Winter solstice. Winter solstice day, carol or white Christmastide. Dear friends, the most energetically charged period of time begins, which really changes our destiny by activating our consciousness. This happens thanks to nature itself and its

Solstice is one of two days a year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is minimum or maximum. There are two solstices in the year - winter and summer.

On the day of the winter solstice, the sun rises to its lowest height above the horizon. The astronomical longitude of the sun on the winter and summer solstice is 90 and 270 degrees, respectively.

Astronomical winter

For astronomers, this is the beginning of winter, although optimists quite reasonably believe that since the winter solstice everyone is slowly but surely approaching summer.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, when the shortest day and longest night occur. The moment of the solstice shifts every year, since the length of the solar year does not coincide with calendar time.

Since prehistoric times, the winter solstice has been celebrated as an extremely important event. Many cultures celebrated the birth of the Sun and the New Year on this day.

In different countries

Ancient people, who were in close contact with nature, were convinced that on the day of the winter solstice they could radically change their fate, fulfill many cherished desires and even receive the support of higher powers.

People believed that on the day of the winter solstice, barriers between the ghostly world and the kingdom of the living were erased, giving people the opportunity to directly communicate with spirits and gods.

In Persia, on this day the birth of Mithras, the sun god, was celebrated. According to tradition, it annually defeats winter and clears the way for the coming spring.

For pagan Europe, the winter solstice was marked by a twelve-day cycle of sacred Yule celebrations, a symbol of the sacrament of renewal of nature and the beginning of a new life.

It was believed that on the night of the Yule holiday, all worlds converge in Midgard, all gods and goddesses descend to earth, trolls and elves talk to people, and the dead emerge from the Lower Worlds. People who communicate with the Other World leave their bodies and temporarily join the riders of the Wild Hunt or become werewolves or other spirits.

The inhabitants of ancient China 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; appropriate ceremonies and rituals were carried out in order to protect oneself 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.

This day has been considered a holiday among the Slavs since ancient times. In pre-Christian Rus', the arrival of the pagan new year was celebrated at the winter solstice. He was associated with the birth of Dazhdbog - the son of the supreme blacksmith god Svarog - who gives people warmth and light.

People believed that the Sun was stopped on this day by the formidable frost god Karachun, who became the prototype of the present-day Santa Claus. The rituals performed on the longest night were designed to help the Sun overcome the cruel Karachun, personifying the victory of Light over Darkness. At the same time, fearing to anger and offend the harsh god of winter, people appeased him, not forgetting to present sacrificial food.

The birth of the god of fun Kolyada also occurred on the day of the winter solstice. The holiday of the beginning of the first month of winter - Kolyadnya - was celebrated until January 6, traditionally calling these days "Carols".

The pie that was baked on this day resembled the same Sun in shape. A huge fire was lit, the flames of which, flying high, called on the sun to begin its work.

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.

Traditions and rituals

Celebrating the winter solstice in the traditions of different nations has much in common. The central place has always been given to the customs of remembrance, attempts to win the favor of the forces that visited the world on the darkest night.

Many of the rituals of antiquity have survived to this day. For example, the New Year tree became the “heir” of the decorated tree, which symbolized life - the main attribute of Yule.

The tradition of giving gifts, carols and food on Christmas Day reflects the ceremonies of sacrifice. And New Year's lights and candles now represent bonfires, which were intended to both protect and help in communicating with spirits and mysterious forces.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

21.12.2016 16:01

December 21 is the winter solstice. Today is the shortest day and the longest night.

The moment of the solstice shifts every year, since the length of the solar year does not coincide with calendar time.

In 2016, the winter solstice begins on December 21st. The Sun, moving along the ecliptic, at this moment will reach its most distant position from the celestial equator towards the South Pole of the world. Astronomical winter will begin in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. During these December days, the polar night begins above the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees north latitude), which does not necessarily mean complete darkness for the entire day. Its main feature is that the Sun does not rise above the horizon.

