When the days begin to increase in winter. When day equals night

As you know, the Sun is involved in two types of movement across the sky. The first - daily - reflects rotation of the earth around its axis. In the morning the Sun can be seen in the eastern part of the sky, at noon in the south, and in the evening in the western part. The second movement - much slower, with a period of 1 year - is result of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Due to the fact that the Earth moves around the Sun, our daylight during the year slowly changes its position relative to distant stars, traveling through the constellations(these constellations are called the zodiac).

Daily the path of the Sun across the sky is close to the celestial equator, but during the year it passes then above, then below it due to the fact that the trajectory yearly The movement of the Sun across the sky is inclined to the equator by 23.5°. Therefore, it is precisely this, the second movement of the Sun, superimposed on the daily movement, that determines the duration daylight hours, as well as the height of the Sun's rise above the horizon.

In this image taken in Bursa, Turkey in 2007-2008, we see the path of the Sun across the sky on the shortest day of the year (bottom), the equinox (middle) and the longest day of the year (top ). During these days, the author photographed the sun every hour from the same place. By counting the number of luminaries on each date, you can calculate the length of daylight hours in Bursa in different times of the year. It is clearly seen that on the day of the equinox (it makes no difference whether it is autumn or spring) the Sun remains above the horizon for 12 hours - exactly half a day. Photo: Tunc Tezel

We all know very well that in winter the daylight hours are short, the Sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest, and also floats low above the horizon. In summer, on the contrary, daylight hours are much longer than nights, and the Sun rises in the northeast, rises high and reluctantly sets somewhere in the northwest. Between these extreme cases there are dates when the day equal to night, and the Sun rises strictly in the east and sets strictly in the west (we will not take into account the phenomenon refraction). There are two such days a year. The first one is called day of spring equinox, and the second is day autumn equinox.

On the day of the equinox, the Sun crosses the point of the celestial equator, which means its rays equally illuminate both the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth . In other words, on this day the Earth, rotating around its imaginary axis passing through the poles, and at the same time moving around the Sun, is in such a position in relation to the luminary that Sun rays fall vertically towards the equator. In the future, the Sun will begin to illuminate the northern hemisphere more, and here it will come astronomical spring . In the southern hemisphere at this time it will be astronomical autumn.

Let's summarize. All these interesting phenomena- the dates of the equinoxes and the change of seasons - occur due to the fact that:

1. The earth rotates around its axis.(This is why there are dark and light times of day on Earth.)
2. The earth revolves around the sun.(Therefore, the Sun “travels” against the background of stars with a period of 1 year, each day lagging behind the daily movement by about 1°)
3. The plane of the earth's equator is inclined by 23.5° to the plane of our planet's orbit around the Sun. Because of this, the path of the Sun across the sky is inclined to the celestial equator by 23.5°, due to which the Sun is located half of the year in the northern hemisphere of the sky and the other half in the southern hemisphere.
4. The spring equinox is the date when the Sun crosses the celestial equator as it passes from the southern to the northern hemisphere. Starting from this moment, astronomical spring begins in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, and the day becomes longer than the night (due to atmospheric refraction, the day becomes longer than the night a little earlier - on March 17). In the southern hemisphere, on the contrary, astronomical autumn begins, and the days become shorter than the nights.

Seasons on Earth and their connection with the position of the Earth in orbit. Note the Earth's rotation axis, which is tilted 66.5° to the orbital plane (or ecliptic). Because of this, the equator is inclined to the ecliptic by 23.5°, which causes the change of seasons.

Twice a year, on the days of the autumn (September 22-23) and spring (March 20-21) equinoxes, the Earth turns towards the Sun in such a way that the sun's rays fall vertically on the equator. And then all over the globe - at the poles and at the equator, in temperate latitudes and in the tropics, the length of day and night becomes the same. It is curious that in Latin this event is called " aequinoctium", which translates as "equinocity". In this sense, the Germans who use the word " Tagundnachtgleiche” (“equality of day and night”) turned out to be more logical.

Autumn in the northern hemisphere. Artens | Shutterstock.com

On the day of the autumn equinox, the Sun crosses the equator and goes into the southern half of the celestial sphere. From this moment on, astronomical autumn begins throughout the entire northern hemisphere of the Earth, and darkness takes away more and more minutes from the light every day! The shortest day of the year, which falls on December 21 or 22, marks the beginning of astronomical winter. After this, daylight gradually increases and by the beginning of the third ten days of March it becomes equal to night. On the day of the vernal equinox, autumn comes again on our planet, only this time in the southern hemisphere...

