The summer solstice occurs at the moment when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction of the Sun takes on the smallest value. The day of the solstice is also called the solstice.

Depending on the calendar shift, the summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and on December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere (winter solstice)

In 2018, it will take place in Ukraine on June 21 at 13.07 Kyiv time. The longest day is 17 hours and 33 minutes

This holiday has many names among the people. Ivan Kupala, Ivan the Herbalist, Yarilin Day, Soncecres, Spirits Day, Dew Holiday - these are all the names of the day summer solstice in different times in different peoples. And in some countries, such as Finland and Sweden, the summer solstice is even a day off and national holiday. With the adoption of Christianity pagan holiday Kupala did not disappear from Slavic culture, but was transformed on the day of John the Baptist, which, according to the old style, fell on June 24th. But after the transition to the Gregorian calendar, the day of John the Baptist shifted to July 7th.

Today in Ukraine, the celebration of Ivan Kupala does not coincide with the summer solstice.

Summer Solstice: Holiday Traditions

The Midsummer Festival is a pagan and Zoroastrian holiday, the shortest night of the year. Scholars still cannot agree on when the pagans began to celebrate the solstice. We only know that it was long before our era.

Many years ago, the summer solstice was of great importance to our ancestors, who obeyed the cycles of nature. In the times of the pagans, the sun had divine power over all living things, and the summer solstice meant the highest flowering of all the forces of nature.

The Summer Solstice is widely celebrated different nations. Among the Slavs, the holiday is known as Ivan Kupala, among the Finns and Ingrians - Juhannus, among the Latvians - Ligo.

Many beliefs are associated with the summer solstice, which are still rightfully worthy of our attention, because on the day of the summer solstice there is a powerful surge of energies of goodness, love and prosperity. It is believed that on the day of the summer solstice all magical rituals, rituals and conspiracies have a special power.

On the day of the summer solstice, they celebrated the midsummer festival, which was called Leta. On this day, they jumped over the fire, sang songs and just had fun.

In ancient times, rituals involving fire and water were performed on this day. For example, it was believed that bathing in ponds cleanses the soul.

Also, the flame had the properties of cleansing: mothers burned the shirts of sick children. According to legend, illness burned along with clothes.

The ancestors had a tradition to meet the dawn on the day of the summer solstice, the ancestors were convinced that this gives strength and health for the whole year and protects from troubles.

The summer solstice was considered a lucky day for a wedding. However, now weddings are not celebrated this week, because June 21 falls on fasting.

Signs for the summer solstice

On this day, they found out what the harvest and the weather will be like in summer.

If there is dew in the morning, there will be a good harvest.

On this day weeding began. It was believed that if you do not start weeding the garden on the day of the summer solstice, then the harvest will be meager.

If thunder rumbles on this day, then expect a protracted bad weather.

Well, if on this day you take a steam bath. Collect the broom on this day. So you can "knock out" all the bad thoughts and illnesses. The body and mind will be cleansed.

To give strength for the whole year, as well as to get a strong amulet, the morning dawn, met by you alone or in a circle of close people, will help.

Make your cherished wish and on this day climb over any twelve fences.

If the sky is starry, then this summer expect a large harvest of mushrooms.

All misfortunes and troubles will bypass the house if you hang a bouquet of flowers from Ivan da Marya on the threshold.

The water that was collected on the morning of June 21 is considered healing. Water was collected from wells and springs, washed with it on the same day and drank. But the rain that day did not bode well. In the evening, everyone went to jump over the fire, which promised a rich harvest and prosperity for the family. Rain and wet grass made it difficult to kindle fires and perform all the rituals.

In general, bad weather meant that an unsuccessful year should be expected.

But about the people who were born on this day, there was a double opinion. On the one hand, they were considered very happy, because the Sun patronized them all their lives, and on the other hand, they said that these people could jinx anyone.

The solstice is one of the two days of the year when the Sun is at its greatest angular distance from the celestial equator, i.e. when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is minimum or maximum. This leads to the longest day and shortest night (summer solstice) in one hemisphere of the Earth and to the very short day and most long night(winter solstice) - in another.

