Winter Solstice: History and Traditions. Holiday Winter Solstice - traditions, signs, rituals and conspiracies December 22 is the day of the winter solstice among the Slavs

For our ancestors, the laws of nature have always been important, respected. One of the most special holidays was the winter solstice. It will come on December 22, 2018 at 01:23 Moscow time. After it, the duration of the following days will begin to increase, the nights will shorten.

The winter solstice is the day when the sun is at its lowest position relative to the earth's horizon. In 2018, this event will take place on December 22 at 01:23 Moscow time and on December 21 at 22:23 ET. In addition, on December 22, another important astronomical event awaits us - the Full Moon.

It was previously believed that the birth of a new Sun took place on the winter solstice, so this event played an important role in many cultures. The ancient Celts celebrated Yule on this day, and the Eastern Slavs celebrated New Year. Also during this period, it was customary to honor the god of the Sun, or Kolyada. By tradition, the celebration of the Slavic New Year was fun and noisy. To appease the god of the new Sun, people kindled bonfires, held festivities and exchanged gifts.

However, this phenomenon also has its dangers. Bioenergetics believe that the influence of the Sun during the winter solstice can adversely affect the energy field of people. For this reason, many may experience weakness, headaches, and other physical and mental ailments. The full moon, which also falls on December 22nd, can further aggravate your condition.

Initially, the duration of daylight hours will increase slightly, and then the intensity will increase. Astronomers even compiled a special table:

Winter solstice different nations world celebrate in their own way. In different cultures, it is associated with the rebirth of the Sun, with the advent of the new year. The pagans called this day Karachun and believed that "evil spirits" could make sure that the Sun did not rise, so they performed rituals so that it would be "born" for sure.

At dawn, bonfires built with oak and pine logs were kindled, gifts were presented to the forest gods. At dawn, they celebrated the revival of the Sun, began to guess. On the solstice, they engage in spiritual practices, meditation. You can start doing important things, implementing projects - they will be profitable. Your wishes will surely come true.

By the winter solstice, it is customary to carry out a general cleaning in the house, throw away all unnecessary rubbish, and decorate the premises for the New Year. In the center of the room you need to put something that resembles the Sun, for example, an orange.

Many rituals are recommended to be performed on the day of the solstice. The fact is that this is the shortest and most mysterious day of the year. When a colossal amount of energy is generated in nature, but it does not manifest itself clearly, but is hidden in the dark corners of the longest night.

Before carrying out any rituals (a few days before the holiday), it is necessary to carry out a major cleaning in the entire apartment or house:

1. Wash everything, even the most secluded corners.
2. Put things in order, put things in their places.
3. Clear out the pantry and decide what you need and what you don't.
4. Collect unwanted items and give to those in need.

Through such actions, you will clear space in your life for something new and joyful.

Let go ritual

• Write down on paper all the negative and bad things that happened during the year - what you want to get rid of or forget.
• Say the appropriate words that you must choose for yourself. For example: "I forgive and let go of everything that happened" or "I leave these events in the past, let them go and never return."
• Now burn a sheet of paper, imagining how your sorrows are burned in the fire. And along with the smoke, problems disappear.
• Feel free.

Ritual for the fulfillment of a wish

A wish is made at dawn:

• Stand facing the east - look in the direction where the reborn Sun rises.
• Thank the Sun for all the good things in your life and ask for help in the coming season.
• Make a wish - try to mention as many details as possible.
• Imagine that the wish has already come true. What do you feel? Let your imagination paint happy pictures.

On this holiday, it is good to make wishes that involve the renewal of life, the attraction of something new. It is also recommended to drink ginger tea during the day.

If your desire involves saving money, then the ideal option would be to open a savings bank account on the day of the solstice or the next day. By doing this, you will not only think about what you want, but also take the first step towards realization. Which is very important.

Ritual for cleansing

Held in the bathroom:

• Fill the tub with warm water.
• Be sure to add sea salt, because it takes away all the negativity. But it is better to refuse foam on this day.
• Arrange a few candles in the bathroom (odd number), turning off the electric lights.
• Prepare pleasant music for relaxation. It can be the sounds of nature, religious chants, ethnic music, and so on.
• Lie down in the bath. Imagine that your body is heavy, filled with the worries of the outgoing year.
• Now visualize that water and salt take away all your problems. And every moment your body becomes lighter.
• Flush the water, imagining that everything bad goes with it. Rinse under the shower.