At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, and the location of the star can only be determined by the constellations. The picture is completely different in the area of the Earth's South Pole: in Antarctica at this time the day lasts around the clock. On December 21, the Sun crosses the 18 o'clock meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, beginning its journey towards the spring equinox, when it crosses the celestial equator.

Different cultures interpreted the winter solstice differently, but most peoples perceived it as a rebirth, ushering in a new beginning. At this time, holidays and meetings were held, appropriate rituals were held, and celebrations were held with songs and dances.

Solstice and equinox were among the most revered days among the ancient Slavs, since they personified the hypostases of Dazhbog. 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 was considered the patroness of all nights.

During the winter solstice, the Slavs celebrated the pagan New Year, which was personified with the deity Kolyada. The main 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.

In Europe, pagan festivals kicked off a 12-day cycle of magnificent festivities, marking the beginning of the renewal of nature and the beginning of a new life.

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

Full Moon and Summer Solstice

On the night of June 20 to June 21, we will witness an event that has not been seen since 1967 - the full moon at the same time as the June solstice.

The Sun reaches its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the start of northern summer, and its lowest point in the Southern Hemisphere, marking the start of southern winter.

12 hours before this, the Moon will reach full phase and rise again on the night of Monday to Tuesday, 99% illuminated.
The last time two astronomical events coincided was 49 years ago on June 22, 1967.

The next time this happens will be 46 years later, on June 21, 2062.

Why do solstice and full moon so rarely coincide? The full moon occurs quite often between June 20 and 22, but the date of the June solstice “jumps” within the interval, which is why coincidences are so rare.

How to improve energy on the summer solstice

In order not to encounter a problem on the longest day of the leap year, it is better to acquire a talisman as early as possible. You can do this even from the evening of the previous day, meeting the first summer Full Moon.

You should not choose a talisman at random, but based on your plans and desires. For example, if you are a creative person, and you cannot lose inspiration in your search, and there is not enough support under your feet, the Sun will help you.

Wear gold jewelry, use yellow things, put a positive sun on your computer or phone screen.

And if you have a serious step scheduled for this day, an important exam, a meeting on which the future depends, Mars will help with this, even when the Sun intensifies its influence. Help them come to an agreement, add a touch of red to your image.

Finally, the Moon can help make dreams come true, and the Full Moon is a very good time for money rituals. It is unlikely that Mars, who is not indifferent to benefits, or the generous Sun will be against the fact that you decide to increase your finances with the help of the Full Moon.

The full moon peaks on June 20 at 14.02 Moscow time.
The summer solstice will fall on June 21, 01.34 Moscow time.

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On the night of June 21-22, the Celts celebrated a holiday called Litha. The Druid evening began with bonfires. It was believed that on this day the Sun has the greatest strength, then the strength will decrease.

The Lita holiday is the celebration of the Sun, it is the road to the light. It is believed that the period from the Lita holiday to the Yula holiday is a very good time for good magic, communication with good spirits and fairies.

Nature reveals itself in all its power.

This holiday is one of the portals from which forces carrying various information penetrate. During the day, many wreaths were woven from various flowers, and in the evening people burned bonfires, letting good spirits bringing light into the world.

Now, according to the Celtic tradition, you can carry out a ritual of cleansing your subtle bodies in order to attract the energy of health, well-being and a lot of children's laughter into the house.

During this period, you can perform rituals to cleanse ancestral energies.

It is believed that during this period the Sun rises into the sky, sits on its Throne, and all the Fairies sing songs to it, so that there would be a lot of children's laughter and fewer children's tears on earth.

You can also perform rituals on the Day of Power. They are necessary in order to change the energetic direction of circumstances.

A person has creative potential, divine energy, when a ritual is performed, then at the same moment the energy of the Soul and the Universe of the soul is united, circumstances fill it with new energy and are more likely to be realized on Earth.

At this moment, consciousness turns off, filters are removed, and a person connects with the energy of the Universe.

What can be done during this period?

