Winter solstice. Traditions. Signs. Rituals. Rites. winter solstice omens

The winter solstice in 2017 will begin on December 21, 2017 at 16:27 GMT. It will be the shortest day and longest night this year.

Occurs at the moment when the inclination of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction from the Sun takes on the greatest value, thus this period marks the beginning of a gradual lengthening of the day and shortening of the night. From the day of the winter solstice on December 21, 2017, the day will begin to increase, and the night will decrease.

Signs on the day of the winter solstice December 21-22


Rituals for the Winter Solstice 2017

Of course, not all rituals that were used by our ancestors remain interesting for modern generations. After all, in the old days, sorcerers, for example, always lit fires that were supposed to burn all night, driving away the darkness and calling the Sun to return. And today, of course, no one does this. But there are also rituals that have not lost their relevance. And we will talk about them below.

The ideal option for any person is to use the winter solstice in order to attract some changes, new energy, abilities and opportunities into their lives. This day is perfect for meditation, for conducting rituals related to the energy of water, as well as for new beginnings.

Moreover, your undertakings can be anything - you have the opportunity to radically change your personal life, achieve success in your career, improve financial well-being, etc. The rituals of the Winter Solstice will be of interest to every person who is not satisfied with his life, and who dreams that -something to change. And therefore their relevance does not decrease over time - after all, it is human nature to constantly strive for the best.

You can engage in magical rites on the shortest day of the year on your own, or you can entrust the solution of your problems to a real specialist. In any case, prayers and magical conspiracies, as well as various paraphernalia, will be used in the process of their conduct. In particular, rituals for the Winter Solstice involve the use of certain plants: laurel, thistle, cedar, chamomile, juniper, mallow, mistletoe, moss, etc. And in addition, you will need candles (it is advisable to give preference to white, red, green or silver color) and real stones (in particular, ruby ​​​​and tiger's eye).

Prayers for the Winter Solstice 2017

The winter solstice is the time of the darkest and longest night of the year, when we reflect on the meaning of various things. Why not do it in the form of Yule prayer-meditations? Use one a day as food for thought this holiday season.

Conspiracies for the winter solstice

The winter solstice was celebrated by our ancestors on December 21st. This day was and remains the shortest of the year. But the night from December 21 to 22 is the longest of the year. It is believed that it gives rise to a solar rebirth, and this is very symbolic for the Slavs. That is why on the day of the winter solstice all kinds of conspiracies and rituals were held. The patron saint of this day was Chernobog.

The Slavs considered this holiday to be magical and directly related to the renewal and birth of the Sun. This astronomical phenomenon occurs when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation away from the Sun is greatest.

Depending on the calendar shift in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22. This year it falls on December 21st.

Traditions, signs

In different cultures, the interpretation of this event was perceived differently, but for most peoples it was regarded as a revival, at this time holidays, rituals and other celebrations were held.

The Slavs considered this holiday the time of renewal and the birth of the Sun, and with it all living things, the time of spiritual transformation, that which contributes to both good material changes and spiritual ones. The onset of a long night was associated with the will of Karachun - the cruel lord of darkness, frost and eternal cold.

During the winter solstice, the Slavs celebrated the pagan New Year, which was identified with the deity Kolyada. The main subject of the celebration was a large bonfire, calling and depicting the Sun, which, after one of the longest nights of the year, is not enough to rise higher and higher into the heavenly heights. It was also obligatory to bake ritual New Year's pies of a rounded shape, reminiscent of a heavenly body.

On this day, our ancestors followed the weather with special attention and associated folk signs with it. If there is frost on the trees - to a bountiful harvest of wheat. It's raining - towards a wet spring. The sun is clear, radiant - the New Year is frosty, overcast and frost on the trees - on New Year's Eve it is cloudy, with a thaw. Quiet windless day - a good harvest of fruit trees.

