home Diagnosis and diseases The shortest day of the year: new life begins on the solstice. The longest and shortest day of the year - dates, meanings The shortest day of the year

The shortest day of the year: new life begins on the solstice. The longest and shortest day of the year - dates, meanings The shortest day of the year

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. In a day winter solstice the sun rises to its lowest height above the horizon.

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, as the duration solar year does not coincide with calendar time.

In 2017, the shortest day (winter solstice) will be December 21st. However, this date almost never changes. The only exception is a leap year, then the winter solstice moves to December 22. Since 2017 is not a leap year, this shift will not occur. This means that the date of the winter solstice 2017 is December 21st.

For thousands of years, the winter solstice has been of great importance for all the peoples of our planet, who lived in harmony with natural cycles and organized their lives in accordance with them. Since ancient times, people have revered the Sun, understanding that their life on earth depends on its light and warmth. For them, the winter solstice symbolized the victory of light over darkness.

Thus, in Russian folklore a proverb is dedicated to this day: the sun is for summer, winter is for frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease. The winter solstice was used to judge the future harvest. In the old days, on this day they noticed: frost on the trees meant a rich grain harvest.

In the 16th century in Rus', an interesting ritual was associated with the winter solstice. The bell ringer of the Moscow Cathedral, who was responsible for striking the clock, came to bow to the Tsar. He reported that from now on the sun has turned to summer, the day is increasing, and the night is shortening. For this good news, the king rewarded the headman with money.

The ancient Slavs celebrated paganism on the day of the winter solstice. New Year, he contacted the deity Kolyada. The main attribute of the festival was a bonfire, depicting and invoking the light of the sun, which, after the longest night of the year, was supposed to rise higher and higher. The ritual New Year's pie - loaf - was also shaped like the sun.

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

On the day of the winter solstice in Scotland there was a custom to launch the sun wheel - “solstice”. The barrel was coated with burning resin and sent down the street. The wheel is a symbol of the sun, the spokes of the wheel resembled rays, the rotation of the spokes during movement made the wheel alive and similar to a luminary.

The winter solstice was determined earlier than all other seasons in China (in Chinese calendar 24 seasons). IN ancient China It was believed that from this time the male force of nature rises and a new cycle begins. The winter solstice was considered a happy day worthy of celebration. On this day, everyone - from the emperor to the commoner - went on vacation. The army was put into a state of waiting for orders, border fortresses and trading shops were closed, people visited each other and gave gifts. The Chinese made sacrifices to the God of Heaven and their ancestors, and also ate porridge of beans and glutinous rice to protect themselves from evil spirits and diseases. To this day, the winter solstice is considered one of the traditional Chinese holidays.

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

From this article you will learn when the summer and winter solstices, as well as the autumn and spring equinoxes, occur.

The shortest and longest days throughout the year are called solstice days, which are summer and winter, and the time when days and nights are equal is equinoxes, spring and autumn. Let's find out more about these days.

When, in what month in winter, will daylight hours begin to profit and begin to grow?

Mid-latitude winter solstice in Russia

The shortest day in winter is winter solstice– we’ll be there on December 21 or 22. On one of these days, the shortest day of the year, in the northern hemisphere, in the middle latitudes, it lasts 5 hours and 53 minutes, then the day will increase and the night will decrease.

The closer to the Arctic Circle, the shorter the day. Beyond the Arctic Circle, the sun may not appear at all at this time.

Attention. According to the old style, the winter solstice coincided with Christmas. In the old days, this time was highly revered: they decorated their home festively, prepared kutia from wheat, and baked pies and gingerbreads from the flour of the new harvest. For the New Year and Christmas holidays, they fed spring and summer animals (pig, calf) in order to slaughter them for the Christmastide and prepare delicious meat dishes.

Day at the equator all year round the same in magnitude as the night (12 hours).

As for the southern hemisphere, everything is different there: when we, in the northern latitudes, have the winter solstice, they have the summer solstice.

This is interesting. The winter solstice was first established by Julius Caesar. This happened in 45 BC. Then this day was December 25th.

When, on what date, does the shortest day and the longest night of the year occur, and how long does it last?

The longest day at mid-latitude in Russia and Ukraine

The longest day occurring in a year ( summer solstice ) occurs on June 20, but may occur on June 21 or 22 (depending on the shift in the calendar due to leap year). For Moscow, the length of the day is 17 hours 33 minutes, and then the days begin to get shorter and the nights longer.

How can we explain the summer solstice? This is the day when the sun reaches at noon highest point above the horizon. After this day the sun begins to go down and this continues until December 21st or 22nd.