There are meta cards, a Celtic deck, you can choose a card for a given period. Fire is a meditation, best done in the morning. You can imagine fire, its power. Power, courage, readiness.

This meditation gives health and confidence. This meditation gives a powerful transformation. You can imagine how a ray of Love bursts out of you and merges with Fire on a symbol, then the Fire flares up with even greater power.

A huge force bursts out of the fire, which envelops you, protects you, structures your aura and fills it with health. This meditation can be done every day until October.

In this meditation, you allow your subtle body to connect with the inner hero who is always ready to overcome and win. This meditation also helps to accept changes in yourself and others.

http://magicjupiter.nethouse.ru/

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The summer solstice in 2016 is June 20 or 21, depending on the time zone. It begins when the Sun enters 0 degrees of the zodiac sign Cancer, this happens on June 20 at 22:35 UTC or June 21 at 01:35 Moscow time.

On this day, the ancient pagan holidays of Midsummer, Kupala, and Lita were celebrated.

The summer solstice is one of the four main solar points of the year. Others are the winter solstice, when the Sun enters 0 degrees Capricorn, the spring equinox, when the Sun enters 0 degrees Aries, and the autumn equinox, when the Sun enters 0 degrees Libra.

For those who work on self-development, these days are very important.

On the summer solstice, solar energy intensifies and the potential for magic, ritual and meditation increases dramatically.

What kind of magic is Summer Solstice Day suitable for?
Solar magic rituals are greatly enhanced. For example, on this day you can make a Sun talisman for yourself.

Opportunities for communication with astral entities: elves, fairies, gnomes, etc. are enhanced on this day.

Subtle communication with the astral world occurs much easier.

Fortune telling on the day and night of the summer solstice is much more accurate. Fortune telling using Tarot cards and Runes is especially suitable. Love fortune telling gives truthful answers.

Love magic spells work much better on the summer solstice.

For love magic, collect seven different herbs and flowers and sew them into an amulet. Flowers of calendula, lavender, rosemary, sunflower, leaves of fern, verbena, oak, rowan, etc. have properties that attract love on this day.

The traditional magical colors of this day are yellow and red; red and pink flowers are also suitable for love magic. On this day you can perform a ritual to attract love.

This is a powerful magical time for rituals with crystals, stones using solar energy.

This day is very good for starting healing work, because the Sun is an esoteric healer.

Collecting herbs for magic, especially those used for solar magic, fire magic, and healing.

Solar herbs collected at this time have powerful healing powers: wormwood, burdock, St. John's wort, mistletoe, dill, parsley, green onions, thyme, honeysuckle, hyssop, nettle, meadowsweet.

And some, such as nettle, rowan, burdock, and dill, are used at home to protect against evil. On the day of the summer solstice, you can perform a ritual to protect your home.

The night before the summer solstice is a magical time.

To celebrate the solstice, rituals are performed at night on the eve of this day. This is the time when the veil between our world and the parallel world becomes thin, allowing magic, spirits and fairies to permeate our world.

In ancient times, celebrations of the summer solstice almost always included ritual bonfires. The tradition of jumping over the fire has been preserved from ancient times to the present day.

Nowadays, not everyone has the opportunity to make a fire, but you can light yellow or orange candles. The element of fire symbolizes vitality and life itself.

Winter solstice. - On the calendar end of November, which means that there is less than a month left until the Winter Solstice. For those who are not in the know, I will say that on the day of the Winter Solstice there will be a change in annual energies according to the theory of Bazi and Qi Men. This year this day falls on December 21, 2016. At 13:50 Moscow time, the Fire Monkey gives up its place of honor To the Fire Rooster! Who will be lucky in the Rooster, and who will be mercilessly pecked where it hurts most, it’s interesting to know?