The day of the summer solstice is the day of the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere of the Earth and the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere, that is, if the inhabitants of the Northern part of the Earth from this moment are at the beginning of astronomical summer, then for the inhabitants of the Southern hemisphere astronomical winter will begin in the same period of time.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 20, 21 or 22. In the southern hemisphere, these dates fall winter solstice. Due to various inequalities in the movement of the Earth, the epochs of the solstice fluctuate by 1-2 days.

In 2017, astronomical summer in the northern hemisphere will begin on June 21 at 04:24 UTC (UTC, 07:24 Moscow time).

On the day of the summer solstice at the latitude of Moscow, the Sun rises above the horizon to a height of more than 57 degrees, and in territories located above the latitude of 66.5 degrees (the Arctic Circle), it does not set below the horizon at all, and the day lasts around the clock. At the North Pole of the Earth, the Sun moves across the sky at the same height around the clock. At the South Pole at this time there is a polar night.

During several adjacent days of the solstice, the noon heights of the Sun in the sky are almost unchanged; hence the name of the solstice. After the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the day begins to wane, and the night gradually begins to increase. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true.

For millennia, the summer solstice was of great importance to our ancient ancestors, who obeyed the cycles of nature. In the times of the pagans, the sun had divine power over all living things, and the summer solstice meant the highest flowering of all the forces of nature.

In the old days, even before the advent of Christianity, the Kupala holiday, dedicated to the ancient pagan god Kupala, was timed to the day of the summer solstice.

On this day and night, they wove wreaths, drank surya (honey drink), jumped over fires, made sacrifices to water and fire, collected healing herbs, performed rituals that called for the harvest, and "cleansing the soul and body" ablutions in rivers, lakes and streams. The central place among the vegetation that night was occupied by a fern. It was believed that the fern flower, blooming only for a moment at midnight, would indicate exactly where the treasure was buried.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

The summer solstice occurs at the moment when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation in the direction of the Sun takes on the smallest value.

It is more obvious to those living at high latitudes that the summer solstice falls on the longest day and shortest night of the year, when the height of the sun's rise in the sky is at its highest. Since the summer solstice lasts only a brief moment in time, other names are used for the day when the summer solstice occurs, for example: "midsummer", "longest day" or "first day of summer".

Depending on the calendar shift, the summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and on December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Summer Solstice 2018: what date

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, lasting 17 hours and 33 minutes.

Usually this day falls on June 21, and only on leap years on the 20th of the same month. So, in 2018, this event will take place on June 21 at 13:07 Moscow time.

But why exactly the solstice? The fact is that on June 21, an ordinary observer gets the impression that the Sun seems to freeze at its zenith and does not move anywhere throughout the day.

The longest day of the year 2018, how long does it last, date

The Summer Solstice is the longest sunny day of the year. As a rule, it falls on June 21, and in leap years a day earlier - on June 20. And since 2018 is not a leap year, this year the longest day falls on the 21st of this month.

The name solstice arose because people who watch the Sun on this day see a picture of a star frozen on the horizon. Another name for the Solstice is the Solstice, also on this day it is customary to celebrate associated with this phenomenon. folk holiday and have their own traditions.

History of the Summer Solstice

In the times of paganism in Russia, the summer solstice was considered one of the main holidays. Our ancestors treated the Sun with respectable awe, so they tried to pay tribute to its strength, power and undeniable power. They sacrificed precious items, handmade souvenirs, as well as the best individual from the entire litter of livestock.

Our ancestors believed that if on the Day of the summer solstice, which in 2018 fell on June 21, magical rites and carrying out rituals, then you can change your fate for the better. It was believed that the more esoteric manipulations and divinations a person conducts, the calmer and more prosperous his personal life will be throughout the year. That is why the villagers gathered all together, laid long tables in the field, sang songs, danced by the fire and jumped over the fires. The final end of the holiday was a general fortune-telling using wreaths of flowers, which were subsequently allowed along the river.

Astronomical Meaning of the Summer Solstice

The day of the summer solstice received such a name for a reason. The thing is that astronomers have noticed that in the period from June 19 to June 22, the Sun literally stands still, practically without deviating from its location. On June 21, it is at the maximum distance from the celestial equator, so the scientific term "solstice" began to be used on this day.

