The longest night of the year. The shortest day

Today is the shortest day and the longest night. In Kyrgyzstan tomorrow, December 22, at 04:23, the winter solstice will occur.

Winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction from the Sun takes its greatest value. The maximum angle of inclination of the earth's axis relative to the Sun during the solstice is 23° 26′.

“This year the winter solstice will be on December 22. This time it coincides with the full moon. The energy of the full moon enhances the energy of this day. A lot of communication and short trips are expected.

This is a time to reconsider plans in order to focus on what matters most. A good day to start a new cycle of learning and development.

You should avoid fuss, as this can affect your health - falls, bruises, injuries.

Some peoples of the Far North celebrate the holiday of Tuigivin on the day of the winter solstice - a holiday of anticipation of spring. On this day it is customary to make wishes, organize various competitions, and light bonfires,” said website Kyrgyz astrologer Andrey Ryazantsev.

The portal segodnya.ua talked about the traditions and signs of this day. Some of them can be treated with humor.

Signs for Winter Solstice

• The weather on December 21 will be the same ten days later. If a snowstorm starts on this day, then the New Year will be just as snowy.
• Frost on the branches - next season there will be a very rich harvest.
• If you cut a cherry twig on this day and it blooms before Christmas, then next year will give us berries.
• Calm weather means there will be a rich fruit harvest.
• If you want a rich harvest, you need to shake the fruit tree on this day.
• Rain indicates a wet spring.

Traditions for Winter Solstice

• The best day for cleaning. On this day, traditionally, all unnecessary things were thrown away in order to let in more clean energy.
• In addition to material cleaning, do not forget to clear your head of dirty and heavy thoughts. This is a wonderful day for meditation or prayer.
• On this day, powerful energy portals open, which means you can contact another world and find out about your destiny. Fortune telling is usually done on Winter Solstice Day.
• On this day you need to make wishes and ask the Sun well for their fulfillment.
• Traditionally, children are given sweets on Winter Solstice Day. After all, gifts are an integral part of any holiday.

What not to do on Winter Solstice

• On this day, you need to continue to observe the Nativity fast, giving up fun, fatty and meat foods. Previously, it was believed that it was better to spend Winter Solstice Day at home, with your family, so you shouldn’t be alone.
• It was considered a bad omen not to complete some important task before this day. It is especially bad not to repay debts before the Winter Solstice.
• You cannot celebrate this day in a dirty house.
• You can't be greedy. If someone asks you for something on this day, be sure to agree.

Since ancient times, people have believed that at this time they can attract many positive changes into their lives in terms of material wealth and well-being.

After reading this article, you can find out what the longest and shortest night of the year is.

People of many nationalities believed in the unusual mystical power of the solstice. This magical period, according to many, is characterized by the incredible strength of its energy and is marked by the longest night.

Before we find out which night is the longest of the year, let's take a brief look at what this time represented for people who lived in previous centuries.

General information from history

In Rus', since the 18th century, a rather interesting ritual has been associated with this day (winter solstice). The head of the Moscow Cathedral bell ringers, who was responsible for striking the clock, came to bow to the Tsar. On this day, he reported to the ruler that the sun had turned for summer, the day was slowly beginning to increase, and the night was decreasing. The king, in turn, rewarded the elder with money for such good news.

December 22 can be called New Year, but natural. Sun at 21 hours 11 minutes. Moscow time on December 21, it descends to its maximum in the southern hemisphere, thus astronomical winter begins. At the latitude of Moscow, the length of daylight hours is 6 hours 56 minutes.

It is dark for quite a long time from December 21 to 22. The Sun sets lowest after such a night - on the day of the winter solstice. It is also called the solstice.

In everyday life, this phenomenon is invisible to people, but it is perfectly demonstrated in special photographs taken by astronomers. The sun is photographed at the same time all year round, then all the images are combined into one image. It shows an analemma - a bizarre trajectory of changes in the location of the star in the sky. It is shaped like a figure eight, with the very edge of the bottom loop corresponding to the solstice. So, the longest night is from December 21 to 22.

After this “New Year”, the day gradually begins to increase until it is equal in length to the night, and this is the day of the vernal equinox, which occurs on March 20. Then (June 21) comes the summer solstice, when the day becomes the longest, but the night is shortest.

The most fun night

The longest night of the year (the number is presented above) for many peoples is also the most fun.

