).

I will tell you about three Nights dedicated to the Goddesses of Fate. So..

Night of December 20 - Mother of the past.

Night of the Crone Goddess. At this time, it is necessary to perform all cleansing rituals. Rituals and rituals aimed at cleansing and protecting the Family also work flawlessly. And also the day of Thanksgiving to the Gods of house spirits for their help.

December 21 - Night of the Mother Goddess. This is the Goddess of Becoming.

At this time, a cycle of harmonious connection of events in your destiny should be established. For example, weaving fate from three threads. This is the time when both guests from the underworld and guests from the world of the Gods descend into the Middle Human World. In order not to offend the spirits, these days it is not customary to refuse hospitality to anyone - any traveler will receive a table and lodging for the night.

December 22. The night after the birth of the sun.

This is the night of the Goddess of the Future. Here you lay down what is about to happen to you. This is the night when you make wishes. You can also return luck and prosperity to your entire Family.

Light a candle in honor of the Goddess of the Past on the night of December 20. And Ask her to cleanse your ancestral roots from negativity like this: " Take off, Mother Goddess, with your own hands, what is tangled on the roots of the ancestral roots, what is imposed on the roots of evil, what is said through unkind lips, what is broken in ignorance of the unclean. Truly so!"After reading the plot, put out the candle with your fingers.

On the Night of December 21 light the second candle. Tell: “The world will get along well and the fate of my family will be adjusted! So be it!” Put out the candle.

Here you need to make a Vow. That is, you promise to do something for the benefit of the Family. The vow can be anything. Don't drink alcohol on New Year's Eve, give up candy for 10 days, do something that you keep putting off until later...

You just need to think carefully about how you want to make a vow, so as not to break it under any circumstances. After making a vow, say “For the Good of the Family!”
Before dawn, take three candles and twist them into one clockwise. As soon as the edge of the solar disk appears in the sky, light a candle and read repeatedly.

Spiridon-Solstice! Turn the sun to summer, and the roads of my Family for the good, Strengthen the Family Tree on a short day. When the red sun rises in the sky, when the small hour crosses the sky from sunrise to sunset. Strengthen Spyridon on my Tree, roots at dawn, branches at zenith, fruits at sunset. Strengthen, Spiridon-solstice, from this prayer, from the word of the spell, the high, noble Tree of my Family on high thresholds, on wide roads. It is good for the family to prosper, and for all relatives to live in height and honor. Walk along wide roads, put the profit in your wallet. Luck is laid on my Tree, luck is laid on the roots and fruits from this hour to forever. Truly!
The plot should be read repeatedly until the candle in your hands burns out.

Darina Oleynik

Astrology

The astrological transition of the Sun into the sign of Capricorn will occur on December 21, 2016 at 10:45 UTC or 13:45 Moscow time. Capricorn is a sign closely associated with career prospects, unapproachable heights, long-term prospects, ascetics and directors.

Capricorn jumps along steep cliffs, not at all embarrassed by gorges, landslides, or the lack of a direct road to the goal. Capricorn is perhaps the most vigorous hybrid of a materialist and an idealist in the entire Zodiac. All material planes all jumps from cliff to cliff must have a specific idea behind them, which warms Capricorn.

So these days we need to find between the material and the spiritual. You should not focus only on the ideal component of your projects, that is, dreams. You can’t throw yourself into monetization and making a profit and lose sight of your dream.
If you plan projects for the next year, then take into account pragmatic earthly sentiments - with a financial plan and clear steps to achieve. This is not a reason to deny yourself a dream. It is only important to understand the first step you will take to achieve it. And do it after the Solstice.)))

Winter solstice

Chart of seasons in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. Far right: winter solstice.

Winter solstice occurs at the moment when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction from the Sun takes on its greatest value. The maximum angle of inclination of the earth's axis relative to the Sun during the solstice is 23° 26 ". It is more obvious for residents of high latitudes that the winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the height of the sun in the sky is the lowest. Since Since the winter solstice lasts only a brief moment in time, other names are used for the day when it occurs, such as “midwinter,” “longest night,” or “first day of winter.”

