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June equinox when. The Full Moon holds the Light and the Mirror to show you how to use the strengths of your plans and how to correct your course from mistakes and obstacles. Therefore, reconsider your plans. But most importantly, look at

In 2016, the autumn equinox occurs on September 22 at 14:21 UT(UTC) or at 17:21 Moscow time. It is at this moment that the Sun, traveling against the background of the constellations, crosses the celestial equator in the constellation Virgo.

Prior to this, our daytime luminary was in the northern celestial hemisphere for almost half a year, starting from the March equinox. As a result, the northern hemisphere of the Earth received more sunlight than the south, and, accordingly, the day was longer than the night. After September 22, the Sun will be in the southern hemisphere and will begin to illuminate the southern hemisphere of the Earth more than the northern one. Astronomical autumn will come in the northern hemisphere, and astronomical spring in the southern hemisphere.

Therefore, September 22 - special date in 2016: on this day the Sun evenly illuminates both hemispheres of the Earth. Rare moment!

At the time of the equinox, the Sun is exactly above the Earth's equator, therefore it equally illuminates both the northern and southern hemispheres of our planet. Photo: MASA/EO

Even primitive people were able to predict the dates of the equinoxes, and they did it with an accuracy of up to a day. Today it seems paradoxical, but thousands of years ago, man looked at the sky more often than now. There were good reasons for this.

When humanity learned to move from hunting and gathering to cultivating the land and cattle breeding, there was an urgent need for a record of time. When to sow? When to harvest? When will spring come, and when will the cold come?

At the end of September, signs of autumn are everywhere. Photo: Roman Milert

Heaven answered all these questions. At that time, the clock in our modern sense had not yet been invented, and therefore the sky served for the ancients as both a calendar and a clock. Regularly and carefully observing celestial objects, our ancestors studied the path of the Sun across the sky and found that the points of sunrise and sunset on the horizon shift throughout the year, following a strict periodicity.

In winter, the Sun rises in the southeast, makes a short trip across the southern sky and dives below the horizon. In summer, the picture is different - the sun rises on northeast, and enters northwest; At mid-latitudes, the Sun spends most of its time in the sky during the summer. It turned out that the places of sunrise and sunset are repeated every six months: at first, the places of sunrises shift to the east, and the places of sunsets to the west (from the end of December to the end of June); then they move in the opposite direction - the places of sunrises to the west, and sunsets - to the east (from the end of June to the last ten days of December), thereby shortening the path of the Sun across the sky during the day. The extreme points of sunrises and sunsets corresponded to the shortest and longest long day(in December and June, respectively), and the equinoxes were located in the middle of this path.

Today we know the reason for this behavior of the Sun in our sky. The fact is that the axis of rotation of the Earth is inclined to the plane of the orbit of our planet around the Sun. Accordingly, the northern part of the axis is facing the Sun for half of the orbit, and the southern part for the other half. At the time of the equinox, the Earth is at that point in its orbit when the Sun is exactly above the Earth's equator, and not above the northern or southern hemisphere! By the way, it is in this (in light conditions) that the reason for the change of seasons lies.

These four pictures clearly show how the Earth is illuminated during the equinoxes and solstices. During the equinoxes (pictures on the right), the Sun evenly illuminates both hemispheres of the Earth. It is important to note that during the shooting, the satellite was all the time above the equator of our planet! Photo: NASA/EO

Happy equinox everyone!

There are two polar points in the year - days when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is minimum or maximum. One of these fell on December 21, 2016. Today, the height of the sun above the horizon will be minimal, which means that the day will be the shortest of the year. Astronomers do not attach much importance to this event from the point of view of ritual, at the same time, in different traditions just for the day winter solstice"nodding", talking about the iconic or even a miracle.

So, this year the main point of the Winter Solstice Day 2016 will be the time of 13:45 Moscow time.

Now only historical chronicles are associated with the Winter Solstice. Most of the pagans have sunk into oblivion, having chosen the true faith - Orthodoxy. But once everything was different. So, for example, it was believed that it was on the Winter Solstice that the New Year should be celebrated. And in the 16th century in Rus', an interesting ritual was associated with the winter solstice. 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 tsar gave money to the elder.

The seasonal significance of the winter solstice consists in a reversal of the gradual lengthening of the night and the shortening of the day. Depending on the calendar shift, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and on June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

IN different cultures the interpretation of this event was perceived in different ways, but among most peoples it was regarded as a revival, at this time holidays, meetings, rituals and other celebrations were held.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • The winter solstice always falls on December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere.
  • The night before the Winter Solstice is the longest. This year it lasted 17 hours. And the longitude of the day at the latitude of Moscow will be only 7 hours.
  • In Russian folklore, a proverb is dedicated to the Winter Solstice: the sun - for the summer, winter - for the frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease.
  • It was on the shortest day of the year that our ancestors predicted the next year's yield. So, for example, frost on trees - to a rich harvest of grain.
  • On this day, Saint Anfisa of Rome is commemorated, who suffered for the Christian faith in the 5th century.