After performing the ritual, you will feel a true renewal at the level of body and soul.

Our distant ancestors were guided by natural phenomena and the movement of the Sun when calculating time periods. The winter solstice point was significant for the construction of such historical structures as:

• Stonehenge in the UK;
• Newgrange in Ireland.

Their main axes are oriented to sunrise and sunset on the solstices.

Ancient Roman Saturnalia

In ancient Rome, on the days of the solstice, they celebrated the feast of Saturnalia in honor of the god Saturn. The celebration lasted from 17 to 23 December. By this time, all agricultural efforts were completed. And people could indulge in celebration and fun.

It was customary to temporarily stop public affairs, send schoolchildren on vacation. It was even forbidden to punish criminals.

Slaves sat at the same table with the masters and were freed from daily work. There was a symbolic equalization of rights.

Crowds of celebrating walked in the streets. Everyone praised Saturn. On the days of Saturnalia, a pig was slaughtered as a sacrifice, and then they began to have fun. There was a tradition of exchanging gifts, which later moved to modern christmas and New Year.

Yule among the ancient Germans

This is a medieval holiday, one of the main ones of the year. It was celebrated with great pomp. The word "yule" was called the longest night of the year, which fell on the winter solstice.

It was believed that on this day the King of Oak was reborn, he warmed the frozen earth and gave life to the seeds in the soil, which were stored for a long winter, so that by spring they would germinate and give a harvest.

People kindled fires in the fields. It was customary to drink the alcoholic drink cider. Children went from house to house with gifts. Baskets were woven from the branches of evergreens and ears of wheat, and apples and cloves were folded into them, which were sprinkled with flour.

Apples are a symbol of the sun and immortality, and wheat is a symbol of a good harvest. Flour meant light and success.

The houses were also decorated with branches of trees: ivy, holly, mistletoe. It was believed that this helps to call the spirits of nature to join the holiday. Spirits could bestow happy life household members.

On the holiday of Yule, the burning of a ritual log, the decoration of the Yule tree (the prototype of the New Year tree) and the exchange of gifts were carried out. The image of a log has been preserved in many countries to this day.

Holiday in Christianity

In Christianity, Christmas is celebrated these days. In the Catholic tradition, it comes on December 24, when the Sun, after passing its lowest point, is “reborn” again and rises higher.

It is believed that when Christianity replaced paganism, the new Christian holidays merged with pagan ones. So Christmas appeared in its modern form with a decorated Christmas tree and gifts for relatives and friends. Indeed, in fact, this is the celebration of the birth of Christ, but it is celebrated very similarly to the medieval Yule.

In Orthodoxy, due to the use of the Julian calendar, the date is 2 weeks behind the solstice, the Orthodox celebrate Christmas on January 7th. However, historically it is the same date. It's just that over the course of two thousand years, the solstice point has shifted by half a month.

Holiday in Slavic culture

The Slavs celebrated the day of Karachun, the harsh deity of winter. They believed that Karachun brings winter cold to the earth, plunging nature into a winter sleep.

Another name for the deity is Korochun, which means "the shortest." The winter solstice preceded the rebirth of the Sun.

Bonfires were burned everywhere, which were designed to help the Sun triumph over death and be reborn. After Karachun, the nights were waning, and the daylight hours were getting longer.

Subsequently, this deity turned into Frost - a gray-haired old man, from whose breath bitter frosts begin, and rivers are covered with ice. The Slavs believed that if Frost hit a hut with a staff, the logs would crack.

Frost does not like those who are afraid of him and hide, complain about the cold and quickly get cold. But for those who are not afraid of him, he gives rosy cheeks, strength of mind and good mood. This is reflected in the fairy tale "Morozko".

Since ancient times, the ancestors called this event in nature the revival of the Sun. All celebrations on this occasion took place on the eve of the winter solstice at night, until the moment when the heavenly body appears over the horizon. After that, people went home in order to put things in order in their homes. After all, it was this holiday that was considered the most successful moment for cleaning before the onset of the new year.