The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is the reversal from the gradual lengthening of the night and shortening of the day to the opposite direction. Depending on the calendar shift, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

The interpretation of this event varied differently in different cultures, but among most peoples it was regarded as a rebirth, and holidays, festivals, meetings, rituals and other celebrations were held at this time.

date

The winter solstice was extremely important in the life of the primitive community, since people were not sure that they had been well prepared for winter during the previous nine months, and that they would be able to survive this winter. Famine was common during the winter months, from January to April, a period of the year known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last festival before the onset of the harsh winter period. Most livestock were slaughtered at this time because there was nothing to feed them during the winter, so the winter solstice was the only period of the year when the most fresh meat was consumed. At this time, most of the wine and beer made during the warm season was finally ready and ready to drink. Celebrations were held not only on this day itself, they began at midnight or at dawn, and most often the day before.

Because the winter solstice is a pivotal event in the presence of the Sun in the sky, it gave rise to the widespread emergence of the concept of the birth or rebirth of gods. In many cultures, cyclical calendars are based on the winter solstice, celebrating the resurgent year, a symbol of “new beginnings,” such as the cleansing tradition of Hogmanay in Scotland. In Greek mythology, gods and goddesses celebrated the winter and summer solstices; on these days Hades was allowed to enter Mount Olympus (his kingdom was the underworld, and at any other time he was not supposed to leave there).

Observations

Sunrise at Stonehenge on the winter solstice.

Direct observation of the solstice by amateurs is difficult because the sun moves towards the solstice point quite slowly, so that it is difficult to determine its specific day, let alone its instant. Knowing the time of an event's origin has only recently become possible down to almost an instant thanks to precise tracking of astronomical data. The actual moment of the solstice cannot be detected by definition (you cannot notice that the object has stopped moving, you can only state that in the current measurement the object has not changed its position compared to the previous measurement, or has moved in the opposite direction). In addition, in order to determine an event with an accuracy of one day, one must be able to observe changes in azimuth and altitude less than 1/60 of the angular diameter of the Sun. A similar determination with an accuracy of up to two days is easier; it requires an observation error of only about 1/16 of the angular diameter of the Sun. Thus, most observations indicate the day of the solstice, and not its instant. This is often done by observing the sunrise and sunset, using an astronomically calibrated instrument that ensures that a beam of light passes to a certain point at exactly the right moment in time.

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation.

2010.
Winter silver

Winter solstice

See what “Winter Solstice” is in other dictionaries: winter solstice - - [A.S. Goldberg. English-Russian energy dictionary. 2006] Topics: energy in general EN summer solstice ...

See what “Winter Solstice” is in other dictionaries: Technical Translator's Guide - The moment in time when the Sun passes through the southernmost point of the ecliptic (December 21 or 22) is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, and on the Tropic of Capricorn at noon the sun's rays fall vertically. → Fig. 25, p. 58...

Dictionary of Geography Winter solstice Great Soviet Encyclopedia

SOLSTICE- SOLSTICE, one of the two days a year when the Sun is at the greatest angular distance from the CELESTIAL EQUATOR, i.e. when the height of the Sun above the horizon at noon is minimum or maximum. This leads to the longest day and the longest... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

SOLSTICE- [onts], solstice, cf. (astro.). The moment (occurring twice a year) when the sun passes through the point of the ecliptic that is farthest from the celestial equator. Summer solstice (June 22, when the day begins to wane). Winter Solstice (22... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

solstice- The moment of time at which the Sun, in its apparent annual movement along the ecliptic, passes either through its northernmost point (summer solstice June 21-22) or through its southernmost point (winter solstice December 21-22) ... - The moment in time when the Sun passes through the southernmost point of the ecliptic (December 21 or 22) is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, and on the Tropic of Capricorn at noon the sun's rays fall vertically. → Fig. 25, p. 58...

Winter solstice- Dates and times of solstices and equinoxes according to UTC year Equinox March Solstice June Equinox September Solstice December day time day time day time day time 2002 20 19:16 21 13:24 23 04:55 22 01:14 2003 21 ... Wikipedia

Solstice- This term has other meanings, see Solstice (meanings). Dates and times of solstices and equinoxes in UTC 0 year Equinox March Solstice June Equinox September Solstice December day time day time day... ... Wikipedia

In Tibetan Astrology, it is believed that at this Time the “Heavenly Gates” open and the “Day of the Gods” begins...

At the dawn of this day, turning his back to the Sun, Sadag (Lord of the outgoing year) Fire Monkey (together with his retinue) goes into the Past, and from the direction of the rising Sun, to replace him, Sadag (Lord of the coming year) Fire Bird appears (together with his retinue).