In ancient times, the following beliefs were associated with this day:

At this time, healers collected medicinal herbs, since the greatest beneficial features plants are appearing right now.
On the night after the summer solstice, the girls cast a spell on their betrothed, and he would certainly show up.
From this day on, it was possible to swim in reservoirs, but previously it was prohibited, since, according to legend, devils sat in the water. From this day they left for a short time, until the holiday of Elijah (August 2).

Note. According to the old style, the summer solstice coincided with Midsummer's Day.

How much will daylight increase after December 22?

The shortest day in winter in middle lane Russia

The shortest day is considered to be December 21 or 22, but in fact the next few days are the same length, and only on December 24-25 the day is added.

At first, the increase in day is imperceptible, since it increases by 1 minute, and then in the evening, and in the morning the sun rises even later, and then the increase in day is noticeable, and on March 20-22, the day becomes the same size as the night, about 12 hours.

Interesting. But on other planets of our Universe, the length of the day on some planets is similar to the Earth’s day, on others it is completely different. Length of day on other planets(in Earth hours):

Jupiter – 9 o'clock
Saturn - close to 10 o'clock
Uranus - close to 13 o'clock
Neptune - close to 15 o'clock
Mars - 24 hours 39 minutes
Mercury is close to 60 of our days
Venus – our 243rd day

From what day do days become longer than nights?

Spring equinox in central Russia

After the day spring equinox, which occurs from March 20 to March 22 (differently each year, due to the leap days), the day becomes longer than the night.

The Slavs associate the holiday of the Forty Saints with the day of the spring equinox. On this day from butter dough they baked birds (larks), and called out to spring, and with it, from distant lands, the first birds.

In many Asian countries (former Soviet republics in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran), the day of the vernal equinox is the New Year.

In Russia (middle latitude), people usually start from the days of the equinox and solstice. Countdown And time of year:

Spring – from the 20th of March to the 20th of June
Summer – from the 20th of June to the 20th of September
Autumn – from the 20th of September to the 20th of December
Winter – from the 20th of December to the 20th of March

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?

The day has been decreasing since June 24

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

When does the night become longer than the day?

Autumn equinox day occurs from September 21 to 23, when the day is the same length as the night, about 12 hours. After this day, the night begins to increase and the day decreases.

After the equinox, the length of the day decreases even more:

At the end of September the day lasts 11 hours 35 minutes
During October, the day will decrease by 2 hours 14 minutes, and at the end of the month it will be 9 hours 16 minutes
During November, the day decreases less intensively, by 1 hour 44 minutes, the length of the day is 7 hours 28 minutes
Until the winter solstice (December 21), the day will decrease by 28 minutes, the length of the day will be 7 hours, and the night will be 17 hours.

It is noteworthy that on days equal in length to the nights (autumn and spring equinoxes), the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west.

So, we found out when the longest and shortest days of the year are.

Video: Days of solstices and equinoxes

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 which is the longest and short night per year.

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 drops to its maximum at Southern Hemisphere Thus, astronomical winter is coming. At the latitude of Moscow, longitude 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. Slavic peoples on the day of the solstice, Karachun (the deity of cold and darkness, the lord of winter) was revered.

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 cultures 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, there is an opportunity to experience beneficial influence solstice day on 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 go to new stage 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. 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...

It is simply impossible to know everything in the world, but the inquisitive human mind always strives to obtain new knowledge and information about the world around us. And in this case we are not talking about exact sciences, logarithms, functions or cell division. A person has always been interested in what is happening around him - simple things, but about which you can always learn a little more.

Not everyone can confidently answer the questions “What is the shortest day of the year? What is the longest day of the year?” Well, sometimes you can still get an answer, but it’s incomplete. This article will discuss exactly this. The reader will be able to find out when the shortest and most long days, and what meaning they had in different cultures.

When those days come

To begin with, it is worth designating the dates when you can observe the shortest and longest days. The period when the longest day, called summer solstice. Typically in the northern hemisphere this day falls on 21st of June. This date may shift by one day leap years. Sometimes the solstice can occur on June 20th.

The shortest day of the year, as you might guess, comes in winter - December 21 or 22. This phenomenon is called winter solstice. At noon on the shortest day, the sun's height above the horizon reaches its minimum. It should also be noted that the winter solstice occurs only in the northern hemisphere. The length of such a day is the shortest in the year and can reach only a couple of hours in some latitudes, after which the length of the day gradually increases.

The summer and winter solstices are not just dates, they have a certain meaning for scientists. It is after the summer solstice that astronomical spring ends and summer begins accordingly. Also, astronomers believe that astronomical winter does not begin on the first of December according to the calendar, namely after the winter solstice.