The ancient peoples of Great Britain, many centuries ago, tried to joke, laugh and have fun a lot on this night. People believed that the problems voiced in the form of jokes that night would definitely be resolved positively soon. They were sure that the more fun they had during this period, the luckier the coming year would be.

About the mystical power of a significant period

The longest night of the year, in the minds of many peoples, has mystical powers. It has long been believed that the solstice is a significant day. During this period, there is a revival of all that is bright, and the subsequent addition of hours of daylight marks the victory of light over darkness.

This significant time was always celebrated in a special way: folk holidays were timed to coincide with it. The Celts, for example, celebrated Yule (analogous to the New Year) during this period. On the day of the solstice, the Slavic peoples revered Karachun (the deity of cold and darkness, the lord of winter).

According to Slavic beliefs, on this night darkness conquers light, and with the arrival of a new morning everything ends happily. With the victory of light comes the renewal of the world, victory triumphs over evil.

In the cultures of different nations, the time of the winter solstice (the longest night of the year) was considered the most favorable for performing various rituals and ceremonies. Many of them, which came from antiquity, can be applied now, since the power of the longest night of the year has not diminished over time, and people, as before, always have the desire to change themselves and their lives for the better.

The energy of the transition from darkness to light (renewal) helps to get rid of everything unnecessary and attract what you want.

Ritual to get rid of problems

When the longest night of the year passes, it becomes possible to experience the beneficial effects of the solstice for yourself.

Rituals are celebrated with particular effectiveness at such a time (energy-saturated) as the solstice day. You should take advantage of this opportunity, because such a period occurs only 2 times a year.

The ritual for getting rid of various problems is especially relevant, due to the fact that the solstice occurs almost before the New Year. Everyone wants to move into a new stage of life, leaving failures and difficulties behind. And it is precisely this period that can help in this: the energy message sent to the Universe during the ritual is a reliable means of solving problems.

The ritual must be performed in solitude, after the Sun goes below the horizon. What is it? You should light a candle and, peering into the fire, think about the troubles and problems that interfere with your life and that you want to get rid of. At the same time, say the following words: “I drive away the darkness with fire, I rid myself of oppression. The night will pass and it will take my problems with it. As the day increases, my life will be filled with happiness. To be this."

After these words, the candle should burn for some time in a safe place, and before going to bed it should be extinguished and the ritual should be completed with the following words: “Let everything you wish come true.”

Conclusion

December 22 is such a long night! It can help you do many important things: meet, make peace, think and make wishes, analyze the past and think about the future...

“Sun for summer, winter for frost!”
Proverb

On December 21 at 21:11 (Moscow time), the earth's axis will deviate at its maximum angle relative to the Sun, which means that the northern hemisphere, far from the center of our system, will receive the least amount of light. In Moscow, the day will last about 7 hours, in St. Petersburg - less than 6 hours, and beyond the Arctic Circle there will be twilight even at noon. This is the winter solstice, after which astronomical winter begins.

People noticed this phenomenon back in ancient times and noted its importance. Famous Paleolithic sites such as Stonehenge and Newgrange are aligned with the summer and winter solstices, respectively. Located in Ireland, Newgrange is a mound with huge stone blocks at its base. It was both a burial ground and a religious building with an altar, to which a narrow corridor leads. During the several days before and after the winter solstice, the rays of the heavenly body pull out the dark corners of the underground chamber from the darkness for only 15-20 minutes.

Photo: http://www.knowth.eu/newgrange-aerial.htm

For communities leading a primitive economy, this day marked the beginning of the most difficult time of the year, when nature did not provide any food, and one could only rely on one’s own supplies. B O Most of the livestock went under the knife due to lack of feed. By this time, the new wine was ripening. Before tightening their belts, our ancestors were not averse to feasting.

The reason for the holiday was the birth of a new luminary at a moment when the forces of darkness are ready to triumph and plunge the earth into chaos.

Solstice were central events in the life of peoples who worshiped the Sun as one of the supreme deities. In Egypt, Amon-Ra was revered, the Incas called themselves “sons of the Sun”, in Babylon the resurrection was dedicated to the sun god Shamash (cf. English. Sunday(resurrection), lit. "day of the sun") Greco-Roman agricultural and solar holidays had a huge influence on the formation of modern Christmas and New Year traditions.