On this day, the level of solar activity increases, so scientists often warn of upcoming magnetic storms and an increase in atmospheric pressure, which adversely affect the health of many people. To protect yourself from sunstroke or feeling unwell, on June 21, 2018, it is not recommended to relax under the open sky until 17:00. After this time, the activity of the Sun will subside a little, and you will be able to comfortably enjoy fresh air and nature without a headache.

Traditions and folk signs of the holiday of the Summer Solstice

The day of the summer solstice in 2018 will come on June 21, during the Petrovsky fast, if we take into account the calendar Orthodox holidays. Many people adhere Christian traditions Therefore, they try to completely abandon the consumption of meat and dairy products during this period. From time immemorial, a tradition has been established to set the table on the Day of the summer solstice from everything that has grown this year under the sun. These products include:

• Flower honey, symbolizing the power of the Sun;
• Early herbs - parsley, all varieties of lettuce, dill, green onions and basil;
• Vegetables - new potatoes, carrots, pear;
• Berries and fruits, including forest varieties of blueberries and strawberries.

It is believed that such food is saturated with solar energy, which on the Day of the summer solstice will help a person get rid of diseases.

One of the most important traditions on the Day of the summer solstice was considered to be bathing in rivers, lakes and ponds. If you delve into pagan beliefs, then it is on the shortest summer night that mermaids and mermen sleep in their backwaters, without preventing people from paying tribute to the power of the solar disk. It is believed that a person who bathes in the river on the solstice day or night will gain strength and prolong his life for several years.

Since the Sun is closely associated with fire, it was customary to kindle bonfires on the Summer Solstice. This was not done by chance. Our ancestors believed that at this time the fire acquires magical power that can cleanse people's homes from evil spirits, bad energy and damage. Until now, the tradition has been preserved to light a wax candle in your home, walk with it several circles around the apartment in the direction of the clock hands, and then leave it in a candlestick in the main room so that the candle burns to the ground.

Conspiracy to fulfill a wish on the Summer Solstice

A very powerful ritual has come down to our time, which is usually performed on the shortest night of the year. To do this, you should go out into the forest or field, pick up the most beautiful flowers that will come across on the way, and then sit down in a secluded place and start weaving a wreath. At this moment, you need to make your most secret desire and read the plot: “Oh, you are noisy rivers, violent winds, endless fields. Look at me, the servant of God (your name), tired. Convey my request to the Heavenly Light, ask for me, but do not be angry. The sun will circle the whole earth, but my desire will be fulfilled. So carry him over seven mountains, on an eagle or on a falcon, so that the Sun can hear. When the sunset comes, you calm down, do not wake the sleeper, do not disturb me. She said the word, she did the deed. So be it, reports Therussiantimes. Amen". After that, the wreath had to be taken to the river and released. It was believed that after 40 days the cherished desire should come true.

Congratulations on the great solar holiday - the day of the summer solstice! The strength of it transition period so great that it lasts several days before and several days after the very point of the solstice. Our ancestors knew this and celebrated solar holidays for two weeks.

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For many pre-Christian millennia, our ancestors revered the Sun as the highest divine power that gives life to the whole Earth. Unfortunately, the former deep meaning of the unity of man and all nature with the great heavenly universe has not reached us, but intuitively in the depths of our souls we continue to feel this unity. The dates of the solar holidays have been translated into the current Christian holidays. So, for example, the day of the summer solstice, celebrated earlier as Kupala, is now celebrated later, as the day of Ivan Kupala. It is celebrated on the date of the birth of John the Baptist on July 7th. According to ancient traditions, celebrating Kupala on July 7 does not make any sense, since the solstice is left behind. Our ancestors celebrated it exactly at the solstice, on the longest day and the shortest night of the year - the Night on the eve of Kupala.

This day has incredible significance in the religions of many peoples, as the day of the highest solar energy, the apogee of the dominance of light over darkness. The tradition of rolling wheels and lighting fires has spread throughout the world and is found in historical sources in Europe, Northwest Africa, Japan, Iran, India, Australia, and even Brazil. Many megalithic structures, pyramids and solar temples throughout the earth are designed to concentrate the sun's ray at the solstice.