I'll start with something pleasant - with luck: 1. Rats, Monkeys and Dragons will be lucky in romantic and love relationships. For these people, the rooster is the “flower of romance,” so in 2017 these people will have extraordinary luck on the love front. They will be noticeable to the opposite sex and incredibly attractive. 2. If you were born in the year (day) of the Snake or Ox, good luck will also smile on you in 2017, especially if the Metal element is favorable for you. 3. If you were born in the year (day) of the Monkey or the Dragon, and the Metal element is favorable for you, then you will also experience success in the coming year. 4. If you were born in the year (day) of Yin Metal, then the year of the Rooster is the “star of Reward” for you. The coming year will bring you success in your career. Especially if you already have your own business or are planning to start such a business in 2017. 5. If you were born in the year or day of Yang Fire/Yin Fire, then the coming year of the Fire Rooster is the year of the Noble Person for you. This means that for a whole year in the heavenly office they hear you, help you and support you as much as possible! 6. If you were born in the year (day) of Yin Fire/Yin Earth, then the Rooster for you is the “symbolic star” of the Academician. This means that throughout the whole year you will experience success in the field of education. If your plans for 2017 include the item “get additional education,” be sure to take advantage of this luck from heaven. Who does the Rooster dislike in 2017 and who can he attack? First of all - 1. The Rooster does not like Rabbits (year or birthday). These people will be uncomfortable in 2017, especially if the elements of Metal or Fire are harmful to them. In second place is the Dog. People born in the year or day of this animal during 2017 will feel discomfort. 3. Tigers and Bulls are not particularly lucky in the year of the Rooster, but if the Fire element is favorable for you, then the Rooster will not prevent you from achieving success in 2017. 4. If you were born in the year of the Pig or Goat, and the element of Fire is favorable for you, the year of the Rooster will be very comfortable for you, especially if you decide start a family this year.

In the Bazi chart for the coming 2017, active, bright, active

Metal is constantly in conflict with the element of the year, the weak Yin Fire. Fire by nature melts, subjugates Metal (money), but because There is a lot of metal, and it is active; the elements of Fire are very difficult to control and subjugate. That is why money issues come to the fore in 2017. Everything related to business and money will be difficult to control for a whole year. Well, you need to understand that the forecast I voiced is very general, and therefore may not be correct for you personally. Each person’s chart has its own nuances that can radically change the picture. Only an individual forecast calculated using your card can provide complete information. I will tell you about this forecast in the next newsletter.

Solstice and equinox in the northern hemisphere 2016 - 2020... - The 2016 spring and autumn equinoxes are an astronomical phenomenon in which day equals night, marking the change of seasons, like the summer and winter solstices. We know that the spring and autumn equinoxes occur precisely at the moment when our Sun, in its annual movement across the sky, crosses the celestial equator. These points are respectively located in the constellations Pisces and Virgo.

About dayssolstice and solstice.- The summer and winter solstices are marked by the greatest distance of the Sun from the celestial equator. Accordingly, these points are located at this moment in the constellations of Taurus and Sagittarius. The point of the summer solstice moved according to astronomical calculations to the constellation Taurus quite recently, only in 1988. Before this, the point of summer opposition was in the constellation Gemini. A rather slow shift in the points of the equinoxes and solstices occurs mainly as a result of precession, which means that the directions of the earth’s axis gradually change, occurring under the influence of the gravity of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. Speaking about the dates of spring and autumn equinox, It is necessary to distinguish between the date according to universal time (Greenwich Mean Time), as well as the date of the time zone of the area where you live. If, for example, the spring or autumn equinox occurred before 24:00 GMT, in countries located west of the prime meridian this day has not yet arrived, which means that according to local time, the onset of the equinox will be considered 1 day earlier. If the equinox occurs later than 24:00 GMT, then in those countries that are located east of the prime meridian, the next day will have already arrived, which means the date of the equinox will be 1 day later. Below, in the table we provide, you can see the exact dates of the spring and autumn equinoxes, just like the winter and summer solstices for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The times below are given in Greenwich Mean Time.