The meaning of these days in pagan cultures

So atypical compared to others calendar days days were noticed already in antiquity and immediately became certain symbols, harbingers of certain phenomena. In principle, in those distant times, almost all events that could not be explained by people from a scientific point of view turned into various signs and omens.

Astronomical events seemed especially strange and inexplicable to people. Celestial bodies, the appearance of comets, rainbows and even rains in the sky sometimes caused awe and fear in people. It is not surprising that everything inexplicable gave rise in the minds of the population of that time a special meaning associated with the manifestation of divine powers, and immediately gave rise to various myths and prejudices.

Equinox days, and longest and shortest days, could not stay away from the inquisitive human mind. Noticing this oddity over time, our ancestors immediately attached special significance to these events. IN calendar year Such dates occur only four times, which immediately gave rise to certain conclusions in the human consciousness that led to the endowment of these dates with sacred meaning.

It should be noted that when considering the various cultural characteristics of different peoples and tribes, certain similarities associated with these dates can be identified. Indeed, many myths and interpretations may be similar even among cultural communities that are not considered related. There is nothing unusual in this, it’s just that the human mind immediately identified phenomena and events with certain associations, which, in principle, are logical and can be explained.

For example, day of spring equinox came at a time when nature was awakening after winter captivity, as if reviving after death or a serious illness. Our ancestors called this date the moment of resurrection, rebirth. People celebrated and had fun, celebrating the fact that the cold and harsh season had finally given way to sun and warmth.

As you might have guessed, the event of the spring equinox was contrasted with the day of the autumn equinox. At the same time, it contained two meanings that were opposite to each other. As everyone knows, harvest is harvested in autumn, and this was not just a good and favorable event, but a very significant, something grandiose, especially considering the fact that in ancient times people’s food depended very much on the harvests.

The positive significance of the onset of autumn was combined with the beginning of the period of withering of nature, so the day was at the same time associated with death. Halloween is precisely an echo of the holiday of our ancestors, associated with the spirits of the dead, with pumpkins symbolizing the harvest, and masks and frightening robes symbolizing the dead.

The longest and shortest days also were not deprived of the attention of people in ancient times. These days began the countdown of a new time in the year, so most often people associated them with hopes for the future. On these days, sacrifices were made, prayers were offered to the gods and hopes for the best - for prosperity, a good harvest, positive changes.

Dualism of winter and summer solstice

As mentioned just above, the days of the winter and summer solstice also had special significance for our ancestors. Considering that at that time people did not have the ability to track all astronomical phenomena, it should still be noted that they were able to identify the shortest and longest days over time, and also assign them certain values.

The summer solstice was considered a flowering festival, joy, exuberance of life, as well as a celebration of fertility. For people, this date has become a fun and joyful holiday. At the same time, the attitude of our ancestors to the winter solstice turned out to be somewhat contradictory. This was due to the fact that this event had a dark side - it was on the shortest day of the year that, according to people’s beliefs, spirits went on rampage with maximum power. But at the same time, these terrible circumstances were replaced by hope for something better and brighter - it was believed that after the incident of this day, the bright deities came into force.

The traditions of many nations are very similar to each other. The traditional foundations of the Britons, Gauls and ancient Greeks are largely repeated among themselves. Because of this widespread influence on the general culture of the Old World, some pagan customs served as the foundation for the existence of subsequent Christian holidays. Thus, we can say that there was a mixture of traditions.

Summer and winter solstice in Slavic culture

A completely logical question may arise: why are Christian holidays all over the world celebrated on the longest and shortest days of the year? This circumstance can hardly be attributed to a banal coincidence. Even Christmas, one of the most popular holidays in the world, used to be celebrated according to the old style, that is, two weeks earlier. And the expression "Christmas Eve" always had its own sacred meaning.

In Slavic culture, on the longest day of the year, people celebrated a holiday Ivan Kupala. Everyone may have heard about this pagan holiday - yes, it was on this date that people gathered and jumped over the fire, wondered, and also believed that on this day devilry getting stronger. In the calendar of Christian holidays, this day marks the feast of St. John the Baptist. In principle, this is a kind of hybrid of Christian and pagan holidays. Ivan Kupala and John the Baptist, who performed baptismal ceremonies in water, are even somewhat consonant.

Ivan Kupala holiday on the day of the summer solstice in Slavic culture was significant date for single guys and girls. The Slavs paid great importance this festival - it was believed that the marriage union that was concluded on this date would be strong and durable.

The winter solstice, and then the night before Christmas according to the old style, meant high activity dark forces and evil spirits, who then lost their powers after the longest night of the year. Subsequently, the pagan component served as the foundation for the Christian holiday - on this night Jesus was born, personifying the victory over evil spirits and the beginning of daylight.