In addition to general cleaning in the house, people also tried to throw out everything unnecessary from their thoughts, that is, it is necessary to make cleanliness not only material in everyday life, but also moral in the head from dirty thoughts. the best way prayer has always been considered for this. And then you can also ask the Sun for the fulfillment of the most cherished bright desires. In order for the day of December 21 to be as close as possible to the holiday, children received gifts in the form of various sweets with the advent of this date.

The day of the winter solstice coincides with the course of the Advent, therefore, on December 22, the church does not approve of various fun, the use of fatty, meat foods and alcohol. It is advisable to spend this day with your family, being alone is not a good sign of this national holiday. Also, until this day, it is worth completing all the work that has been started and it is necessary to repay debts. Dirty house is another taboo of this holiday.

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Almost all holidays among the Slavs coincide with the life cycle of the Earth, and therefore, out of the order of one and a half hundred various holidays four are especially distinguished, directly related to the annual turnover of Kolo Svarog, the Wheel of Svarog (Svarga is the Starry Sky).

These are Korochun, Komoyeditsa, Kupalo and the day of Svarog.

Day of Slavic veneration of Karachun, celebrated December 21, 22, falls on the day of the winter solstice The shortest day of the year and the longest night.

It is believed that on this day the formidable takes its power Karachun— Slavic deity death, the underground God, commanding frosts, and evil spirits... The servants of the formidable Karachun are rod bears, in which snowstorms turn around, and blizzards-wolves.It is believed that, according to the bear's desire, the icy winter also lasts: the bear will turn in his lair on the other side, which means that winter has exactly half the way to spring. Hence the saying: "At the Solstice, the bear in the den turns from one side to the other."

Yes. I want to say right away - this is not “ancient Slavic holiday Santa Claus". Or rather, not at all the Santa Claus that we are being introduced to now. Waiting for gifts from Grandfather is not worth it.

Especially on Karachun. Unless, of course, you call death to yourself ahead of time. But on the contrary, to give it away is quite appropriate. Putting porridge in a pot out of the window is the smallest and simplest “feeding Frost” that is available to every city dweller.

The winter solstice has held an important place in culture since at least the Neolithic. It is believed that surviving archaeological sites such as, for example, Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland prove this.

Maini axis of both structures points to the point of sunrise (Newgrange) or sunset (Stonehenge) of the sun on the day of the winter solstice (in the area where the structures are located, of course).

The ancient inhabitants of Eastern Europe, and throughout Eurasia, also celebrated the days of the solstice (as well as both equinoxes - Ovsen, Tausen). The winter holiday, celebrated on the day of the winter solstice, has come down to us under the name Kolyada. (The summer solstice was celebrated, in turn, as Kupala, Great day). These days (two solstices and two equinoxes) served as reference points for farming, building, and other activities vital to community life.

Thirteen Nights of Yule

al isa67

December 22 (21) (in 2012 - 21) the shortest day of the year, followed by the shortest long night. It is on the eve of the winter solstice that the beginning of the great Celtic holiday, Yule, coincides. Traditionally, the celebration lasts thirteen nights. In ancient times, it was believed that at this time spirits and deities descend to earth to communicate with mere mortals.

There are different versions of the name of the holiday. Some researchers claim that the word "Yule" (Yule) comes from the Scandinavian "iul" and "hjol", or the Celtic "hweol", which means "wheel" - an allusion to the cycle in nature, the change of seasons. Others associate the holiday with one of the names of the Scandinavian god Odin - Yolmir.

In ancient times, thirteen nights, which counted from the longest night of the year, were called "Nights of the Spirits". Interestingly, they were dedicated to female deities - disas, who were "responsible" for obstetrics and fate. Medieval Germans believed that on this night a deity was born, which they called Solar.

It was believed that on the night before the solstice one should not be alone: ​​after all, on this night, the spirits of the dead and creatures from another world, trolls and elves, visit people. And they could carry with them both good and evil.

“Yule” ends on the “twelfth night” (actually, the thirteenth, as evidenced even by its Old Norse name, Threttandi) - that is, 6th January according to the Christian chronology (if you count from the night of Christian Christmas to and December 25).