Advice from astrologers

The winter solstice is one of the main solar points of the year in astrology, along with the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes, and the summer solstice. This is a great day for new things and projects.

It is believed that if you seriously think about some new business on this day, you will be able to complete them with ease. For those who have a cherished desire, it's time to make it, because this day suits like no other.

Even on this day, think of healing, prosperity, wish strength or wisdom. Especially if you bring home some dry leaves, nuts and fruits. To flavor the air, it is good to use juniper, cedar, pine and rosemary oils.

On this day, it is recommended to pay off all debts, remembering even the smallest three pennies, to thank those people who have become support and support this year. Ideally, it is better to thank with some small gift. Even on the day of the solstice, it is good to do a general cleaning in the house, in the car, in places where you spend a lot of time, for example, on your desktop. You can take things apart and give them away to someone who can use them, or just throw them in the trash.

The holiday itself is best celebrated in the company of people with whom they share common ideas, interests and undertakings. Favorable is the presence of a forest and living fire, for example, in the form of candles lit at home. The table should be modest, almost ascetic. You can dream out loud, and not hesitate, about what you would like in 2017, attracting a fairy tale into your life

Nature lives in its own special cycles. A person is not able to change these cycles, for example, to force the lunar day to change places, the moon to grow while waning. But you can adjust to all the changes in nature, to each of the cycles, which will help you start living in harmony with the universe.

This knowledge was actively used in practice by ancient people. Each nation has developed its own calendar of important events. The key position in this calendar was occupied by the solstice.

Winter Solstice: What an Event

The solstice is understood as an astronomical event, consisting in the fact that the sun occupies either the highest or lowest point relative to the earth's horizon. This event affects the length of the day, it lasts either the maximum amount of time in the year, or the minimum.

The solstice can be observed twice a year, in winter and summer. The winter solstice is characterized by the minimum length of the day and the maximum length of the night. The summer solstice is exactly the opposite of the winter solstice in terms of the length of the day and night.

In 2017, the winter solstice will occur on December 21 at 16:27 GMT or at 19:27 Moscow time.

Winter Solstice Traditions

The winter solstice is traditionally celebrated in many cultures. The ancient Celts equated the birth of a new sun with Yule.

The decoration of the house on this day should have been special. First of all, these are spruce branches. They were hung everywhere: above the entrance to the house, between the interior doors, inserted into the windows, laid out on the fireplace. Be sure to put something symbolizing the sun in the center of the largest room of the house, in which it was customary to gather guests. It could have been an orange, a craft of golden, sunlight.

On the day when the old sun went to rest, large ritual bonfires were kindled. These bonfires were specially prayed for so that they would help the birth of a new sun, help to maintain its strength at the initial stages.

Eastern Slavs at the same time celebrated Kolyada. Kolyada in Slavic mythology is the god of the new sun. His other names: Caledi, Cadmus, Kolodiy. This deity symbolized the transition of the year. Among the people, the day of his veneration came on the day after the winter solstice. This day was considered the Slavic New Year.

They celebrated the day of Kolyada on a special scale, arranged songs, folk dances. The traditions of the day were especially concerned with gifts. On Kolyada, it was customary to give a gift, albeit a small one, to each loved one. The Slavs believed that the god of the new sun is not favorable to stingy people, and does not illuminate their lives with sunlight. It was believed that a stingy person who did not please a single person on New Year's Eve would live in darkness all year.

Winter solstice: how to spend

December 21 marks the end of another solar year. Already on the 22nd, the sun will rise again, and will already be renewed. The countdown of the new solar year will begin. The end of the solar year is a good time for various practices, ceremonies and rituals.