Accordingly, every year, on this day, the quality of the Energies in the Space-Time Mandala changes, no matter what area we are in.

To maintain harmony with the surrounding nature, a person needs to know what actions, in what direction (and at what time) will be unfavorable and will bring negative consequences both for the person himself and for the surrounding nature.

For this purpose, below are two diagrams on which you can see the position of the Sadags of the year of the Fire Bird and the qualities of the Energies of the directions.

Winter Solstice, one of the four Sacred Time Points (STPs) of the annual cycle, is considered very important from a karmic point of view, because the consequences of good and bad deeds committed on this day increase thousands of times!!!

Hurry up to perform virtues and perform meditative practices!!!

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Winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon; occurs when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction from the Sun takes on its greatest value. The maximum angle of inclination of the earth's axis relative to the Sun during the solstice is 23° 26". It is more obvious for residents of high latitudes that the winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the height of the sun in the sky is the lowest.

In different cultures, the interpretation of this event was perceived differently, but among most peoples it was regarded as a revival, and holidays, meetings, rituals and other celebrations were held at this time

Historical and cultural significance

The solstice may have been a special moment in the annual cycle, even in Neolithic times. The astronomical events that have since ancient times governed the mating of animals, the planting of crops, and the storage of winter supplies until the next harvest, show how various cultural myths and traditions arose. This is evidenced by the layout of Late Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites such as Stonehenge in the UK and Newgrange in Ireland. The main axes of both of these monuments were carefully aligned along a visual line indicating the winter solstice sunrise (Newgrange) and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). In relation to Stonehenge, the significant fact is that the Great Trilith is turned outward from the center of the monument, that is, its flat front part faces the middle of winter along the Sun.

The winter solstice was extremely important in the life of the primitive community, since people were not sure that they had been well prepared for winter during the previous nine months, and that they would be able to survive this winter. Famine was common during the winter months, from January to April, a period of the year known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last festival before the onset of the harsh winter period. Most livestock were slaughtered at this time because there was nothing to feed them during the winter, so the winter solstice was the only period of the year when the most fresh meat was consumed. At this time, most of the wine and beer made during the warm season was finally ready to drink. Celebrations were held not only on this day itself, they began at midnight or at dawn, and most often the day before.

Because the winter solstice is a pivotal event in the presence of the Sun in the sky, it gave rise to the widespread concept of the birth or rebirth of gods. In many cultures, cyclical calendars are based on the winter solstice, celebrating the resurgent year, a symbol of “new beginnings,” such as the cleansing tradition of Hogmanay in Scotland. In Greek mythology, gods and goddesses celebrated the winter and summer solstices; on these days, the god Hades was allowed to appear on Mount Olympus (his kingdom was the underworld, and at any other time he was not supposed to leave there).

Winter Solstice Holidays

The days of the winter solstice are celebrated in almost all world cultures. In Christian Churches that have switched to the Gregorian calendar, the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on these days. It should be noted that Orthodoxy uses the Julian calendar, according to which the date of Christmas coincided with the winter solstice 2 thousand 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 celebrated Yule, and the Romans, until the 3rd century, celebrated Sol Invictus.

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Solstice celebrations are the most ancient rituals of all cultures without exception. After the winter solstice and the birth of the “New Sun,” daylight hours begin to lengthen and night darkness begins to shorten.

The moment of the solstice is a critical moment. 3 days before and 3 days after the solstice, the Earth receives a huge flow of creative energy. This is a magical, sacred time of transition.

These magical days are filled with special energy, which makes it possible to collect pearls of wisdom and the strength of the passing year, draw a line under the past and lay the foundations for the future, make wishes, sow the seeds of new things and a new state, improve, change what needs changing; get rid of what gets in the way.

The peculiarity of the current Solstice is that it is the end of a 9-year cycle. New Year 2017 is the first year in a new cycle. And you have to see how much it will differ from the end of 2016.

These are the days when you can really change your destiny. To be reborn just like the Sun. The whole Universe seems to freeze for three days to help Man create something New in his life. Our ancestors knew the power of these days and consciously used it.

1. Cleansing. Devote three days before the solstice to cleansing. Your home, your workplace, your body, your environment, your thoughts.
Throw away old things that clutter up space and hold old energy, preventing the New from entering your life. When cleaning your house, imagine how you are cleaning your entire life.