In the second half of December, celebrations were held in Rome in honor of the god of the earth and fertility, Saturn (by the way, Saturday was dedicated to him SSaturday). People believed that when he was an earthly ruler, his subjects did not know poverty, inequality, slavery and war. The Saturnalia briefly restored the Golden Age. For a short time, the slave was equal to the master, criminals received a reduced sentence, and debts were paid. Rural work ended, people sought to complete other tasks.

Many customs of this period are inextricably linked with the onset of the new year. Some peoples celebrated the New Year on the first new moon after the winter solstice. Julius Caesar tied the beginning of the next year to January 1, which in 45 BC. coincided with the first new moon. The month of January bore the name of the Roman god Janus, whose ancient face turned to the past, and his young face to the future. He was revered as a divine gatekeeper, unlocking and locking doors between eras.

It was believed that with every change of seasons, passages to other worlds opened. The souls of deceased ancestors could visit the world of the living. They were to be met and received with dignity with funeral meals and prayers. Thus, funeral dishes appeared on the festive table, in the Russian tradition - sochivo.

At the same time, dark forces could also leave their possessions and roam the earth in search of lonely and defenseless victims. For this reason, people at this time were supposed to stick together and defend themselves from evil spirits.

They protected themselves with the help of disguises and masks (it was assumed that hostile spirits either did not recognize A they either kill a person or consider that the place is already occupied by other evil spirits), with the help of various amulets (ritual figurines were displayed in certain places, doors and corners of the house were decorated with branches of sacred trees and wreaths from them). Fire was considered the most effective method of protection.

If the darkness that reigns in December brings melancholy to us, modern residents who have electricity in our homes and on the streets, what can we say about those who had only an oil lamp and a torch? Light, the soul asks for light! Bonfires, candles, torches, fiery performances delighted the eye on an impenetrable night and gave a signal to the sun to return.

Among the Germanic peoples this holiday was called Yule (in different languages ​​Yule, Joll, Joel or Yuil), among the Slavic peoples it was called differently, for example, Kolyada. It began with the appearance of the first star in the sky and lasted 12 days. The duration is probably related to lunar cycles. There are 29 days in the lunar month (and 30 every 2 months), which is almost 12 days (11 1/4) less than in the solar year. This difference was considered “nobody’s” time, unsuitable for business.

They didn’t spare the fire for Yule. For all 12 days, the Yule log, which represented the world tree, smoldered in the hearth. It was lit from a piece of last year's log, which helped connect the times. The Eastern Slavs burned a piece of log and rolled it around the village. Rolling it back into the fire burning meant guaranteeing good and prosperity for the entire settlement in the coming year. Among the southern Slavs, such a block of wood was called badnyak. Sometimes they gave him a beard - the badnyak embodied the old year, giving way to the young.

The holiday ends on Twelfth Night with a blazing bonfire, round dance and performances. Like, for example, Hogmanay in Scotland. Formally, it marks the last day of the year and is celebrated on December 31st with fireworks, a torchlight procession and concerts. They must perform a song adapted from a folk ballad by the beloved Scots poet Robert Burns (18th century), whose birthday on December 25 is celebrated with a feast with traditional dishes.

Other traditional elements of late December include holly, ivy and mistletoe. They have been used for decoration since the Saturnalia. Ideas about the miraculous power of mistletoe go back to ancient times. For the Romans, she personified life and promoted conception. For the Scandinavians it was a symbol of peace. Enemies who met under the mistletoe had to make peace. This custom has evolved into the modern tradition of kissing under the mistletoe: young Harry Potter first kissed a girl under the mistletoe at the Yule Ball.

Holly is known not only for its decorative effect, but also for a number of useful properties. Healing drinks are made from some varieties. In addition, the bush makes an excellent hedge. For the Druids, he personified the sun. It was customary for them to decorate houses during the darkest time of the year to protect against hostile spirits.

Yule has its own guards. In Iceland, for example, for some reason it’s a cat. It was believed that by the holiday one should have time to process all the shorn wool and make clothes from it. The Yule cat walked around and checked for new things. The “terrible beast” took away the holiday dinner from the lazy idlers, that is, from those who had nothing; or ate the lazy one himself.