Curiously, this New Year (if you count from the winter solstice on December 22) is celebrated on the 9th day (December 31), which is also very symbolic (9 days, as an expression of 9 months of pregnancy and the birth of a new Sun)

Yule's indispensable attribute is the sacred Yule Log.

The log is intertwined with scarlet and green ribbons. Scarlet ribbons symbolize the feminine vitality: as long as a woman can leave scarlet footprints on the white snow, there is always hope that she will revive life. Green color ribbons - a symbol of the triumph of life. The sacred log is lit first and part of the festive supper is cooked either on it or after it has been burned.

But even if the log burns in the hearth, a small piece of it will always be kept: this is the best amulet and protection of the whole house on next year.

This is the darkest night of the year - and at the same time, the most joyful magic happens in these moments.

The sun, which has gone under the ice, drowned in a whirlpool, has reached the bottom.

All our hopes, unfulfilled dreams, all misfortunes - everything has a limit. There is Yule night, the longest of the year. The light will then return.

Look into the bottom of your souls - the golden light is there in the depths. Life and brightness, joy and hope are clearest of all in the darkest hour. It takes courage and faith to recognize the darkness in the World and the darkness within oneself. On the Yule night, the fires of hearths are lit in all lands. But before you kindle the sacred flame, know the essence of darkness. On Yule night, all fires are put out for a while. While the candles are burning, while the firewood is crackling in the fireplace, it seems to us that everyone who has gathered for the holiday at the fireplace is safe: fire gives us light and warmth. But let's put out the candles. Let the hearth burn. What warms us the most? What gives us strength and drives fears away? Warmth and light. The warmth of the hands that will close in a magic circle on Yule night. The light of hearts and smiles will illuminate the darkness. On Yule night we are always with those who are close to us, we shine for them in the dark. There is no darkness but despair. In the darkness of Yule Nights, the Elders of the covens tell the circle tales and stories. The legends of their traditions are composed and re-sung so that those who are now in the audience will then also gather a circle, tell tales and light a fire in the hearth. Kindred souls and the memory of the Family - this is the sacred fire, from which the Priests and Priestesses will kindle the first flame on the Yule night.

The ancient Slavs also celebrated the days of the solstice and equinox.

Kolyada is a pre-Christian Slavic holiday on December 21 (22), associated with the winter solstice and the new year, later superseded or merged with Christmas and Christmas time (Compare lit. Kalėdos - Christmas). Inalienable attributes of the holiday were gifts, dressing up (dressing with the use of skins, masks and horns).

The solar calendar of the Druids / Magi was always accurate, because it was tied not to the number of days in the year (it, like ours today, could change), but to the astronomical events of four days - the summer and winter solstices and the spring and autumn equinoxes, that occur in nature regardless of any calendar.

Little information has been preserved about the ancient calendar of the druids / sorcerers. Sufficiently reliable is known only about their great solar holidays.

The days of these 4 annual astronomical events, so important for people and all nature, were the most important and most sacred pagan holidays of our ancestors.

The emergence of 4 great solar holidays among mankind (celebrated on the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes, summer and winter solstices) dates back to the times of the Upper Paleolithic (the ancient Stone Age of the post-glacial period), therefore, in one form or another, these holidays are present in the cultures of all the peoples of Eurasia and North Africa.

Now in Russia, from the pagan solar holidays of our ancient Slavic pagan ancestors, only the last and most magical 12th Yule Night has remained - now it is our New Year's Eve. But some nations traditionally celebrate Solar holidays to this day.

The four great Slavic pagan holidays, as well as similar holidays of the European pagan religion of the Druids-Sorcerers, are focused on the natural solar cycle, which is expressed in four annually repeated annual incarnations of the Sun God.

Among the Slavs, the annual incarnations of the sun god had the following names:
1) born in the renewed morning after the Night of the winter solstice, the Sun-baby Kolyada,
2) the spring growing Sun-young Yarilo,
3) the mighty summer Sun-husband of Kupail,
4) the aging and weakening autumn Sun-old Svetovit, dying at sunset before the Night of the winter solstice.

