When is the longest day of the year. What date is the shortest day and longest night

Signs and celebration of the solstice

At different peoples this day was sacred. The pagans considered the sun a deity and worshiped it. Warmth and harvest depend on the sun, which is why people honored it so much. During this period, nature flourished as much as possible and began to bring the first harvest.
In Russia, Ivan Kupala was celebrated at that time, but now, after a shift in calendars, it has been moved to July.

On the day of the summer solstice, people performed various rituals that glorified the sun and contributed to the growth of the crop.

Historians say that they knew about the solstice in ancient Egypt, even the pyramids were built in accordance with the location of the luminary. It is said that such a structure as Stonehenge is associated with the movement and definition of the sun. For the pagans, this holiday is no less important, they celebrate it to this day. Success in many areas of life, as well as health, depends on what rituals were performed on this day.

With the development of civilization, the sun ceased to be perceived as a deity; rather, it became the definition of the season. However, some peoples and individual religions still honor the longest day as the most important of the year. Some countries still celebrate this day, organizing colorful festivities with rituals of kindling a fire and bathing in water.

Celtic beliefs

The Celts had a holiday Lita - it was the middle of summer. At the festival in honor of this holiday, various rituals took place: divination, marriage, communication with spirits, and others. Houses were necessarily decorated, for which fragrant and medicinal herbs, a white lily were used. It was believed that the smell of spicy herbs drives away evil spirits. When evening came, bonfires were lit, processions with torches and jumps over the fire were arranged. Coals from a fire lit for this holiday were kept to carry out various ceremonies. The name is associated with this period. honeymoon because in June the first honey is harvested. At this time, weddings were celebrated, after which replenishment in the family was expected.

Germanic and Scandinavian traditions

This day was also celebrated by the Scandinavian and German peoples. The holiday was called Midsummer Day, and it is similar to the traditions of Lita. People welcomed the Sun, blessed the future harvest and asked that it be plentiful. High fires were kindled, jumps over the fire were made, as well as rituals related to water. The holiday took place until dawn, going to bed that night was considered wrong.

Traditions of Ancient Russia on the day of the solstice

Celebration of the longest day in Ancient Russia was no less interesting. It started within a week. During these seven days, spirits were honored, ancestors were commemorated, and the ashes of dead warriors were scattered over the river. On the very day of the solstice, the Kupala holiday was celebrated, it meant the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The celebration rituals were in many ways similar to the traditions of previous peoples: bonfires were lit, through which they jumped, weaved wreaths and floated them on the water, performed ablutions, called on spirits and asked for a high harvest this year.

After the day of the solstice, the ancient Slavs celebrated the solstice and revered the god Perun, who was one of the most important gods among the Slavs.

Modern traditions

Now the longest day does not have the same meaning as it had for our ancestors, but in 2017 it can be celebrated as interesting holiday. Adherents of paganism conduct their own rites, glorifying nature, to this day, although such a scale as our ancestors did is no longer observed. Ordinary people are also happy to participate in interesting activities.

Surely each of you at least once, but it was interesting when is the shortest and longest day of the year. In fact, the answer to this question is very simple and has been known for a long time. By the way, this phenomenon even has its own name - the day of the solstice.

Solstice types

There are two types of solstice - summer and winter, in which the longest and shortest daylight hours are observed on the surface of the planet, respectively. As for the winter solstice, it occurs in the northern hemisphere of the Earth and occurs either on December 21 or 22 - the length of daylight hours is only 5 hours 53 minutes, after which it begins to grow. Accordingly, the longest night is observed on the same day. The summer solstice can be observed on one of three days - June 20, 21 or 22, it lasts 17 hours 33 minutes, after which the days begin to become shorter and the nights longer.

Solstice Traditions

Interestingly, different traditions are associated with both of these events. For example, in Russia, as well as in some other countries, a holiday called "Kalyada" was popular, dedicated to short day in a year - it was traditionally timed to coincide with Christmas time and Christmas. It all started in her own home, where the eldest in the family baked bread, served kutia and porridge, pies, pretzels, animal figures from wheat dough. By the way, it was also customary for the latter to decorate the premises, to present them to neighbors and loved ones. Only the elders could talk at the table, while the younger ones could only listen and wait until they had the opportunity to get outside and start caroling - this is such a ritual of visiting houses, in which a group of participants sing benevolent songs addressed to the owners of the houses, for which they were supposed to have a tasty meal. treat.

As for the summer solstice, even more interesting things are known about it. So, historians claim that even the ancient Egyptians knew about the longest day of the year, who built their huge pyramids in such a way that the sun would set neatly between the two of them (they say that this phenomenon can be seen if you look at the pyramids from the side of the Sphinx) .

About Stonehenge and the longest day

It is also customary to associate the famous Stonehenge, a British structure located 130 kilometers from London, with the summer solstice. They say that it was built just the same with an eye on the longest day of the year - only then the sun rises over the Hillstone stone, which is located separately from the main circle of stones.

Be that as it may, in modern world the days of the solstices do not have the importance that our ancestors attached to them. However, modern pagans consider them holidays and invariably celebrate them.