Since ancient times, the goat or goat has been associated with the end of December, since the winter solstice point was previously located in the constellation Capricorn (now it has moved to the constellation Sagittarius). Finnish Father Christmas is called Joulupukki, which means "Yule goat". The Germanic, Slavic and Scandinavian peoples had a similar custom of “driving a goat”. The young men put on a fur coat with the fur turned outward, a horned mask, and went from house to house, putting on performances and joking with the owners. The goat teased the girls, caressed the children, then suddenly “died” and “resurrected” only after a treat. All this symbolized the eternal renewal of nature.

The festival timelessness of the solstice (both winter and summer) abolished behavioral norms and allowed ritual outrages. Thus, some “goat” songs and performances had frivolous content - for the sake of increasing fertility. Portraying rampant evil spirits, young guys could overturn carts, break fences, steal equipment, etc. On Epiphany (the 12th night of Yule), a “bean king” was elected - a man who found a bean in his piece of pie became a clownish ruler and gave ridiculous orders to his “subjects.”

Incredible facts

From December 21 to 22, the Northern Hemisphere will experience its shortest day and longest night. This phenomenon is called the winter solstice.

The winter solstice marks the beginning of astronomical winter.

What happens during the winter solstice, when does this date fall, and what traditions exist on this day.

Here are 10 of the most interesting facts about the shortest day of the year.

What date is the winter solstice in 2018

The date of the winter solstice varies from year to year and can fall between December 20 and 23, but most often occurs on December 21 or 22.

The reason is that the tropical year - the time it takes for the Sun to return to the same point relative to the Earth - is different from the calendar year. The next winter solstice, which falls on December 20, will occur in 2080, and on December 23 only in 2303.

The winter solstice in 2018 falls on December 21 at 22:23 UTC ( December 22 at 1:23 MSK).

2. The winter solstice occurs at a certain short moment

The winter solstice occurs not only on a certain day, but also at a certain time of day, when the angle of the Earth's axis relative to the Sun is 23.5 degrees. In the northern hemisphere, the Sun occupies the lowest position above the horizon, and above the Arctic Circle the Sun does not even rise above the horizon.

As the winter solstice approaches, daylight hours shorten and then gradually lengthen. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night in the northern hemisphere.

So, for example, in Moscow The length of the day during the winter solstice will be 7 hours 0 minutes 20 seconds compared to 17h 33m 40s during the summer solstice. In Helsinki, Finland, the day will last 5 hours 49 minutes, and in Murmansk there will be no sunrise at all - you can observe the polar night there.

4. Ancient cultures considered the winter solstice to be a time of death and rebirth

The seeming death of the world and the real threat of famine during the winter months weighed heavily on many cultures. Therefore, at this time, various holidays were often held, calling for the return of the Sun and hope for a new life.

During the rituals, fires were lit and cattle were sacrificed, followed by a feast with dishes made from the last of the fresh meat. In the Druid tradition, the death of the old Sun and the birth of the new Sun were revered.

5. The day is marked by new and unusual discoveries

Interestingly, on this day in 1898, Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium, marking the beginning of the atomic age. And on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 was launched, the first time humans entered lunar orbit and reached the Moon.

6. The word "solstice" is translated as "the sun stands still"

This is due to the position of the Sun in the sky relative to the horizon at noon, which rises or falls throughout the year and appears to stop at the solstice.

We are currently looking at this phenomenon from a cosmic location perspective. In ancient times, people thought about the trajectory of the Sun, how long it stood in the sky, and what kind of light it cast.

7. Stonehenge is aligned with the sunset on the winter solstice.

For a long time, for many people, the famous monument Stonehenge was a kind of sundial. Its main axis aimed at sunset, while another Newgrange monument marks the line of the rising Sun at the winter solstice.

Although the purpose of this ancient structure is still a matter of debate, it still holds great significance during the winter solstice, drawing many people from all over the world to celebrate the event.

Winter Solstice Festival

8. The ancient Romans celebrated the holiday of role reversal - Saturnalia

At this time, the Saturnalia holiday was held, when everything was turned upside down. Social roles changed, masters served slaves, and slaves were allowed to insult their masters. The holiday was named after the god Saturn, the patron saint of agriculture.

Wearing masks and pretending were also part of Saturnalia, where a king of revelry was chosen in each house. Over time, Saturnalia was replaced by Christmas, although many of its traditions in the West migrated to Christmas.

9. Many believed that dark spirits walked the earth during the winter solstice

The ancient Iranian festival of Yalda, celebrated on the longest night of the year, heralded the birth of the ancient sun god and his victory over darkness.