  • Conduct meditations. A good effect will be from cleansing meditations that help to get rid of something unnecessary, obsolete. It is also recommended, after cleansing, to switch to the visualization of plans for the new solar year. Prepare yourself a to-do list ahead of time. Before meditation, this list should be read, and closing your eyes, imagine that everything has already happened. If these plans are really worthwhile and at the moment of visualization strong vibrations of the energy plan were sent, everything planned will be realized in a short time.
  • Make a wish. Traditionally, a wish is made on the day of the calendar change. Asking for something cherished and intimate on the day of the winter solstice is akin to making a wish on a shooting star on New Year's Eve.
  • Do magical work. Recommended focus: increasing strength, replenishing the supply of vital energy, healing from bodily and mental ailments, well-being and prosperity.
  • Conduct divination. You can tell fortunes for love using a mirror, or for next year.
  • Get out. For something good to come into life, you need to clear the space for it. You should clean the room, throw away all the old, broken things. All things that were not useful for the year should be collected in boxes and taken to people in need. It will not be superfluous to wash the doorways, the threshold, and most importantly the windows. It is through them that flows of power enter the house. Cluttered space interferes with the implementation of plans and the fulfillment of desires.
  • Let go of the past that has become obsolete. On December 21, right at sunset, you should go outside or open the window wide. Take a piece of paper and a pen with you. While the old sun goes below the horizon, you need to try to remember all the bad and all the negative things that happened during the current year. It can be relationships with people, people themselves, illnesses, litigation, job changes, loss of money, unpleasant conflict situations. All this must be written on paper, and then this paper should be burned with fire. Leave to burn out just before the setting sun. All bad things will go away, along with the old sun. And the next morning, along with the new sun, the long-awaited cleansing and relief will come.

rituals

The day of the winter solstice carries a special magic, and this magic must certainly be used to your advantage. There are several well-established rituals.

Seed of Intention

The ritual is performed alone. It is undesirable to tell anyone about it. You need to go to the market or to a flower shop on the day the sun stands and buy any one seed there. This seed must be brought home, put in a cloth moistened with water and whispered over it the words of an old conspiracy:

“A seed for a seed, for me, in truth, I intend (what do you want to do next year, for example, buy a car), so that my intention comes true, germinates, roots firmly into the ground. It will be the same way, and so be it. Amen".

The seed must be placed in a cup or pot of earth. Exactly seven days the earth needs to be watered, but not much. Then water it every month on a full moon. The seed must remain in this land until spring. In the spring, dig a hole in the street under any tree that has not dried up and place the earth along with the seed in this hole. If by that time something has grown, it will still need to be transplanted under a tree. Within a month after that, the intention will begin to come true.

healing bath

When there is a change of the sun, there is also a renewal of man. This process is inevitable, a person is subject to the influence of heavenly bodies. Updating can be very painful, especially if a person is not ready for it. Cleansing with healing water can help speed up and smooth this process.

To do this, you need to fill the bath with water at a comfortable temperature. Arrange candles throughout the bathroom, light them, turn off the main light. Turn on calm, relaxing music. Get in the bath and close your eyes. First you need to imagine how the body becomes very heavy. So heavy that the water stops pushing the body to the water surface.

After that, you need to tighten up a bit. Imagine that dark streams went from the body into the water. These streams should go out and at the same time bring relief to the body and soul. You need to wait until the body becomes quite easy. Only after that you can drain the water, while you still need to lie down and imagine that everything bad is flowing along with it.

cherished desire

This ritual is suitable for those who have a desire that has never been voiced out loud. This is an important rule, since spoken aloud is no longer considered a cherished desire. This desire, without saying it out loud, must be rewritten on a blank piece of paper. Then roll this piece of paper into a thin tube.

After that, light a thick candle. You will also need a fireproof container. Set fire to the sheet from one end, and while it burns you need to hold it over this container, saying:

“Silent, and in that cherished, that in a secret corner - that in my soul, everything is on fire - everything will be consumed by the flame, everything that goes into space, everything will reach higher powers. And from them it will come back - yes, fulfilled, but such that contentment will come. Yes, such that dissatisfaction will go away. Let it go - it will be fulfilled, it will come true, but the forces will not be forgotten.