In Russia the Sun had different faces depending on their position in the sky, on the time of year. Either this is the newborn Kolyada, whose winter light is still weak, then this is the young and ardent Yarila, disturbing all nature after hibernation, then the mature husband Dazhdbog, bringing a large harvest and prosperity for the whole next year, then the wise old man Khors, who gives light of hope to winter time dominance of darkness. In different places, these solar Gods had different names, but the essence remains the same - these are cyclical periods of maturation of the spirit.

The change of solar gods occurs on the days of solstices and equinoxes, and each time is accompanied by great holidays. The stormy and long holidays of our ancestors do not at all speak of their love for a feast and idleness. They speak of the seriousness with which people approached the transitional moments between different Suns. These transitional moments - the great solar holidays, stood out from ordinary days. People got the opportunity to psychologically rebuild for a new stage, spend the previous one, give thanks for everything that was given in it. They were not distracted by work, they left the daily routine in order to fully devote themselves to their work. inner world and prepare it for the new Sun.

As we have said many times, kindling a fire - the most important rite on sunny holidays and any other day of the year. Earthly fire is a recreation of the Sun. The fire of a bonfire, saturated with the festive fire of the Sun, becomes magical. It not only burns out all the darkness, but also gives a fiery body to the passing seasons. It is not in vain that effigies of the sun gods are burned during the holidays - this is how their current path on earth ends. Them the physical body, burning, is replaced by a fiery one and they go back to the sun. Try also you, dear listeners, to light at least the fire of a simple candle and mentally unite it with the fire of the new Sun.

On the day of Kupala, it was customary to set fire to the wheel and roll it down the hill into the river. This symbolic action depicted the Yarila-Sun, rolling down from its highest position in the sky (the moment of the summer solstice). The night was lit with bonfires as a sign of the victory of light over darkness.. The fire in the Kupala bonfire acquired the properties of the highest solar energy. With this energy, the fire saturated the spirit of people jumping through it for the whole next year. He burned diseases, failures and other troubles. Couples jumping over the fire acquired harmony in relationships, all damage and evil eye were burned in it. First, married couples jumped, clearing their love from everyday life and fuss. Then jumped new couples who had just decided to tie their lives. Their young and still frivolous love was cleared of illusions, self-deception and blind passion. Well, after them jumped all the rest, who are destined to meet their soul mate later. They cleansed their heart from false images so that it could recognize their soul mate.

No wonder, according to astrology, at the time of the summer solstice, the Sun moves from the sign of Gemini to the sign of Cancer - the most family sign of the Zodiac. The frivolous and windy energies of Gemini become deeper and more spiritualized energies of Cancer. who certainly needs a family to continue life and the Family.

The transition from spring to summer at the time of the solstice is a powerful time to spiritualize any creation. In the spring, we sow seeds, and in the summer they receive a special component - a fiery particle of the Sun - a particle of the spirit. Everything sown becomes alive! It is very important to thank the Sun for the period that has passed since the vernal equinox and prepare our vital energy to the next part of the cycle. We will begin to illuminate those areas of our lives that have been hidden, hidden! Our activity in the summer is still very high, we can work a lot and intensively, but the main groundwork for the future has already been made. Now it is necessary to maintain the pledged and monitor its growth until it is fully ripe. This period is given in order to bring living sprouts to harvest, so that our creations come to life, and we rejoice in the created like the Sun-Creator!

On the day of the summer solstice, you must communicate with the Sun just like any other day. The energy of the Sun is absolute justice, clarity, happiness, purity and the highest law. Energy, which is so lacking in our lives. So let's ask the Sun on this day for justice in our personal lives, and be sure - in the country and in the world. Only the field of how you ask for help to the world, the planet and your homeland - you can ask for yourself. That is the order. Let's ask together: end the crisis of civilization and the outbreak of world war. End the country's crisis and its collapse, give us the ruler predicted by the prophets. Overcome your personal crisis and come to rise, not to fall ... Be sure to feel, believe in the power of the Sun! Let go of all failures, fears, doubt and despair, these emotions carry negative energy which is opposite to the sun. Be joyful, inspired and solemn on this great sunny holiday!