Yellowed leaves. Calin Stan | Shutterstock.com

An interesting fact is that autumn and winter in the northern hemisphere are a week shorter than the autumn and winter season in the southern hemisphere. Since the number of days from the spring equinox to the autumn equinox is 186, and the time interval from the autumn to the spring equinox is only 179 days! The fact is that in the winter of the northern hemisphere the Earth moves around the celestial body somewhat faster than in the winter of the southern hemisphere. After all, in January Earth passes the point of orbit closest to the Sun - perihelion. And at perihelion, as is known, linear speed the planet is increasing! Therefore, we, the residents northern latitudes, we are in a more favorable position than residents of southern latitudes, whose dark and cold seasons are longer by as much as 7 days!

Spring is coming in Australia. Bui Viet Hung | Shutterstock.com

However, the moment is approaching when we are forced to pass the baton of spring and summer to the inhabitants of the southern hemisphere. This will happen tomorrow. In the meantime, let's enjoy the last hours of the passing astronomical summer, especially since the weather is conducive to it!

Twice a year, on the days of the autumn (September 22-23) and spring (March 20-21) equinoxes, the Earth turns towards the Sun in such a way that the sun's rays fall vertically on the equator. And then, all over the globe - at the poles and at the equator, in temperate latitudes and in the tropics - the length of day and night becomes the same. It is curious that in Latin this event is called “ aequinoctium", which translates as "equinocity". In this sense, the Germans who use the word " Tagundnachtgleiche” (“equality of day and night”) turned out to be more logical.

Autumn in the northern hemisphere. Artens | Shutterstock.com

On the day of the autumn equinox, the Sun crosses the equator and goes into the southern half of the celestial sphere. From this moment on, astronomical autumn begins throughout the entire northern hemisphere of the Earth, and darkness takes away more and more minutes from the light every day! The shortest day of the year, which falls on December 21 or 22, marks the beginning of astronomical winter. After this, daylight gradually increases and by the beginning of the third ten days of March it becomes equal to night. On the day of the vernal equinox, autumn comes again on our planet, only this time in the southern hemisphere...

Yellowed leaves. Calin Stan | Shutterstock.com

An interesting fact is that autumn and winter in the northern hemisphere are a week shorter than the autumn and winter season in the southern hemisphere. Since the number of days from the spring equinox to the autumn equinox is 186, and the time interval from the autumn to the spring equinox is only 179 days! The fact is that in the winter of the northern hemisphere the Earth moves around the celestial body somewhat faster than in the winter of the southern hemisphere. Indeed, in January the globe passes the point of its orbit closest to the Sun - perihelion. And at perihelion, as is known, the linear speed of the planet increases! Therefore, we, residents of northern latitudes, are in a more favorable position than residents of southern latitudes, whose dark and cold seasons are longer by as much as 7 days!

Spring is coming in Australia. Bui Viet Hung | Shutterstock.com

However, the moment is approaching when we are forced to pass the baton of spring and summer to the inhabitants of the southern hemisphere. This will happen tomorrow. In the meantime, let's enjoy the last hours of the passing astronomical summer, especially since the weather is conducive to it!

WINTER SOLSTICE

On the day of the winter solstice, the sun rises to its lowest height above the horizon. Every year Winter sun standing occurs between December 21 and 22. On the day of the winter solstice, the shortest day and the most long night per year. Now the nights are getting shorter and the days are getting longer.

December 22, 2011 at 09:30 am Moscow time, the Sun will be at its lowest point in Southern Hemisphere sky, that is, moving along the ecliptic, it will reach its lowest declination - 23 degrees 26.457 minutes (in the constellation Sagittarius) and astronomical winter will begin. On December 22, the Sun begins to rise up the ecliptic, beginning its path to spring equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.

Solstice - Birthday of the Sun

Solstice- Old Russian name for the day of the solstice. Corresponded to the moment the Sun turned to profit or decline of the day. In Rus' and in many European countries day winter solstice celebrated as the holiday of the birth of the sun.

Almost all European peoples held sacred mysteries on this day: a symbolic performance of the death and rebirth of the Sun was played out. Light conquers Darkness. Even if the miracle is invisible for now, we know that it happened, and this is a harbinger of that great miracle, the miracle of Transfiguration, which our world is waiting for: the final victory of good over evil, the complete triumph of Light.

