After a difficult year, full of events and work, rest is coming. And this is not a summer vacation, accessible to almost every working person. It's about the winter holidays. It is considered to be New Year and Christmas, but they begin even from the first days of December.
Besides the fact that December is the month with the shortest day, it is rich in many church holidays that have come to us since ancient times, and are quite modern. These include the Day of St. Catherine the Great Martyr, St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Nicholas, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, World AIDS Day, Day of the Marketer, Banker and many others.
December is a month of snow, frost, rituals and holidays
The busy schedule of holidays per month with the shortest day is so saturated that many of them are unfamiliar to the layman. A gradual departure from centuries-old traditions causes the loss of many rites and beliefs. In December, it was always customary to guess. Moreover, these activities were carried out not only with the aim of getting to know your fiancé, to find love, but also related to everyday problems - a good season for agricultural work, gardening, beekeeping, the health of all family members, their well-being. On certain days, prayers were said, for example, on December 25 it was impossible to do household chores, the day was dedicated to rest as a tribute to future fertility. But the 14th day, falling a month with the shortest day of the year, was under the auspices of Naum, our ancestors considered him to be a patron in literacy and science.
There were quite outlandish beliefs inherent in the December calendar. On the eighth of all things had to be started on an empty stomach, this, according to people's beliefs, promised success all year round. On the day of the Witch gatherings, falling on December 26, it was strictly forbidden to swear, deceive, slander and swearingly. Otherwise, the witch could send trouble to the house.
When does the winter solstice occur?
Here is such an interesting December. The fact that people noticed and superimposed on their everyday way of life is scientifically justified in our time. First of all, the month with the shortest day that can fall on December 21 and 22 means the winter solstice. What does it mean? Astrologers interpret the winter solstice as the most remote position of the center of the sun from the equator. For earthlings from the northern hemisphere, this day is important, because it ends the gradual decrease in light time of the day, being the shortest (it lasts only 5 hours 53 minutes). Starting the next day, the sun will begin to rise earlier and set over the horizon a little later, thereby prolonging daytime. This date floats due to a shift in the number of days in a year. In the leap year, the solstice occurs on the 22nd, and in the rest on December 21st.
Evil spirit Karachun - lord of winter
The Slavs, for many centuries observing changes in nature and weather, determined which month with the shortest day. Before the baptism of Rus, our great-grandfathers worshiped various gods. One of them was called Karachun. It was this deity who belonged to the unfriendly, commanded the cold, frost, death, shortened the sunny day. The rites with which the villagers tried to appease him took place on the day of the winter solstice. Most often, during this time, the most severe frosts, blizzards and snowstorms occurred. His faithful servants helped Karachun in this. The villagers justifiably feared wild animals, all unknown. Therefore, it was predatory wolves and bears that were considered to be helpers of the evil spirit. Wolves wailed a blizzard with strong winds, a blizzard, howling and causing fear. A connecting rod bear called a crushing storm and could mark the overcoming of half the winter. Turning to the other side, he brought closer the spring.
Winter Solstice - the first day of winter
According to all the rules, calendar, weather, it is considered that winter begins on the first of December. But astrologers in their calculations and work adhere to a different date, although it falls on the same month. With the shortest day of the year, winter is also believed to come. It is December 21 that the sun changes its direction of motion. It is interesting that in the days leading up to the solstice it really seems to freeze and at noon has almost the same location with respect to the equator.
Holiday of the shortest day in our time
Different countries treat this day in their own way on the calendar, but few ignore it. To appease the stars, it is customary not to forget about the winter solstice, as, however, about the summer solstice, which falls on June 21. Before the transition to a new calendar style in 1918, it was on this day that Ivan Kupala's holiday was celebrated. The shortest and longest day of the year requires a respectful attitude. The summer holiday is characterized by festivities, most often near ponds on which girls lowered wreaths of flowers. On this day, young people looked for a fern flower and jumped over a fire, making wishes. Nowadays, these traditions are also honored, but a little later, on July 7. It is believed that the winter solstice brings good luck if you treat it with due attention. It is best to gather at the festive table with the whole family. It is believed that before this date it is necessary to pay off old debts so as not to be in debtors the whole next year.