ON A NOTE

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2017

  • spring equinox - March 2010:29
  • 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
  • winter solstice - 21 December 10:02

Winter solstice. - On the calendar end of November, which means that until the day of the Winter Solstice remains less than a month. For those who are not in the know, I will say that on the day of the Winter Solstice there will be a change in annual energies according to the theory of Bazi and Qi Men. This year this day falls on December 21, 2016. At 13:50 Moscow time in Fire Monkey cedes his place of honor Fire Rooster! Who will be lucky in the Rooster, and who will ruthlessly peck at the very sore spot, interesting to know?

I'll start with something pleasant - with luck: 1. Rats, Monkeys and Dragons will be lucky in romantic and love relationships. The rooster for these people is the "flower of romance", so in 2017 these people will be unusually lucky on the love front. They will be noticeable to the opposite sex and incredibly attractive. 2. If you were born in the year (day) of the Snake or Ox, in 2017 you will also be lucky, especially if the Metal element is favorable for you. 3. If you were born in the year (day) of the Monkey or Dragon, and the Metal element is favorable for you, then you will also be successful in the coming year. 4. If you were born in a year (day) of Yin Metal, then the year of the Rooster is a "reward star" for you. In the coming year, you will find success in the field of career. Especially if you already have your own business or are planning to start such a business in 2017. 5. If you were born in a year or day of Yang Fire / Yin Fire, then the coming year Fire Rooster for you is the year of the Noble Man. This means that for a whole year in the heavenly office they hear you, help and support you as much as possible! 6. If you were born in the year (day) Fire Yin/Earth Yin, then the Rooster for you is the "symbolic star" of the Academician. This means that throughout the year you will have success in the field of education. If your plans for 2017 include the item “get additional education- by all means take advantage of this luck from heaven. Who does the Rooster not love in 2017 and who can he attack? First of all - 1. Rooster does not like Rabbits (year or birthday). These people will be uncomfortable in 2017, especially if the elements of Metal or Fire are harmful to them. In second place is the Dog. People born in the year or day of this animal during 2017 will feel discomfort. 3. Tigers and Oxen are not particularly lucky in the year of the Rooster, but if the element Fire is favorable for you, then the Rooster will not prevent you from succeeding in 2017. 4. If you were born in the year of the Pig or the Goat, and the element of Fire is favorable for you, the year of the Rooster will be very comfortable for you, especially if you decide start a family this year.

In the Bazi map of the upcoming 2017, active, bright, active

Metal is constantly in conflict with the element of the year, the weak Yin Fire. Fire by its very nature melts, subjugates metal (money)), but because there is a lot of metal, and it is active, the elements of Fire are very difficult to control and subjugate. That is why money matters come to the fore in 2017. Everything related to business and money will be difficult to control for a whole year. Well, you need to understand that the forecast I voiced is very general, and therefore it may be incorrect for you personally. Each person's map has its own nuances that can radically change the picture. Full information can only give an individual forecast calculated on your map. I will talk about such a forecast in the next newsletter.

Solstice and equinox in the northern hemisphere 2016 - 2020... - The spring and autumn equinoxes of 2016 are an astronomical event in which day equals nights, marking the change of seasons like the summer and winter solstices. We know that the spring and autumn equinoxes occur exactly at the moment when our Sun crosses the celestial equator in its annual movement across the sky. These points, respectively, are in the constellations of Pisces and Virgo.

About the daysdressing and solstice.- The summer and winter solstices are celebrated far away Sun from the celestial equator. Accordingly, these points are at this moment in the constellations of Taurus and Sagittarius. The point of the summer solstice, according to astronomical calculations, moved to the constellation Taurus quite recently, only in 1988. Prior to this, the point of summer opposition was in the constellation Gemini. A rather slow shift of the equinoxes and solstices occurs mainly as a result of precession, which means that the directions of the earth's axis gradually change, occurring under the influence of the attraction of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. Talking about the dates of spring and autumn equinox, it is necessary to distinguish the date according to universal time (Greenwich Mean Time), as well as the date of the time zone of the area where you live. If, for example, the spring or autumn equinox occurred before 24:00 GMT, in countries that are located west of the zero meridian, this day has not yet arrived, then, according to local time, the onset of the equinox will be considered 1 day earlier. If the equinox came later than 24:00 GMT, then in those states that are located east of the zero meridian, the next day will already come, which means that the date of the equinox will be 1 day more. In the table below, you can see exact dates spring and autumn equinoxes, just like the winter and summer solstices for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The time below is given in Greenwich Mean Time.