December 21 (the date is indicated for 2016) is the day of the winter solstice. The solstice is one of the two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is at its minimum or maximum. There are two solstices in a year - winter and summer. The solstice is one of the two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is at its minimum or maximum. There are two solstices in a year - winter and summer. On the winter solstice, the sun rises to its lowest point on the horizon.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, which is when the shortest day and longest night occur. The moment of the solstice shifts every year, as the duration solar year does not match 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 lasts about 17 hours, a real astronomical winter will come. The sun will descend as much as possible into the southern hemisphere of the sky, that is, moving along the ecliptic, it will reach its lowest declination. The longitude of the day at the latitude of Moscow will be 7 hours. The sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic. This means that after crossing the celestial equator, the luminary will begin its journey to the spring equinox.

During the winter solstice, the sun does not rise at all 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 luminary can only be recognized by the constellations. On December 21, the sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, beginning its journey to the vernal equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.

Day of the winter solstice among the ancient Slavs

The winter solstice has been observed since ancient times. So, in Russian folklore, a proverb is dedicated to this day: the sun - for the summer, winter - for the frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease. According to the winter solstice, they judged the future harvest: frost on the trees - to a rich harvest of grain.

In the 16th century in Russia, the winter solstice was associated interesting rite. The bell warden of the Moscow cathedral, who was responsible for the chiming of the clock, came to bow to the tsar. He reported that from now on the sun turned to summer, the day is added, and the night is reduced. For this good news, the king rewarded the headman with money.

The ancient Slavs on the day of the winter solstice celebrated pagan 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, had to rise higher and higher. The ritual New Year's cake - a loaf - also resembled the sun in shape.

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, an evil spirit, takes his power. The ancient Slavs believed that he commands winter and frost and shortens the daylight hours.

The servants of the formidable Karachun are rod bears, in which snowstorms turn around, and blizzards-wolves. It was 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." Among the people, the concept of "karachun" in the sense of death, death is still used. They say, for example: “a karachun came to him”, “wait for a karachun”, “ask a karachun”, “grabbed a karachun”. On the other hand, the word "karachit" can have the following meanings - backing backwards, crawling, "scrambled" - writhed, crumpled. Perhaps Karachun was called that precisely because he, as it were, forced the daytime to go to reverse side, backing away, crawling, yielding to the night.

Gradually, in the minds of the people, Karachun became close to Frost, who fetters the earth with cold, as if plunging it into a mortal sleep. This is a more harmless image than the harsh Karachun. Frost is simply the master of winter cold.

Winter Solstice in Other Nations

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

On the day of the winter solstice in Scotland it was a custom to launch the sun wheel - "solstice". The barrel was smeared with burning tar and let 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 looked like a luminary.

The winter solstice earlier than all other seasons was determined in China (in Chinese calendar 24 seasons). In ancient China, it was believed that from this time on, 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 brought 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 ancestors, and also ate porridge made from beans and sticky rice to protect themselves from evil spirits and diseases. Until now, the winter solstice is considered one of the traditional Chinese holidays.

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

The calendar of Russian folk signs will take December 21 (December 8, old style) - Anfisa Needlewoman

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

On Anfisa, all girls in Russia were supposed to do needlework: spin, weave, sew, embroider. It was desirable to do this alone, and if it didn’t work out or didn’t want to retire, it was necessary to conduct special rituals from damage.

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

The embroidery itself also had magic power, in which various symbols were often encrypted. So, rhombuses on towels meant fertility; round rosettes and cruciform figures on clothes protected its owner from misfortunes. In traditional embroidery patterns, there are also images of the sun, trees, birds, personifying vitality nature. Our ancestors believed in their strength, believing that they would bring prosperity and prosperity to the house.

The calendar of Russian folk signs will take on December 22 (December 9, according to the old style) - Anna Zimnyaya. Anna Dark. The conception of Saint Anne.

The Church celebrates not only birth, but also conception. From 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 at the Conception of Anna for the harvest. If the snow rolls down to the hedge - a bad summer, and if there is a gap - a fruitful one. December 22 is the shortest day of the year, the day of the solstice.

On the Conception of Anna, pregnant women have a strict fast (on other days, pregnant women are exempted from fasting), avoid any quarrels and troubles, do not catch the eye of the crippled and disabled; you can not kindle a fire, knit, embroider and take on any work, so as not to accidentally harm the unborn child. People who are knowledgeable in these matters assure that the fire kindled on this day can leave a red mark on the body of the child, tangled threads twist his umbilical cord, and the wretched, ugly, seen by his mother, can pass on their injuries to the child. At the Conception, the wolves converge, and after Epiphany they scatter.

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

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2017

the vernal equinox- 20 March 10:29
summer solstice - 21 June 04:24
autumnal equinox- 22 September 20:02
winter solstice - 21 December 16:28

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2018

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

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2019

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

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2020

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

The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere of our planet in 2018 will come on June 21 at 14:07 Tbilisi time. The longest day of the year at the latitude of Tbilisi will last 15 hours and 14 minutes.

The summer solstice marks the beginning of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and, accordingly, winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Solstice

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

FROM astronomical point The summer solstice occurs at the moment when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation becomes the smallest in the direction of the Sun.