The natural borders between the four pagan hypostases of the annually born, gaining strength, then aging and dying pagan god-Sun (four seasons) are annual astronomical events important for the life of our entire planet, on which the natural calendar of the druids-sorcerers was built in former times:
1) Night of the winter solstice (the longest night of the year, after which the day begins to gradually lengthen, the beginning of astronomical winter) - 2nd Night Yule-solstice - the still weak winter Sun-baby Kolyada is reborn renewed at sunrise after the Night of the Winter Solstice and, as the small children's forces grow, every day it rises higher in the sky;
2) The day of the spring equinox (the gradually lengthening day became equal to the night) - the celebration of the onset of the long-awaited Spring Komoyeditsa - the spring Sun-young Yarilo, who has gained strength, melts the snow, drives away the annoying Winter and gives Nature the onset of Spring (the beginning of astronomical spring);
3) Day of the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) - summer holiday Kupail - the mighty summer Sun-husband Kupail comes into his own (beginning of astronomical summer);
4) The day of the autumn equinox (the gradually shortening day became equal to the night) - the autumn holiday Veresen (or Tausen), the beginning of astronomical autumn, - the former summer sun-Kupail turns into the wise autumn Sun-old man Svetovit, who is gradually losing strength, then dying at sunset before Night winter solstice (the beginning of astronomical winter), so that the next morning after this Night it will again be reborn as the renewed sun-baby Kolyada, again gaining its solar power.

IN modern tradition these annual New Year's disappearances of the old and the birth of the new are perceived by people as a symbolic New Year's transmission of the baton of renewed life from the old man of the Old Year to the infant New Year.

This solar cycle, the four Slavic incarnations of the Sun - Kolyada-Yarilo-Kupaila-Svetovit, is repeated from year to year, and the whole life of people, animals, birds, plants and all terrestrial Nature depends on it, as well as on the daily change of day and night. .

Yule-Solstice and Kolyada among the Slavs

Slavic god of the sun, one in four annual seasonal incarnations:
Kolyada-Yarilo-Kupaila-Svetovit.

The night of the winter solstice - when the old sun has already died, and the new one has not yet been born - is a fabulous time of magical spirits and otherworldly forces that must be resisted by a common cheerful feast celebration of the whole clan-tribe, against which dark spirits are powerless.

On the holiday of Yule-Solstice, in the morning after the night of the winter solstice (2nd Yule Night), the Slavs celebrated the birth of Kolyada, the first annual incarnation of one of the main Slavic gods - the god of the sun.
On the 1st Night of the Solstice (Mother's Night) - to help the sun in its upcoming new rebirth after the next 2nd Night - the priests sacrificed domestic birds and animals to the Kolyada sun, which then immediately fell on the festive table. Our ancient ancestors knew how to please the gods and not to forget themselves.
On the night of Kolyada (night of the winter solstice, 2nd Yule Night), the Slavs burned bonfires, lit a sacred fire, which then burned without fading for 12 days until the end of the holiday; with songs, laughter and joyful girlish squeals, they merrily rolled a burning wheel bound with straw from a hill.
Due to the high probability of meeting some kind of spirit these days, it was customary to dress up in costumes made of skins and depict different animals (real and mythical) or put on clothes of people of the opposite sex in order to confuse the spirit when meeting.
On Christmas Kolyada, carolers went from house to house - guys, girls and children dressed up in costumes of "terrible" animals, who sang carols (ritual songs in which they wished well-being to everyone).

Disguised carolers.
Both adults and children went caroling.
In all houses, treats were prepared in advance for carolers.
Groups of carolers competed among themselves who caroled the most.

"Terrible" outfits for caroling were made carefully, competing in their imagination, used them for the holiday from year to year, and many of these outfits were made very skillfully.

Our modern magical New Year's Eve (ending the 12th Yule Night), the festive Christmas tree shining with lights, the Yule wreath (now called the "Christmas wreath"), New Year's candles (Yule lights), the almighty pagan god Santa Claus, masquerade masks and costumes, processions of mummers, confectionery cream, biscuit and chocolate "logs" (symbols of the "Yule log"), Women's Day (in those days - December 20 before the Night of the Winter Solstice) - this is the legacy of the traditions of the great sacred Yule, a cheerful 2-week pagan winter holiday of our ancient ancestors, with which they celebrated the Christmas of the renewed sun-baby Kolyada.

Yule Solstice is the greatest and most sacred 2-week holiday of our pagan ancestors. Now we celebrate only the last, most magical 12th Yule Night - this is our New Year's Eve.