Zoroastrians believed that on this day evil spirits roamed the earth. People tried to spend most of the night in each other's company, held feasts, conversations, told stories and poems in order to avoid any clashes with dark entities.

The presence of evil spirits on the longest night is also spoken of in Celtic and Germanic folklore.

10. During the winter solstice of 2012, the end of the world was predicted

December 21, 2012 corresponds to date 13.0.0.0.0 in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar used by the ancient Mayans. It marked the end of the 5126-year cycle. Many believed that such a combination of circumstances would lead to the end of the world or another cataclysm.

The shortest day in 2018 is December 22, 2018, Saturday. And, accordingly, the longest night in 2018 is the night from December 22 to December 23.
On this day at 12:28 Moscow time is the December solstice (winter solstice).

The shortest day in 2018 lasts 7 hours, 20 seconds (7:00:20). In terms of daylight hours, the shortest December day in 2018 is shorter than the June solstice (Thursday, June 21, 2018) by 10 hours, 33 minutes.

Also, it will be interesting to know that:

• The earliest sunset in 2018 is December 14.
• The latest sunrise in 2018 is December 29.

All living organisms need sunlight and feel its lack during those seasons when the days are shortened and the nights are lengthened. Any cycle has critical points of change in the nature of the cycle. The cycle of changes in the length of daylight hours includes the days of the equinox and the days of the solstices.

When does the phase of increasing daylight hours begin?

The phase of increasing daylight hours begins with the winter solstice and ends with the summer solstice. The intensity of the increase in daylight hours depends on the angle of declination of the Sun and the speed of its rotation. Practically, the day in the northern hemisphere begins to increase on December 24-25 by several minutes per day, then the intensity of the increase in day length increases.

Natural phenomena such as the increase and decrease of daylight hours occur in nature. The longest day is observed on June 22, then gradually decreases. Daylight hours decrease until December 22, at which point you can experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. Subsequently, the day begins to gradually regain its positions. This happens unnoticed, the difference is in minutes. A more visible result can be observed in about a month. On March 20-21, the day almost corresponds to the night - the spring equinox. This process occurs year after year, so 2018 is no exception.

At the end of June 2018, the days began to slowly decrease, and by December they would reach their minimum. In the northernmost cities there will even be a polar night. Everyone will be looking forward to the moment when the day begins to increase. This turning point will be the Winter Solstice, which falls on December 21-22. During this time the day is shortest. And the very next day – December 23, 2018 – the day will become longer by a few seconds. Here in this table with the times of sunrise and sunset in St. Petersburg you can clearly see how the length of the day will increase:

The magic of the winter solstice, rituals on this day

The winter solstice is one of the four main solar days in astrology, along with the summer solstice and the autumn and spring equinoxes.

In pagan times, the day before the winter solstice was called Karachun, which means “death” or “destruction.” People believed that evil forces could make it so that the sun would not rise in the morning, so they helped it “to be born” in every possible way: even before dawn, they gathered and lit ritual fires from oak and pine logs and brought gifts to the forest gods - they baked pies and prepared uzvars, which brought to the forest. Bread or pies were placed on the branches of old trees, and sweet drinks were poured on them as an offering to the forest deities to send a good harvest. Perhaps this is where the custom of decorating the Christmas tree came from.

In the morning, when the sun rose, they celebrated its rebirth - in fact, the winter solstice was the pagan New Year. That night they also caroled, and the girls also told fortunes about their betrothed. Subsequently, with the adoption of Christianity, these classes were moved to the Christmastide period.

When is the longest day and shortest night of the year, and how many days are they?

The longest day of the year in central Russia

The longest day in 2017 occurred on June 21. For several days, the days were just as long (17 hours 33 minutes), and from June 24 the days began to decrease.

When, from what date in the summer, will daylight hours begin to decrease?

If we take data for Moscow, then the longest day was 17 hours 33 minutes.

For Moscow, the days will decrease in the following sequence:

• By the end of June, the day decreased by 6 minutes, and became 17 hours 27 minutes
• For July - by 1 hour 24 minutes, day length 16 hours 3 minutes
• For August - by 2 hours 8 minutes, the day lasts 13 hours 51 minutes
• Until the equinox (September 24), the day will shorten by 1 hour 45 minutes, the length of the day will be 12 hours 2 minutes