Equinox and solstice days 2016

Equinox and solstice days 2017

Equinox and solstice days 2018

Equinox and solstice days 2019

Equinox and solstice days 2020

There are things in our world that are unchangeable and certain. These include: spring and autumn equinox, winter and summer solstices. The winter solstice is a kind of astronomical event, the moment the center of the Sun passes through the points of the ecliptic that are most distant from the equator of the celestial sphere and are called solstice points. 21 andDecember 22 is the shortest days of the year. From 21 to 22 December is the longest night. The sun will descend to its maximum in the southern hemisphere of the sky, that is, moving along the ecliptic, it will reach its lowest declination - and astronomical winter will begin. During the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, the Sun remains least above the horizon. In astrology, it is believed that this particular date is the real beginning of winter. According to many customs, this is also the real beginning of the New Year: and this is logical, before this the sun was decreasing, the length of the day was decreasing, but now the day is starting to increase, there is more sun - real birthSunshine, and with it the New Year! Living in close contact with nature, subordinating their lives to cosmic rhythms, peoples used this time as a starting point for improving the quality of their lives. The ancient Russian calendar was based on the phenomena of four seasonal hypostases of the Sun: Kolyada - Yarilo - Kupaila - Svetovit, tied to four astronomical solar events of the year:

weak winter sun-baby Kolyada - born renewed on the morning after the Night of the Winter Solstice,
on the Day of the Spring Equinox, the young sun Yarilo turns into a stronger man,
on the Day of the Summer Solstice turns into the mighty sun-husband Kupail,
on the Day of the Autumn Equinox, he turns into the aging and weakening wise autumn sun-old man Svetovit, dying at sunset before the Night of the Winter Solstice, in order to be reborn the next morning as the renewed baby sun Kolyada, again gaining his solar power.

But were our ancestors at a low level of culture (as, in particular, D.K. Zelenin believed) when they celebrated Russian holidays? In their ritual complexes, was not that Great knowledge of the laws of the cosmos preserved and preserved, which our wise ancestors wanted to convey to us - their descendants? Scientists today fully assume that in rituals Winter Christmastide, Maslenitsa and Trinity Kupala cycle, those, as physicists call them, “phase transitions” through which the primary structure passes are recorded Universe- the cosmic ocean in its constructive, creative process. Winter Christmastide is a stable, motionless crystal form that potentially carries all possibilities. She is ruled by the masculine principle - Father Frost, about which A.S. Famintsyn in his book “The Deities of the Ancient Slavs” wrote: “According to the Russian villagers, the sun is a fire supported by the Grandfather, under whose name, therefore, in this case one should understand the supreme heavenly God.” Maslenitsa or Red Hill, which in ancient times always ended on the Day of the Vernal Equinox. This is the movement of melted snow and ice, the transition from a crystalline potential form to an active, liquid form, which is ruled by the creative feminine principle - the Mother-in-law. And finally, Green Christmastide or Semik and Trinity. Here is another transformation of the gradual transformation of water into steam, plasma, and then in Svet. Let's remember biology. After all, it is Light that gives birth to living life - green leaves and grass. And this whole “phase complex” ends with Kupala Night, when the process of reincarnation of those who must return to our world as newborn children, that is, people, begins.

Everything is very logical: Crystal - Water - Ionized steam- Light - Green leaf (tree, herbs) - Human. And at the same time, the starting point is precisely the crystal. After all, this term itself literally means “frozen light.” And, therefore, a Man who has achieved “frozen light”, acquired a “light body”, i.e. “saint” - Rishi (or Rasha) is: a Sage who has comprehended the Main Meaning of the Universe - the eternal and endless cycle of life! There are things in our world that are unchangeable and certain. These include: spring and autumn equinox, winter and summer solstices.

WINTER SOLSTICE. December 22. - On the day of the winter solstice, the light embodied in the Sun begins to rise from the very depths, highlighting the axis on which all layers of existence are strung. The turning, which occurs in the very center of the night of the year, has a special power, by joining which, all living things will begin their ascent to manifestation. By witnessing this event, we give ourselves the opportunity to participate in the deepest rhythms of our lives, to keep up with the times from the very beginning, rather than waking up in the middle of an old act of life's drama, asking, “What is going on here?”