Before cleaning, you can sprinkle salt in every corner of the house; this salt will collect all the negative energy accumulated in the house. After this you can wash the floor. Also cleanse the house with fire (candles) and incense. It is important to do all this consciously, talking with your home, with fire, salt, as with living beings, setting tasks for them. And thank fire, salt, water for cleansing.

Another ritual is to go out into the yard and light a fire from old things. If you have children, take them with you. And talk to the fire, watching all these things burn. Ask the fire to turn into light everything that interferes with your happiness and abundance.

You can give each item you burn a special meaning and, as you throw it into the fire, gratefully imagine certain aspects of your life turning into light. This way you can burn thoughts, emotions, relationships that have ended, unhealthy habits.

Besides the fact that this is a very unusual ritual that can take you back to childhood and bring you (and your children) a lot of joy. It really powerfully cleanses the space of your life and transforms old energies.

Spend the day eating light food, vegetable juices, or fasting. And in the evening, take a bath with salt. And imagine dark smoke coming out of every pore of your body. These are toxins and energy dregs that filled your cells.

While lying in the bathroom, mentally walk through your entire body, pay attention to each organ, thank your body for its love and good service. And imagine how every cell of your body is cleansed. And then stand in the shower for a minute so that not a drop of “old” water remains on you.

Think about what people fill your life with despondency, interfere with your development, and with whom it’s time to stop communicating. Remember all the unfinished connections that are long overdue for completion.

Write a letter to these people (no need to send), and in this letter be sure to tell them about your feelings, grievances, claims, if any. After that, write: “Thanks to you, I realized that... Thanks to you, it appeared in my life...”

Thank them for the role they played in your life. End your letter with the words: “I release you to your happy life.” Reread this letter 3 times and burn it.

If you have debts - financial or intangible, pay them back. And if you feel that you cannot (or do not want) to fulfill the promise you made earlier, call the person and tell him about it: “I’m sorry, but I cannot fulfill the promise I made to you.” This is very important to do. Yes, a person may become upset or offended. But he would be more offended if he continued to expect you to fulfill what you promised, and did not wait.

And if they owe you, either do everything to get the debt returned to you, or give it to the debtor as a gift. Believe me, this way you will only do better for yourself, you will unblock energy. And if you do this with all your heart, with gratitude to the debtor for the lesson, the world will find a way for you to repay the gifted debt.

It is better to enter a new life lightly. With gratitude to God, with pure thoughts, pure intentions and wishes for happiness.

2. Summing up. The night at the solstice (from December 20 to 21) is the longest of the year. This is a magical time. This night opens the door to a new life.

It’s good to take stock of the past year (and in our case, the last 9 years), mentally rewind this time, remember each month and collect pearls of wisdom/
What important things did you learn? What did you realize? What did they change? What's new in your life? What lesson did you successfully complete? And if you didn’t make it, what experience did you take from this “mistake”?
Thank this year (9 year period) for what it has given you. Thank yourself for living it so consciously, for all the efforts you had to make. Thank all the people who were in your life during this period and helped you have this experience (even if it was painful).

This is a very important action! By collecting pearls of wisdom and summing up, you are, as it were, completing the lessons of the past year, showing yourself and the Universe that you are ready to move on.

3. Create New. With the new dawn, together with the sun, all living things begin their path of growth and ascension. Prayer and meditation at this time will have tremendous power, as well as your good intentions and goals for the future. The rhythms of the Universe at this time greatly contribute to this. The power of the regenerating Sun, the powerful energy of creation will fill them.
It is auspicious to meet the sunrise, express your respect to it, congratulate it on its birth, and thank it for its gifts.
It is important to feel this transitional sacred period, the turn from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, from old to new.
If you do this consciously, then there is a truly bright path ahead of revival and growth. At this time, the sky opens, strong flows of energy flow to the Earth. This is a time of great opportunity.
Use the following three after the solstice to set your dreams for the coming year.
Feel with your heart what exactly you would like to create in the new year, what to attract into your life, what feelings to experience. Put aside the instructions of loved ones and the desires of others.

The time of the winter solstice occurs when the axis around which our planet rotates reaches its maximum point in the direction from the Sun. The greatest angle of inclination of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun is 23° 26'. Depending on the shift of calendar days, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs either on December 21 or 22, and in the Southern Hemisphere on June 20 or 21.