Blavatsky wrote that The sun is a living spirit that has nerves, and Chizhevsky - that The sun directly affects the mental activity of the masses. The worship of the Sun is so natural that no other beliefs have been able to completely destroy it. So let's return to the Sun, like lost children to their father, who all this time calmly and patiently awaits our appeal. We are related to the sun. Remember this, and we will all become not orphans, but children of our cosmic parent. And parents always help children! Happy New Summer Sun, dear listeners!

The sun! Give the planet peace
Satans finish the feast
Help people wake up
And return to you in spirit.

Give a ruler to the people
To save the country from evil.
Russian spirit - freedom,
Russia to be Holy again.

Help me in my life.
To repay everyone's debts.
So that I can live with dignity.
All you need is to earn!

In the midst of summer, the summer solstice is celebrated - the pagan holiday of Lita (Litha, Leto). During this period, the great Sun makes its new turn on the Wheel of the Year. This is a moment of special balance, as well as the annual peak of the strength of the sun. From this day on, the sun will gradually decrease.

For many centuries this day was of great importance for our ancient ancestors, who lived in harmony with Mother Earth. For the pagans, the sun had divine power over all living things. For them, the summer solstice meant the highest flowering of all the forces of nature, which is embodied in abundance with the ripening of the harvest.

This day symbolizes the highest point, the maximum peak, rise, rise, ecstasy, both in nature and in human life. Lita holiday embodies fertility, abundance, glory, triumph, generosity, fullness of life, happiness. Cheerfulness, love of life, fun reign in this shortest of the nights of the year.

Like any pagan holiday, it was based on natural cycles and was associated with abundance, wealth and a good harvest.

The seasons of the ancient peoples differed: summer began with Beltane on May 1 among the Celts (a similar holiday among the Slavs was called Zhivin Day), ended on August 1 in Lammas (among the Slavs - Spozhinki, August 7 according to the old calendar), and the middle of summer fell on Lita (or the day of Ivan Kupala among the ancient Slavs).

Lita - the meaning and essence of the holiday

Lita is a sunny and warm holiday. The Celtic calendar, the Wheel of the Year, defined Lita as the day of midsummer. Until today, there is no exact date when to celebrate the Litu holiday. Although disputes about this have been going on for a long time, it is customary for many nations to celebrate Lita between June 21 and 22.

In one form or another, the summer solstice is reflected in the cultures of all peoples inhabiting the earth. Shamans and sorcerers of all nationalities realized the importance of this day.

If we talk about the Celtic peoples, for them the holiday of Lita is the day of the official marriage of God and Goddess, the day of King Oak and the holiday of fairies, elves and other mythical creatures.

Litha is the busiest holiday of the year, and the most magical. June 20-23 - the shortest nights of the year, full of energy and magic. This day is considered an important turning point on the Wheel of the Year.

Reality and dreams are mixed, the boundaries between the worlds become thinner. Fairies and forest spirits roam our land, as do Beltane and Samhain. On the night of June 21-22, dreams and reality mix with each other.

From a mystical point of view, this holiday combines all four elements at once - fire, water, earth, air. Therefore, the Spirits of these elements rejoice and have fun together with people.

In ancient times, people celebrated this night in order to gain their strength and energy through the rituals and rites of worship of the Elements. However, the main essence of this holiday is that people learn to enjoy life, love it and enjoy it. It helps to open the heart and feel happiness.

Also, the Lita holiday reminds of the upcoming reduction of daylight hours and the inevitable approach of autumn, and then winter.

Age-old traditions of the holiday

On this holiday, it is customary to go to nature, closer to the water. Until dawn, bonfires blaze, laughter is heard, ringing funny songs. Ritual bathing, wreaths of flowers, dances around the fire - all these are the elements without which the Lita holiday is inconceivable.

This night is good for love and just for making love for your own pleasure.

To run naked at dawn on the grass wet with dew and splash your sexual energy through the fields and forests.

This is good remedy from infertility and a guarantee of strong, healthy offspring in the future.

• It is good to offer food to Lita that is sunny, round and golden: these are pancakes, pies, cheese heads.
• The lover can keep the plants collected on Lita in a bag and carry with him in order to achieve reciprocity.
• Wreaths and garlands that have been cleansed with the help of fire are released into the river with a wish that it comes true this year.

fire magic

Lita is a great time for making wishes, communicating with gods and spirits, and of course for magic.

We wish you creativity and sunny mood for the summer solstice!