When the late autumn Sun-old man Svetovit becomes completely old and loses its former strength, it will die at sunset before the Night of the Winter Solstice, in order to be reborn again in the morning as a renewed and gradually gaining new strength Baby Sun Kolyada.

The Sun-Svetovit has already died, and the new Sun-Kolyada has not yet been born - this, according tobeliefs of the ancients, a fabulous mystical gap in time, timelessness, in which spirits and dark forces rule.

It is possible to resist these forces only by gathering with the whole family for a joint cheerful feast celebration. Dark spirits are powerless against the general fun.

But woe to that kinsman who will remain alone that night, outside his kind-tribe, without close people nearby - dark spirits will lure him and push him to all sorts of false gloomy thoughts.

The fire of the Great Yule must burn unquenchable for 12 days, starting from the night of the winter solstice.

To help the birth of the new Kolyada Sun, people on the Night of the Winter Solstice (the 2nd Night of the great Yule, the beginning of astronomical winter) lit the sacred Yule Fire - the festive Yule bonfire, which then burned for 12 days until the end of the cheerful 2-week Yule-Solstice celebration. According to tradition, all old and unnecessary things were burned in the fire of this fire, freeing themselves from junk for a new happy life.

According to the dates of the modern calendar, the celebration of this solar holiday began at sunset on December 19 and continued until sunset on January 1.

Many millennia will pass from the appearance of the pagan celebration of Yule-Solstice, andoriginated at the beginning of the 1st millennium in Ancient Judea Christianity in 273 a.d. e. will attribute the most ancient pagan solar festival of the Nativity of the sun-baby Kolyada to himself, declaring it a celebration of the Nativity of the infant Christ. So that the Christian celebration does not coincide with the pagan one, the clergy will establish the Nativity of Christ 3 days later than the Christmas of Kolyada, when a noticeable increase in the length of the day begins.

Whether we like it or not, everyone participates in all the processes taking place in the Universe. Everything that happens affects everyone. Therefore, it is so important to live in harmony with the rhythm of the Universe. This is one of the most important conditions healthy life, prosperity.

Holidays, depending on the time when they come, have different meanings, but all these days are mystical, they are intended for spiritual work. This better 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 summer solstice to winter is night. The beginning of each of these periods is marked by a holiday, calendar ritual actions.

The sun is revered, deified by all peoples. The solstices were used to improve the quality of life, it was the starting point of a new life. Also important are the days of the equinoxes - these are the most important astronomical events, a special energy time, these are the central points connecting the earth's seasons.

Winter solstice, solstice.

2016: The winter solstice begins on December 21, 2016 at 10:45 UTC or 13:45 Moscow time when the Sun enters 0° Capricorn

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

The moment of the solstice is the 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 transitional time, it is for spiritual practices. It is believed that this time is not for material affairs. It greatly contributes to God-centeredness, not ego-centeredness. The winter solstice is 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 the long nights - this is the mystery of the birth of the new, renewal, rebirth, the transition from old life to the 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.

In this energetically special, charged time, you can burn your sins, change your destiny, be reborn, just like a renewed Sun is born again.

In the coming days before the solstice, it is favorable to get rid of everything obsolete, interfering, superfluous (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, favorably make donations, repay debts. IN new life better to go light.

With gratitude to God, with pure thoughts, pure intentions and wishes of happiness.
And in a clean place (you first need to clean the area, get rid of rubbish, debris and dust on physical plane Also). It is very favorable to light lamps, 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 is good to sum up the results of the past year, to thank God for everything that He gives. It is important to get rid of 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, ascent. It is very important to be God-centered, to move away from the hustle and bustle, to turn inward.

Prayer, meditation at this time will have great power, as well as your good intentions, goals for the future. The rhythms of the Universe at this time are very conducive to this. The power of the resurgent Sun, the powerful energy of creation will fill them.

It is favorable to meet the sunrise, to express our respect to him, to congratulate him on his birth, to thank him for his 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 this is done consciously (to discard the negative, the obsolete and create the intention to acquire the bright), then ahead - indeed - the bright path of rebirth, growth.