Different cultures interpreted this event differently, but most peoples perceived the winter solstice as a rebirth, setting a new beginning. At this time, festivals, holidays, meetings were organized, appropriate rituals were carried out, and mass celebrations were held with songs and dances.

The solstice was a special moment in the annual cycle even during the New Stone Age (Neolithic). Thanks to astronomical events, which since ancient times have governed the sowing of grain crops, the procurement of food before the next harvest, and the mating periods of animals, it is possible to trace how various traditions and myths arose. Evidence of this can be considered in the layout of the most ancient monuments of the late New Stone and Bronze Ages. Such as Stonehenge (Great Britain) and Newgrange (Ireland), the main axes of which were aligned with special care and pointed to the sunrise at Newgrange, and the sunset at Stonehenge on the winter solstice. It is noteworthy that the Great Trilith (a “P”-shaped structure of the three largest stones) at Stonehenge is turned outward relative to the center of the monument in such a way that its front flat part faces the Sun towards the middle of winter.

How the ancient Slavs celebrated the winter solstice

One of the most significant holidays revered by our ancestors were the days of the Solstice and Equinox. The rotation, solstice, solstice, equinox - personify the four hypostases of the ancient Slavic sun god Dazhdbog, the giver of light and heat. His name appears in a short prayer that has survived to this day: “Grant, God!” According to popular belief, Dazhdbog opens the summer and closes the fierce winter.

The Slavs considered this holiday a time of renewal and birth of the Sun, and with it all living things, a time of spiritual transformation, a time promoting both good material and spiritual changes. The night that precedes the winter solstice is considered the patroness of all nights, because it is on this night that the Goddess gives birth to a young solar baby - Dazhdbog, symbolizing the birth of life from death, order from chaos.

During the winter solstice, the Slavs celebrated the pagan New Year, which was personified with the deity Kolyada. The main object of the celebration was a large bonfire, invoking and depicting the Sun, which, after one of the longest nights of the year, was supposed to rise higher and higher into the heavenly heights. It was also necessary to bake ritual New Year's pies of a round shape, reminiscent of a celestial body.

The ancient Slavs considered the solstice the beginning of the new year. It was on this day that the month of carols began. It was believed that at a certain time of day a new sun god, Kolyada, was born. This deity symbolized good weather and harvest. That is why the celebrations in his honor lasted approximately 21 days.

On Christmastide, people dressed in new, expensive clothes, set the tables and wished each other good luck. The Slavs believed that a person would spend the New Year exactly as he would greet it. In addition, the winter solstice was considered a magical period when the line between the world of the living and dark forces became very thin. To scare away evil spirits, fires were built everywhere, and people dressed up in costumes of animals and supernatural creatures.

Another interesting tradition is carolers. Young girls and boys gathered in small groups and traveled from house to house, congratulating the owners on the new year and wishing them good luck and prosperity. And as a reward, the young singers received sweets and other treats. By the way, this tradition is still alive today.

Winter solstice holiday among other nations

These days, in Europe, pagan festivals will mark the beginning of a 12-day cycle of magnificent festivities, marking 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 generously coated with resin, set on fire and launched down the slide, with rotating movements reminiscent of a fiery luminary.

In China, before all other seasons (and there are 24 of them in the Chinese calendar), the winter solstice was determined. The Chinese believed that it was from the beginning of this period that the male power of nature grew stronger and gave rise to a new cycle. The winter solstice was a worthy celebration because it was considered a happy, successful day. Everyone, from the commoner to the emperor, relaxed and had fun on this day, gave each other gifts, went to visit, and set large tables laden with various dishes. An important role on this special day was given to sacrifices to the ancestors and the God of Heaven, and corresponding ceremonies and rituals were carried out. in order to protect yourself from diseases and evil spirits. Winter Solstice Day is still one of the Chinese traditional holidays.

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

Winter Solstice and German Yule

Germanic tribes also celebrated this day, considering it a transition point between the old and new years. Like the Slavs, festivities were accompanied by bonfires. The key point is the burning of a large symbolic log, the coals of which are then mixed with grain. In addition, houses, streets and trees were decorated with burning candles - this is how people asked for help and protection from the spirits of their dead ancestors. By the way, fire decorations became the prototype of modern garlands.

But that's not all. The tradition of decorating houses with branches of evergreen trees - fir trees, mistletoe, ivy and holly - arose here. Such decorations were a symbol and reminder that night and cold would definitely recede.