After that, let the sheet burn completely in a refractory container. The ashes will need to be collected in a small bag. As soon as there is a snowstorm or a strong wind outside, this ashes should be thrown out into the street. All rituals must be performed on the day of the winter solstice.

In ancient times, it was believed that the day of the Winter Solstice is suitable for a cardinal change in fate,

making the most daring desires.

The ancestors believed that it was on this day that the sky opens and the Higher powers look at us.

The winter solstice is one of the four main solar points in the astrological year. As well as the days of the summer solstice, spring and autumn equinoxes.

Ancestors lived in harmony with natural cycles. After all, nature is wiser and stronger than us.

They believed in the legend that it was on this night that the struggle between light and darkness took place.

The next day after the "birth of the Sun" was for the Slavs a kind of awakening point of nature.

Traditionally, the holiday was celebrated at night, before sunrise.

Celebrated with a bang.

Among the Slavs, the god of the sun was Kolyada. People glorified the supreme deity as best they could, sang and danced a lot. Giving gifts to loved ones was a special tradition.

You can’t be stingy, because then the new year will not give generosity, and for the stingy people the future will be gloomy.

The Germans called it Joll. On the night of Yule, as it was believed in ancient times, in Midgard (a world inhabited by people), all worlds converge, gods and goddesses descend to Earth, and trolls and elves talk to people.

Among the Celts, the holiday was an occasion for the beautiful decoration of the dwelling with fir branches. They were hung in every corner of the house, especially: above the main entrance, near the interior partitions, in the windows. Spruce branches were always by the fireplace. In the center of the house was placed something round, which symbolized the sun.

In ancient China, it was believed that the male force of nature is growing stronger from this period and gives rise to a new cycle. The day of the winter solstice was considered a happy, successful day, it was celebrated with dignity.

Signs for the Winter Solstice.

Our ancestors carefully watched nature, because the future of the people depended on its whims.

  • A good grain harvest was promised by the hoarfrost lying on the ground and vegetation that day;
  • The weather on December 21 will be the same as in 10 days, namely on December 31 in the traditional New Year;
  • A cut cherry branch that began to bloom by Christmas speaks of a rich harvest of berries;
  • Rainy weather promises wet spring on this day.
  • If December 21 is a sunny, radiant day, then the New Year will be met with frost. If the day is gloomy, then a thaw is expected for the holiday.
  • The day of the winter solstice without wind is a rich harvest of fruits next year.

Rituals for the Winter Solstice

Ritual for the fulfillment of a wish A wish is made at dawn.

Stand facing the east - look in the direction where the reborn Sun rises. Thank the Sun for all the good things in your life and ask for help in the future.

Make a wish - try to mention as many details as possible. Imagine that the wish has already come true. What do you feel? Let your imagination paint happy pictures.

On this holiday, it is good to make wishes that involve the renewal of life, the attraction of something new.

If your desire involves the accumulation of money, then the ideal option would be to open a bank savings account on the day of the solstice or the next day.

By doing this, you will not only think about what you want, but also take the first step towards realization. Which is very important.

Ritual for cleansing. Held in the bathroom

Fill the tub with warm water. Be sure to add sea salt, because it takes away all the negativity. But it is better to refuse foam on this day. Arrange a few candles in the bathroom (odd number), turning off the electric lights.

Prepare pleasant music for relaxation. It can be the sounds of nature, religious chants, ethnic music, and so on. Lie down in the bath. Imagine that your body is heavy, filled with the worries of the outgoing year.

Now visualize that water and salt take away all your problems. And every moment your body becomes lighter. Flush the water, imagining that everything bad goes with it.

Rinse under the shower.

Rituals for the Winter Solstice.

This rite will help you find love and personal happiness. To carry it out, you will need two red threads, a candle, a blank sheet of paper .