For both the Slavs and other peoples of Europe, the winter solstice marked the beginning of a new life and renewal of nature. Children and adults jumped over the fire, danced in circles, and boys competed in strength and ingenuity. Daylight hours are increasing, which means spring is just around the corner.

At this time, the ancient Slavs celebrated a multi-day winter holiday - Christmastide. It began in the last days of December and ended in early January (from approximately December 25 to January 6). Christmas time was accompanied magical rituals, on the eve of Christmas, carols were sung, mummers walked around the villages, festive feasts were held in every house, girls told fortunes about their betrothed.

In the 16th century in Rus', a special 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.

In Europe, the days of Christmas celebrations coincided with the twelve-day cycle of pagan festivals dedicated to the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature. That is why in different countries the Christmas holiday was filled with ancient rituals and folk beliefs . These include carols - costumed processions with a star and chants, which are still held in rural areas, an evening meal on Christmas Eve consisting of 12 Lenten dishes. In the ritual meal of this day, there was a custom of leaving food for deceased family members. What if it's Christmas happy man If he enters the house first, happiness will not leave its walls all year.

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

Over the past millennia, spirits and gods have been replaced by other prophets, replacing those now considered pagan religions Christianity and Islam arrived, trying to adapt their holidays to the beliefs of the newly converted flock. However, the deep meaning of the holidays has not changed: the gods are still born in winter and resurrected in the spring, so that after summer solstice slowly go into darkness, and then be reborn again.

Kolyada - Sunny Christmas

On December 25, our ancestors celebrated the Nativity of God Kolyada. The nascent Sun appears in the form of a child. The baby is the disk of the Sun, since ancient times called Kolo. Baby Kolyada is captured by the witch Winter and turns him into a wolf cub. When will they take it off Kolyada wolf skin and burn it on the spring fire, Kolyada will appear in all its glory. And the Sun is sent on a cart to the south to welcome spring.

“Once upon a time, Kolyada was not perceived as a mummer. Kolyada was a deity, and one of the most influential. They called carols and called. The days before the New Year were dedicated to Kolyada, and games were organized in her honor, which were subsequently held at Christmastide. The last patriarchal ban on the worship of Kolyada was issued on December 24, 1684. It is believed that Kolyada was recognized by the Slavs as the deity of fun, which is why he was called upon and called upon by merry bands of youth during New Year’s festivities.”(A. Strizhev " Folk calendar»)

The day of “sparrow leap” has arrived and the winter sun begins to flare up, the Slavs celebrate Kolyada. On New Year's Eve, children gathered to carol under the windows of rich peasants, called the owner in songs, repeated the name of Kolyada and asked for money. Sacred games and fortune telling are the remnants of this ancient holiday. The rituals have been preserved among the people, and in Lately are becoming more and more popular. “Carolers” dress up in clothes, depict animals, devils, with music, with bags in which they collect treats, walk along the streets, sing carols. Kolyada is a cheerful, welcome deity.

At the feast, Tur is remembered by eating ritual cookies in the shape of cows (loaves, bagels). Instead of a sacrificial lamb, they eat cookies in the shape of a lamb's head (steering wheel, pretzel). You should definitely try uzvar and kutya. The holiday ends with games. You definitely need to roll the burning wheel up the mountain with the words: “Roll up the hill, come back with spring”.

Shoryk Yol

Shoryk Yol- traditional New Year's celebration Mari people It ends the old year and begins the new year. In the past, people associated the future well-being of their household and family, and changes in life with it.

The name Shoryk Yol - “sheep's foot” comes from the holidays magical action - pulling sheep by the legs in order to “cause” a large offspring of sheep in the new year. . In the past, early in the morning, householders built piles of snow in the form of stacks on the winter field in order to obtain the required number of stacks of bread in the new year. The branches were shaking in the garden fruit trees and bushes, hoping to harvest a rich harvest of fruits and berries. Pulling the sheep's legs was supposed to ensure the sheep's fertility. Fortune telling was associated with predicting fate and the well-being of the household. The weather was used to judge what spring and summer would be like. In each house, family prayers were held in honor of the Shorykyol holiday and the “owner” of the Kudort house.

On the first day, children and girls walked around the yards, they congratulated the householders on the arrival of the New Year and wished them a prosperous family and economic life, and more sheep. In the evening, a group of mummers headed by the old man Vasily and his old woman - Vasli kuva-kugyza - harbingers of the future, went home. The mummers were checking economic activity, careless owners were scolded.