The main thing on this day is to feel this turn, to reproduce it as some kind of internal movement.

If you set yourself such a goal, then how to accomplish it, options will come. Allow your creativity and your sunny side to show here, this is important. The day should not go “as usual”, put a little more of your strength into it, show up in it a little brighter than yesterday. Do something in it that you never got around to doing before. But this task should not be cumbersome and take a lot of energy out of you. Just to feel that there are a little more of them, and try to get joy from it.

The days around the winter solstice are the best days of the year when you can really change your destiny. That is, to be reborn in the same way as the Sun, to discard everything unnecessary and give rise to a new one.

Three days before December 21 and three after are energetically charged times. Strong flows of energy descend on the Earth. Therefore, in the days preceding the winter solstice, it is favorable to get rid of everything unnecessary. This can be done mentally, but it is better to write on paper everything you want to get rid of and burn it. It is also beneficial to cleanse your home and yourself before this day, and find time to cleanse your thoughts. Wish happiness to your loved ones, family, friends - this is the simplest thing you can do these days. After this, it is very favorable to make plans for the whole year (preferably written down in a notebook), make wishes, use intentions, and conduct meditations for yourself and for the whole Earth. On this day, you definitely need to find time to touch the depths of your life. Step back from the superficial hustle and bustle of everyday life and pay attention to what is happening inside you, in your life. And starting from this foundation, find what ideas of yours are waiting to be born, brought to life, what is ready to become a plan for the future. Plans, compiled on this day and for the whole year, have special power - after all, you fill them with the power of the growing Sun. It is advisable to write down these plans and save them. During the Solstice, it is favorable to make wishes, use intentions, and conduct meditations for yourself and for the whole Earth. All this will have special power thanks to the natural rhythms. And on December 22nd in the morning, try to meet the sunrise and congratulate it on its birth, thank it for everything it gives us.

Designation of points. - The points of the winter and summer solstices are designated by zodiac symbols corresponding to the constellations in which they were located at the time of Hipparchus (as a result of the anticipation of the equinoxes, these points have shifted and are now located, respectively, in the constellations Sagittarius and Taurus, and the point of the summer solstice has moved to the constellation Taurus from the constellation Gemini relatively recently - in the fall of 1988): the winter solstice - the sign of Capricorn (), the summer solstice - the sign of Cancer ().

Solstice(solstice) - the Old Russian name for the solstice. Corresponded to the moment the Sun “turned” towards profit or decline of the day. In Rus' and in many European countries, the winter solstice was celebrated as a celebration of the birth of the sun.