On the day of the winter solstice, before going to bed, tie two red threads and light a candle. Then bring the connected threads to the candle flame. While they burn, say:

“As two threads are interconnected, so I will be connected with my (my) lover (lover) all my life. As a candle burns brightly, so the love in my heart will burn.

Wait for the candle to burn out completely.

Collect the remaining wax and wrap it in a clean sheet of paper. You can carry it with you as a talisman. This will bring the result of the fulfillment of your desire closer.

Rite of Good Luck. You will need seeds from any houseplant, soil, and a flower pot.

On the morning of the winter solstice (possibly in the next few days), sow seeds in a pot, pour water over it and say:

“Just as my plant breaks through the earth and looks for a way out, so I will make my way to the top of happiness. The old Sun will take my failures with it, and the new one will lead me to success. Let it be so".

Throughout the day, let the pot stand on the windowsill, and then you need to remove it to any place you want.

Don't forget to take care of your plant. The better it grows, the stronger the streams of good luck will penetrate your life.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources

The real astronomical winter comes after the winter solstice, or the shortest day and longest night of the year - every subsequent day will give us a little more light, and by the new year the length of daylight hours will increase by almost eight minutes.

Since prehistoric times, the winter solstice has been celebrated as the birth of the sun and the new year. With the day of the winter solstice, which was celebrated at night before sunrise, the holidays of Yule among the Germanic peoples and the Slavic Kolyada are connected.

In the old days, important rituals and ceremonies were performed on these days, as people believed that at the solstice it was possible to change fate and make dreams come true, with the support of higher powers.

The day of the winter solstice in almost all nations is covered with myths and legends, as well as many rituals and traditions that reveal the culture in a special way.

Sputnik Georgia asked what rites, rituals and divination people performed on this day in the distant past.

Rites and rituals

In the old days, on the day of the winter solstice, people performed many rites and rituals - first of all, they were aimed at winning the favor of the gods in the hope that a good harvest would be given in gratitude.

With magical rites, they tried to attract some changes, new energy, abilities and opportunities into their lives, since this is facilitated by the energy of the emerging Sun. On the longest night of the year, according to custom, they caroled, guessed at the future.

The ancient holiday of the winter solstice with the advent of Christianity was timed to coincide with Christmas and the beginning of winter Christmas time.

Many of the rites and rituals associated with the winter solstice have survived to this day, they are as relevant as before, as a person constantly strives for the best. Usually rituals for the winter solstice are held from December 21 to 23.

It is believed that on the day of the winter solstice it is good to meditate - a powerful flow of energy that comes to Earth from the sky, greatly enhances the influence of meditation.

On the day of the winter solstice, it is also good to engage in spiritual self-development, which inspires the opening of spiritual spaces.

The winter solstice is suitable for any new endeavors - you can achieve success in your career, radically change your personal life, improve financial well-being, and so on.

To enhance the effect of solar energy, you can visualize what you want to get as a result.

On the day of the winter solstice, people threw away old things - in this way they said goodbye to the past and, as it were, opened their way to a happy future. There is no need to resort to such radical actions - you can simply perform a magical rite or ritual on your own.

Ritual to attract good luck

Before embarking on a ritual to attract good luck into your life, you need to let go of all the bad things that, in your opinion, happened to you during the outgoing year.

To do this, take a piece of paper, write down all the bad events that happened in the past year in your life, the repetition of which you would like to avoid.

Burn the paper in a fireplace, stove, or just on a metal tray, imagining how all your sorrows and difficulties disappear with the smoke and set you free, or bury and say goodbye.

© photo: Sputnik / Egor Efremov

Belarusian ritual "Pull Kolyada on the oak tree" in the village of Noviny

At this moment, it is important to say to yourself, for example, the following words: "Farewell to the past, I'm not offended by you, but there is no return for you. I'm letting you go."

Then take a second sheet of paper and write down what you want to achieve next year - it's good if in each paragraph you indicate what you can do in order to accelerate the achievement of the goal.