At this time, the sky opens, strong flows of energy go to the Earth. This is a time of Hope and Opportunity. It is very important to use it for your growth, improvement. This is a time of meditation, prayer, a time of good intentions. Should I miss this chance?

This is a great time to improve, change what needs to be changed; 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.

Christmas time was celebrated in the Slavic tradition.

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

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

Holland celebrates Saint Thomas 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 come to school, otherwise they will tease “sleepy Thomas”. On this special day, even children cannot sleep for a long time

Source: www.chela.ru

Winter solstice - 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 beings to move freely in and out of our world. Although the most severe cold is yet to come (and they are needed to crystallize the intention laid down these days), but the middle of Winter falls precisely on this period. Three days are especially important during this period.

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

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

Night of December 20 - Mother of the past.

Night of the Old Woman Goddess. At this time, it is necessary to perform all cleansing rituals. Rites and rituals aimed at cleansing and protecting the Family also work flawlessly. As well as the Thanksgiving Day of the Gods of household spirits for help.

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

At this time, you should lay a cycle of harmonious connection of the events of your destiny. 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 to 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 an overnight stay.

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

This is the night of the Goddess of the future. Here you lay down what should happen to you. This is the night when you make wishes. You can also return good 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 of negativity like this: " Take off, Mother Goddess, with your own hands, what is tangled on the roots of the family, what is imposed on the roots of the unkind, what is said with unkind lips, that in ignorance the unclean is broken. 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!" Extinguish the candle.

Here you need to pronounce the vow. That is, you promise to do something for the good of the Family. The vow can be anything. Do not drink alcohol in new year's eve, refuse sweets for a period of 10 days, do some business that you all put off until later ..

You just need to think carefully about how you want to make a vow, so as not to break it in any case. Having pronounced a vow, say "For the Good of the Family!"
Before dawn, take three candles and twist them into one in a clockwise direction. As soon as the edge of the solar disk appears in the sky, light a candle and read many times.

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

Darina Oleinik

Astrology

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

Capricorn jumps on sheer cliffs, not at all embarrassed by gorges, landslides, or the absence 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 rock to rock must have under them specific idea that warms Capricorn.

So we need to find between the material and the spiritual these days. You should not focus only on the ideal component of your projects, that is, dreams. It is impossible and headlong into monetization and profit, losing sight of the dream.
If you plan projects for the next year, then taking into account pragmatic earthly moods - 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 that you will take to achieve it. And do it after the Solstice.)))

This solstice can have a transformative effect on people whose significant chart indicators are in the third decade of mutable signs (Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini, Pisces). Now their fate may change course. It is especially important for them to be conscious and honest with themselves and others so that the turn turns out to be good.

The holiday on the Day of the winter solstice, which in 2019 is celebrated on December 21-22 in the Northern Hemisphere, June 20-21 in the Southern, has its roots in ancient times.

For most peoples, this event was regarded as a renewal, a revival of nature. Many cyclic calendars are based on the winter solstice.

This holiday was celebrated by the Germanic tribes, the Celts, the inhabitants of Ancient China, Japan, India. Special rituals accompanied the Winter Solstice among the Slavs, who considered this holiday a time of renewal of the sun, and with it all life on earth, a time of spiritual transformation.

On the holiday on the Day of the winter solstice, people gathered on the hills, burned bonfires, greeted the sunrise, rolled burning wheels, and arranged feasts. It was believed that on this day, which determines what the whole next year will be, the energy of the sun increases and the power of magical actions increases.

On the Day of the winter solstice, our ancestors performed various rituals and read various conspiracies for love, wealth, health, beauty. It was believed that during this period they acquire special energy.

On the Day of the celebration of the winter solstice, dark forces were also endowed with special power, which, according to legend, came close to the world of the living.

The Slavs believed that at this time the formidable Karachun (Korochun) took power - an underground god who commands frost and shortens daylight hours. He touches the windows of houses with his staff - and they are covered with hoarfrost, touches water bodies - and they are covered with ice.

His assistants were rod-bears, blizzard wolves and blizzard birds, which were part of his retinue. According to other beliefs, Karachun was a deity capable of influencing fertility and harvest in the new year.

On the Day of the winter solstice, the Slavic peoples celebrated the pagan New Year, which personified the deity of the sun - Kolyada. Celebrations in his honor lasted approximately 21 days.