Video

You will learn more about the longest day of the year in our video.

December 21 (date indicated for 2016) is the winter solstice. 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. 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.

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.

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

After the longest night of the year, which will last about 17 hours, real astronomical winter will begin. 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. The length of the day at the latitude of Moscow will be 7 hours. The sun crosses the 18 o'clock meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic. This means that after crossing the celestial equator, the luminary will begin its path to the spring equinox.

During the winter solstice, the sun does not rise above a latitude of 66.5 degrees - only twilight at these latitudes indicates that it is somewhere below the horizon. At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, and the location of the star can only be determined by the constellations. 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.

Winter Solstice Day among the Ancient Slavs

The winter solstice has been observed since ancient times. Thus, in Russian folklore there is a proverb dedicated to this day: the sun is for summer, winter is for frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease. The winter solstice was used to judge the future harvest: frost on the trees meant a rich grain harvest.

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

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

The servants of the formidable Karachun are connecting rod bears in which snowstorms turn, and blizzard wolves. It was believed that, due to the bear's will, the cold winter continues: if the bear turns on the other side in its den, it means that the winter has exactly half the way to go until spring. Hence the saying: “At Solstice, the bear in its den turns from one side to the other.” The people still use the concept of “karachun” in the sense of death. They say, for example: “karachun has come for him”, “wait for karachun”, “ask karachun”, “enough karachun”. On the other hand, the word “karachit” can have the following meanings: backing away, crawling, “hunched” - writhed, cramped. Perhaps Karachun was called that precisely because he seemed to force daytime go to reverse side, backing away, crawling, yielding to the night.

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

Winter Solstice Day among Other Nations

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

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

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

The Chinese made sacrifices to the God of Heaven and their ancestors, and also ate porridge of beans and glutinous rice to protect themselves from evil spirits and diseases. To this day, the winter solstice is considered one of the traditional Chinese holidays.

Russian folk calendar for December 21 (December 8, old style) - Anfisa Needlewoman

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

After Anfisa, all girls in Rus' were supposed to do handicrafts: spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidering. It was advisable to do this alone, and if it was not possible or you did not want to be alone, special rituals against damage were performed.

A girl sews for Anfisa, but an extra eye while sewing is an evil eye, our ancestors said and advised young needlewomen to wrap a silk thread around their wrist so as not to prick their fingers with a needle. The same ritual protected against yawning and hiccups.

The embroidery itself, in which various kinds of symbols were often encrypted, also had magical powers. Thus, diamonds on towels signified fertility; round rosettes and cross-shaped figures on clothing protected its owner from misfortune. IN traditional patterns embroidery there are also images of the sun, trees, birds, personifying vitality nature. Our ancestors believed in their power, believing that they would bring prosperity and prosperity to the house.

The Russian folk calendar will accept December 22 (December 9, old style) - Anna Zimnyaya. Anna Dark. Conception of Saint Anne.

The Church celebrates not only birth, but also conception. With the Feast of the Conception of Anna, winter begins: autumn ends, winter begins. The beginning of a real harsh winter. In the meantime (lace) on the trees for the Conception of Anna for the harvest. If the snow falls right up to the fence, it’s a bad summer, but if there’s a gap, it’s a fruitful one. December 22 is the shortest day of the year, the solstice day.

On the Conception of Anna, pregnant women must strictly fast (on other days, pregnant women are exempt from fasting), avoid any quarrels and troubles, and avoid being seen by the crippled and disabled; You must not light a fire, knit, embroider or take on any work, so as not to accidentally harm the unborn child. People knowledgeable in these matters claim that the fire kindled on this day can leave a red mark on the child’s body, tangled threads twist his umbilical cord, and the poor, ugly, seen by his mother, can pass on their injuries to the child. The wolves come together at Conception, and after Epiphany they scatter.

The memory of Saint Anna, the parent of Mary, the future Mother of God, is celebrated twice a year: on August 7, a service is held in churches for the assumption of Anna, her death. December 22 is the day of the winter equinox, in the south of Russia it is considered the beginning of winter. A change in the weather is also noticeable: “Sun for summer, winter for frost.” On this morning, services in churches are held more solemnly than on ordinary days, for December 22 is the day “when the Most Holy Theotokos was conceived.”

Equinox and solstice days 2017

the vernal equinox- March 2010:29
summer solstice - June 21 04:24
autumn equinox- September 22 20:02
winter solstice - December 21 16:28

Equinox and solstice days 2018

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

Equinox and solstice days 2019

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

Equinox and solstice days 2020

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

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