Usually the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on June 21, and on leap years- on the 20th. On the day of the summer solstice, the sun will rise above the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere to its greatest height.

During the summer solstice, the luminary remains above the horizon for the longest time, respectively, the inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere on June 21 expect the longest day and the shortest night.

For several days before and after the solstice, the sun almost does not change its declination, its midday heights in the sky are almost unchanged. Hence the name of the solstice.

Then the star will begin to sink to the south, and daylight hours will slowly but surely begin to decrease.

Traditions

For thousands of years, the summer solstice has been of great importance for all peoples. In those distant times, people lived in harmony with natural cycles and organized their lives in accordance with them.

Folk festivals "Kupala fun" near the urban-type settlement Novy Svet in the Starobeshevsky district of the Donetsk region

The tradition of celebrating the summer solstice existed among many peoples. AT different countries the celebration was called differently - Ivan Kupala, Ivanov's day, Leta, Yuhannus, Midsommar and so on.

After the adoption of Christianity, he was timed to coincide with one of the greatest Orthodox holidays- The Nativity of John the Baptist, which was celebrated on July 24 in the old style (in a new way on July 7).

Ivan's Day, according to tradition, began to be celebrated with the onset of night and carried out numerous rituals associated with water, fire and herbs, and, of course, guessed. Many of them have survived to this day.

The main tradition on the night of Ivan Kupala was bathing in water - in the old days, people believed that all evil spirits, starting from this night until Ilyin's day (August 2, according to a new style), left lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Therefore, water was considered healing and possessing magic power and helped to cleanse from all evil and gain good health.

In villages where there was no reservoir nearby, people traditionally took a steam bath, and bath brooms prepared that day were used until the next day of Ivan Kupala. People believed that plants at the solstice had a special power and beneficial effect on people's health.

According to tradition, large bonfires were kindled along the shores of lakes, rivers and reservoirs - according to folk beliefs, fire, like water, at that time possessed magical and cleansing powers and could save people from all evil spirits.

The youth danced round the fires, sang and jumped over the fire. According to tradition, it was believed that the one who, having jumped above all, would not touch the flame, would be happy.

The older generation led livestock between fires, thereby protecting them from disease and death. Mothers burned linen and clothes taken from sick children in bonfires so that they would be healthy.

Having fun and having fun, young people set fire to wooden wheels or tar barrels and rolled them down the mountain or carried them on long poles, symbolizing the solstice.

Pouring water is the most popular tradition these days. People continue to believe that water cleanses a person and washes away illnesses, although the church does not welcome pagan rites.

In order to be healthy and strong all year round, according to tradition, people met the dawn on the day of the summer solstice. Marriages made on this day were considered successful.

Currently, weddings are not played on the summer solstice, since Petrovsky fast falls on June 21 - it prepares believers for the feast day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which Orthodox Church celebrates July 12th.

Signs

According to weather signs, people predicted what the harvest and summer would be like. Rain and thunderstorms on the summer solstice predicted a poor harvest, while cloudy weather indicated a rainy and cold summer.

A lot of dew in the morning, according to signs, was for a rich harvest. By the way, dew was considered healing, so it was collected, and then they drank and washed it.

According to signs, a girl will definitely get married this year if she dances around the fires all night on the summer solstice.

All sorrows and misfortunes will bypass the house if on the day of the solstice at the entrance to the house you hang a bouquet of Ivan da Marya.

According to signs, a wish will come true if you climb over 12 fences on the summer solstice.

People born on the day of the summer solstice, according to signs, will be happy, so they are under the protection of the Sun.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources

The shortest day of the year is December 21 or 22 (depending on the shift in the calendar). It has a special name - "Winter Solstice Day". This is the day of the shortest daylight hours (only 5 hours 53 minutes) and the longest night. From the next day, as you know, it begins to gradually increase. In scientific terms, this is due to the fact that the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation relative to the Sun takes on a maximum value.

In many cultures this day has always been significant event always associated with rebirth. For example, in primitive culture, the beginning of the Solstice was not exactly a joyful day, it was more associated with the onset of hunger. Because primitive people did not really know how much stock they needed to prepare for times of cold weather. In the Early Middle Ages, this was a holiday, as beer and wine were mostly matured by mid-December.

Longest day of the year

The longest day of the year occurs on June 21 or 20. You have probably already noticed that it is light outside even at 23:00. True, then, as with the “winter”, daylight hours begin to slowly decrease, this becomes noticeable already in August.

In the modern world, the days of the winter and summer solstices are not a holiday, but a lot of traditions have survived to this day. For example, carols beloved by children were originally dedicated on December 20, only then they migrated to the post-Christmas weeks until Epiphany (January 19). In ancient Egypt summer solstice the priests were of great importance. In Russia, the holiday is better known as Ivan Kupala Day, when the celebrants bathe, jump over bonfires, guess and look for fern branches (which, according to legend, bloom on this particular holiday).

It is difficult to observe the solstice due to the fact that the sun is slowly moving towards its point. Only very recently have scientists begun to determine the exact time of an event down to the instant.