Solstice:
1. Sun (Rotator).
2. All that universe that lives according to the law of a given time (Solstice is turned to the east) and space (Solstice, that is, Nature).
3. Cult Sign of the Slovenian Family (song “Wolf Solstice”).
4. A medical symbol, it encrypts the movement of biological time, the process of growth and aging. The circle of metabolism of the circulatory system, the respiratory cycle and the activity of the lymphatic system, etc.
5. A holiday among the ancient Slavs, dividing the year into a period of life and a period of death.
Summer solstice- Midsummer holiday, the shortest night of the year, the celebration of the Great Light. On the night of June 20 to 21 (from 21 to 22) dreams and reality mix with each other. This is one of the most important and widespread solar holidays.
The night before the Summer Solstice is “a time for great Magic and great Power.” On this day, medicinal herbs are collected. Plants - a combination of mistletoe with oak, St. John's wort, rose, fern. Celtic festival of Oak. June 20-23 are the shortest nights of the year. These nights are full of energy and magic. June 21 is considered an important turning point on the Wheel of the Year. Reality and dreams are mixed, the boundaries between worlds are thinning. This day symbolizes the highest point, maximum peak, rise, takeoff, ecstasy, both in nature and in human life. The holiday embodies fertility, abundance, glory, triumph, generosity, fullness of life, happiness. Cheerfulness, love of life, and fun reign on this shortest of earthly nights. From a mystical point of view, this holiday combines all four elements at once - fire, water, earth, air. Therefore, the Spirits of these elements rejoice and have fun with people. In ancient times, people celebrated this night in order to gain their strength and energy through rituals and ceremonies of worship of the Elements. For example, it was believed that the earth provides a solid foundation in life, self-confidence, and fertility. However, the main essence of this holiday is that people learn to enjoy life, love it, and enjoy it. This helps your heart open up and feel happiness. On this holiday it is customary to go outdoors, closer to the water. Until dawn, fires blaze, laughter is heard, and cheerful songs ring. Ritual bathing, flower wreaths, dancing around the fire - all these are elements without which we cannot imagine a holiday. In addition, Midsummer is a good time for the initiation of youth, for the first stage of initiation - initiation into the magic circle. This night is good for love, but not for special fertility rituals, but simply for making love for your own pleasure. Running naked at dawn on the grass wet with dew and splashing your sexual energy across the fields and forests is a good remedy for infertility and a guarantee of strong, healthy offspring in the future. On this holiday, a sacrificial effigy is created and burned. It could be Wicker Man, as the Celts make it, i.e. a wicker man in which sacrifices are placed. Such an effigy is burned with the first rays of the sun. This could be a straw (or last year's hay) scarecrow on a cross. This is placed in the center of the fire, which is lit at the beginning of the night. In any case, this is a sacrifice to the Gods of Fertility, so that the harvest is bountiful and neither prolonged rains nor hail spoil it.

Solstice is an important date that has both astronomical and energetic significance. December 21st represents a special day when another “new” winter begins.

December 21st is an important date for the ancient Celts. This people celebrated the New Year on the day of the winter solstice. The holiday was called Yule. On the night of December 20-21, all words that people utter are perceived by the Universe more strictly, according to the Celts. Yule begins the so-called Wheel of the Year - a series of 8 Celtic holidays.

New beginning of winter

As the sages said from ancient times, winter first comes in the soul of every person, when he is ready psychologically and morally for the cold and for change. The second step in the onset of winter is the immediate cooling and snowfall. When the earth turns white, visible winter begins, which has a special energy. Then calendar winter comes, when December 1 seems to speak of something important. On this day you understand that the end of the year is approaching, that it is time to start changing yourself from the inside. The arrival of winter ends with the astronomical winter, when on December 21 the night dominates the day.

On this day, the black cold of space envelops the northern hemisphere of the Earth for as long as possible. Afterwards, the day will begin to grow, but before it begins to recover, it will suffer complete and unconditional defeat. In the eastern calendar, the winter solstice also plays a decisive role, since the date of the New Year depends on it. Unlike the Celts, the Chinese and neighboring peoples choose a date based on the lunar calendar. The New Year traditionally comes, in accordance with their rules, on the second new moon after December 21st. In 2016, this date will be January 28, when the Fire Rooster comes into force.

Astronomy and astrology about the Solstice

In astronomical terms, the Solstice is not a whole day, but the moment when the Earth passes the fourth and final point of the ecliptic around the Sun. In 2016, Moscow time, the Earth will pass this “winter” point of its orbit at approximately 13 hours 41 minutes.

Psychics have never stood on the sidelines, talking about how the December Solstice changes us. In their opinion, people are charged with positive energy on such days, because changes are good from an energetic point of view. The world does not stand still - literally and figuratively.

Astrologers also say that the Solstice is positive. It is especially positive on the waning Moon and the New Moon. This time, December 21 will be the day of the waning of the lunar disk. The Moon will be helped by Libra, a sign that loves change more than any other. Try to devote this day to changing your appearance. Go shopping, visit the hairdresser or simply allow yourself to wear something extraordinary.

Increase your energy on this day. On December 21, astrologers and psychologists advise planning things for the future. Don't miss the chance to buy gifts for your loved ones. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and