Surkhiri

Surkhiri is a Chuvash holiday in the middle of winter. The word surkhuri itself also means “sheep's foot”.

This is a holiday of youth, a holiday of boys and girls, consisting of continuous amusements, pranks and jokes. The name of the holiday itself comes from a comic fortune-telling ritual.

In connection with Surkhuri, there are a number of customs - various fortune-telling among young people, which are all carried out on the first evening of the holiday. The most significant of the rituals, from which the holiday takes its name, is “catching a sheep’s leg” (surkhuri tytma). Boys and girls leave the house one by one and go to the barn. There, in the dark, they catch the first sheep they come across by touch, hold it by the leg with one hand, and pluck out a tuft of its wool with the other and bring it to the hut. And then they guess. Whoever catches the leg of a white sheep will have a fair-haired husband or wife. And who caught the black sheep's leg - dark-haired.

Dongzhijie

Dongzhijie- Chinese Holiday winter solstice. IN ancient China It was believed that from this time the “male power” of nature rose and a new cycle began. Therefore, the winter solstice was considered a happy day. Dongzhijie is a holiday of optimism and faith in spring.

On this day, emperors traveled to the countryside to perform solemn rituals of sacrifice to Heaven, and ordinary people made sacrifices to their ancestors.

In some regions Northern China on the day of the Winter Solstice they eat soup with abalone, in other regions - dumplings, because there is such a belief: having tasted dumplings on this day, a person may not be afraid of frost. Dough is kneaded from rice flour, and figures of turtles, piglets, cows, sheep and other animals are sculpted from it, symbolizing happiness.

Yule

The ancient Scandinavians also celebrated New Year on the day of the winter solstice on December 22. Yule- Celtic Festival of the Revival of the Sun. The word Yule means rotation, torsion, wheel, turn.

Yule marks the point in the year when the sun returns, so witches light candles and bonfires to invite the sun's light to return. On this day, it is customary to leave the lights on in the house, or at least a candle on the altar.

The house must be decorated with branches of evergreen trees. This symbolizes the eternity of life, and this tradition is also credited with protecting the inhabitants of the house. The Yule indispensable attribute is the sacred Yule Log. The log is intertwined with scarlet and green ribbons. The sacred log is lit first and part of the holiday meal is cooked either on it or after it burns. Now the Yule Log is an attribute of the altar; it is decorated with candles and Yule is celebrated in their light. But even if the Log is burning in the hearth, a small piece of it will always be preserved: this is the best amulet and protection of the whole house for the next year. The main attribute of the holiday is the Yule wreath. It is made from spruce branches in the shape of a circle. This is a symbol of the fact that everything in the world is cyclical: death and birth. The wreath means that everything in the world replaces each other, something dies, and something is born.

Yule is the days of the great feast and holiday, on which all members of the clan gathered together in order to again meet the Sun, rising from the darkness, and see the reborn world. The Yule celebration reminds people that each of us, in one way or another, participates in all processes occurring in the universe without exception.

Christmas tree

The Romans began bringing evergreen trees into the house at the winter solstice and decorating them. There is a version that a Christmas tree decorated with apples and nuts symbolizes the “tree of paradise” (although in early Christianity, the custom of bringing in and decorating a tree, to put it mildly, was not encouraged, and was even prohibited in Europe, but was later accepted).

Such a tree also symbolizes life and survival, especially in cold climates when all other trees stand bare and sleepy, it symbolizes fertility and immortality. Other symbols of the winter holidays are mistletoe, which not only retains green leaves in winter, but also grows without touching the ground, and holly (holly), ivy. Holly is decorated with red berries even in winter, and mistletoe is decorated with white ones.

You can decorate the Yolochka with cinnamon sticks and dried flowers (for example, roses), cranberries and dried corn on the cob, bags with aromatic herbs, apples, nuts, oranges, lemons. Old Soviet Christmas tree decorations in the form of fruits, fruits and vegetables, nuts and acorns will come in handy here. Wiccans hang letters with their wishes on Yolochka.

Tinsel and toys can also be correlated with images of the moon, sun and celestial stars. “Rain” - as a symbol of rain - will be a symbol of fertility. Cones and acorns (symbols of oak) will also be appropriate. Shiny glass beads at the Winter Solstice capture the light of the newborn sun and direct it back, acting as a magical tool to enhance the sun's energy. This idea was fully developed when a geometrically correct recess began to be made in a simple glass ball, allowing it to capture and reflect light, be it soft or warm light candles or the pure white light of the reborn winter sun.