Keep the second sheet in a place where no one can get to it, including your family members. From time to time you can take out a piece of paper, reread it, cross out items that have already been implemented, and, if desired, add new wishes.

Ritual for the fulfillment of desires

In ancient times, it was believed that any wishes made on the shortest day of the year would certainly come true, especially if they were backed up with visualization. For inspiration and motivation to follow a dream, rituals are a powerful tool.

First you need to create a place for your dreams, that is, clean your house from unnecessary things. To do this, put things that cause you discomfort or that you have not used for a long time in large garbage bags and get rid of them.

Then take a sheet of paper, on one side write your desire, and on the other everything that, in your opinion, you need to do to make it come true. Then every week you need to take one item from the list of actions and work on it - do this for the next year.

© photo: Sputnik / Alexander Kondratyuk

A visual reminder of your dream can be "seeds of intention".

Lightly dampen two paper towels, unfold and place in a glass to form a soft wall inside. Place the seeds between napkins, and put the glass on the windowsill, where the sun appears every day for at least a few hours.

Add enough water to keep the wipes moist. And each time you water and watch them grow, imagine one small task you can do to achieve that dream. Perhaps by the time the plant reaches maturity, you will already have concrete results.

You can also create a board of your desires and place it in a prominent place so that you can see it both in the morning and in the evening. To do this, find images that represent your dream, cut and paste on a board or piece of thick paper. Visualization is important to make it very real and imagine that it has already happened at the present moment.

You can create such a board online, but you should not forget to look at it every morning and every evening throughout the year.

On the shortest day of the year - on the day of the winter solstice, rituals are performed for prosperity, healing, gaining strength and wisdom, and so on.

Divination

Accurate results are given by various divination for the winter solstice. You can also guess on the cards - on this day they will tell the honest truth.

Before going to bed, you need to take an arbitrary number of small pieces of paper and write one male name on each.

Mix the leaves thoroughly and put them under your pillow at night. Then say the following words: "Whoever loves, dream about it. Darling, come to me in a dream. I'm waiting for you all the time, I'll treat you with pies."

© photo: Sputnik / Konstantin Chalabov

In the morning, randomly select one of the pieces of paper before getting out of bed. Your fate next year will be connected with the one whose name appears on the piece of paper.

It is important in this fortune-telling to fulfill what you promised - be sure to treat him with any bakery product when this person appears on your doorstep, otherwise he will not stay with you for long. This condition is connected with the ancient rite of giving to the beloved.

The room where divination, ritual or meditation is carried out is decorated with dry leaves, fruits and nuts. Decorated with the symbols of the sun, 13 candles are placed in the center of the ritual altar. Juniper, cedar, pine and rosemary oils are used to flavor the air.

The results of divination and rituals can be accelerated with the help of stones and metals. A talisman in the form of a pendant with a stone or a ring, charged with moonlight that night, will be much more powerful and effective than those that were activated in another period.

Notes on the weather

In the old days, they were sure that if there was frost on the trees on December 21, a good harvest of grain crops should be expected.

The direction of the wind from the day of the winter solstice will not change until the day of the spring equinox, that is, until March 22.

The days after the winter solstice are very important for predicting the weather. So, if it is sunny on December 25 in the morning, then you should wait for late spring and not rush with the spring sowing of crops.

If the morning is cloudy on December 25, then spring is expected early, and it will be necessary to hurry with the sowing of crops, and if it is cloudy on December 25 at noon, then spring will be successful for agriculture.

They predict the weather for the whole next year twelve days after December 25th. For January, the weather predicts the weather, which is December 26, for February - December 27, for March - December 28, and so on.

Frosty weather for the New Year holidays will be if it is sunny on December 25th. If it is cloudy on December 25, then cloudy but warm weather is expected on New Year's holidays.

Material prepared on the basis of open sources