On December 21, Kolyad'en was celebrated - the first day of the new year. People made bonfires, arranged feasts and baked ritual New Year's pies of a round shape, reminiscent of a heavenly body. They dressed up in animal clothes and went to the houses of their neighbors, praising them and begging for refreshments.

Carolers were served homemade sausages, lard, pies, boiled eggs and sweets. It was believed that in this way the spirits of the ancestors bless the Slavs and promise them a good year. This tradition in some regions of the country is alive to this day.

After the adoption of Christianity, the holiday on the Day of the winter solstice was timed to coincide with Christmas and Christmas time. It is believed that it is especially favorable for predicting the future, so people traditionally arrange fortune-telling on this day.

The shortest day and longest night of the year traditionally fall on December 21 or 22. Since the time of primitive people, this astrological phenomenon has had great symbolic significance. 2018 is special in that the winter solstice falls on Saturday, December 22, coinciding with the full moon. Therefore, the activity of the Sun on this day will be minimal, but its energy will be extremely powerful. Esotericists warn that the energy of this day will put a lot of pressure on people.

We propose to understand what the winter solstice is from an astronomical point of view, what is the historical and cultural significance of this holiday, as well as what you can and should not do on this day. In addition, we will remind you of the main rites and rituals of this holiday, as well as the main signs that are passed down from generation to generation.

Winter Solstice as an astronomical event

The winter solstice is primarily an astronomical event that occurs when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation away from the Sun is greatest. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is that from the gradual lengthening of the night and the shortening of the day, the Earth goes "in the opposite direction." Depending on the calendar shift, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and on June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Historical and cultural significance of the winter solstice

Historians note the important role of the winter solstice in the life of the primitive community, since people were not sure of a good preparation for the winter and the ability to survive it. In history, the period from January to April is known as the hungry months. Most of the cattle were slaughtered at this time, since there was nothing to feed them during the winter. That is why the time of the winter solstice was the only period of the year when fresh meat was consumed the most. Since then, the winter solstice began to pay special attention. Many peoples have developed cyclic calendars based on the winter solstice. The winter and summer solstice, which the gods met, is also mentioned in Greek mythology.

How was the Winter Solstice celebrated around the world?

The ancient Romans from December 17 to 23 revered the god of agriculture - Saturn. On these days, people stopped all their business, and schoolchildren were sent on vacation.

The ancient Germans believed that it was on this day that the Oak King was reborn, who warmed the frozen earth and gave life to the seeds in the soil. As a sign of respect, people kindled fires, wove baskets from plants and ears of wheat.

The Indians called the winter solstice Sankranti. On this day, they lit bonfires, the flames of which resembled the rays of the Sun.

The Chinese also believed that the winter solstice gives rise to a new cycle, so on this day they rested, went to visit each other, set large tables and ate.

In Scotland, there was a tradition to start a burning "wheel", symbolizing the solstice. The Scots lubricated the barrel with pitch, set it on fire and let it go down the hill, which resembled a fiery star.

What not to do on the winter solstice

A separate place on the shortest day of the year is devoted to cleaning the house. Astrologers advise not to be in a dirty home, otherwise troubles will haunt the whole year. It's time to get rid of old, broken and unnecessary things. The same applies to relationships with people with whom communication is not a joy.

What to do on the winter solstice

Astrologers advise this day to make important decisions and promises or to start a new business. If you are looking for a job - make a resume if you want to lose weight - choose a menu for the week that will meet your goals. There is also a belief, according to which the winter solstice was made to come true.

In addition, on this day, it is advised to decorate the Christmas tree, choosing toys that represent your dreams. Divination will not hurt you either. Fortune-telling on the day of the winter solstice for love is especially effective. It is also recommended to meet and greet the sun.

Ceremonies and Rituals for the Winter Solstice

Ritual for the fulfillment of a wish:

A wish is made at dawn. It is necessary to stand facing the east and look in the direction where the sun rises. Thank the Sun for all the good things in your life and ask for help in the coming year. Make a wish, try to mention as many details as possible. Then imagine that the desire has already been fulfilled, and then tune in to the positive. On this holiday, it is good to make wishes that involve the renewal of life, the attraction of something new.