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2016

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2017

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2018

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2019

Equinoxes and Solstice Days 2020

There are things in our world that are unchanging and certain. These include: spring and autumn equinoxes, winter and summer solstices. The winter solstice is a kind of astronomical event, the moment the center of the Sun passes through the points of the ecliptic, the most distant from the equator of the celestial sphere and are called solstice points. 21 andDecember 22 - the most short days in a year. From 21 to 22 December - the most long night. 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 - and astronomical winter will come. During the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, the Sun remains above the horizon least of all. In astrology, it is believed that this date is the real beginning of winter. According to many customs, this is also the real beginning of the New Year: and this is logical, before that the sun was decreasing, the length of the day was decreasing, and now the day is starting to increase, the sun is getting bigger - real birthSun, and with it the New Year! Living in close contact with nature, subordinating their lives to cosmic rhythms, peoples used this time as a starting point for improving the quality of their lives. The ancient Russian calendar was based on the phenomena of the four seasonal incarnations of the Sun: Kolyada - Yarilo - Kupail - Svetovit, tied to four astronomical solar events of the year:

  1. the weak winter sun-baby Kolyada is born renewed in the morning after the Night of the Winter Solstice,
  2. on the Day of the Spring Equinox, the young man Yarilo turns into a stronger sun,
  3. on the Day of the Summer Solstice, the husband of Kupail turns into the mighty sun,
  4. on the Day of the Autumnal Equinox, it turns into an aging and weakening wise autumn sun-old man Svetovit, dying at sunset before the Night of the Winter Solstice, in order to be reborn in the morning as a renewed sun-baby Kolyada, again gaining its solar strength.

And did our ancestors stand at a low level of culture (as, in particular, D.K. Zelenin believed), celebrating Russian holidays? In their ritual complexes, was not that Great Knowledge of the laws of the cosmos preserved and preserved, which our wise ancestors wanted to convey to us - their descendants? Scientists today assume quite that in the rites Winter Christmas time, Maslenitsa and Trinity-Kupala cycle fixed those, as physicists call them, "phase transitions" through which the primary structure passes universe- the cosmic ocean in its creative, creative process. Winter Christmas time- this is a stable, motionless, potentially carrying all the possibilities of the form of the crystal. She rules masculinity -Father Frost, about which A.S. Famintsyn in his book “The Deities of the Ancient Slavs” wrote: “According to the Russian settlers, the sun is a fire supported by Grandfather, under whose name, therefore, in this case should be understood as the supreme heavenly God.” Maslenitsa or Krasnaya Gorka, which in ancient times always ended on the Day of the vernal equinox. This is the movement of melted snow and ice, the transition from a crystalline potential form to an active, liquid one, which is ruled by the creative feminine principle - Mother-in-law. And finally, Green Svyatki or Semik and Trinity. Here is another transformation of the gradual transformation of water into steam, plasma, and then into the Light. Consider biology. After all, it is Light that gives birth to living life - green leaves and grass. And this entire “phase complex” is completed by the Kupala night, when the process of reincarnation of those who must return to our world as newborn children, that is, people, is turned on.

Everything is very logical: Crystal - Water - ionized steam- Light - Green leaf (tree, herbs) - Human. And at the same time, the crystal is the starting point. After all, this term itself literally means “frozen light”. And that means that a Person who has reached the “frozen light”, who has acquired a “light body”, i.e. "holy" - Rishi (or Rasha) - is: A sage who comprehended Main Meaning Universes - the eternal and endless cycle of life! There are things in our world that are unchanging and determined. These include: spring and autumn equinoxes, winter and summer solstices.

WINTER SOLSTICE. Dec 22. - On the day of the winter solstice, the light embodied in the Sun begins to rise from the very depths, highlighting the axis on which all layers of being are strung. The turn that takes place in the very center of the night of the year has a special power, joining which, all living things will begin their ascent to manifestation. By witnessing this event, we give ourselves the opportunity to participate in the most deep rhythms our lives, to keep up with the times from the very beginning, and not wake up in the middle of an old act of life drama, with the question - “What is going on here anyway?”.

The main thing on this day is to feel this turn, to reproduce it as some kind of internal movement.

If you set such a goal - how to do it, options will come. Let your creativity, the sunny beginning, be manifested here, this is important. The day should not pass “as usual”, put a little more of your strength into it, appear in it a little brighter than yesterday. Do something in it that you have never gotten your hands on before. But this business should not be cumbersome, it should draw a lot of strength out of you. Just to feel that there are a little more of them, and try to get joy from it.

The days around the winter solstice are the most better days in a year when you can really change your destiny. That is, to be reborn in the same way as the Sun, to discard all unnecessary and give rise to a new one.

Three days before December 21 and three after - this is an energetically charged time. Strong flows of energy descend on Earth. Therefore, in the days preceding the winter solstice, it is favorable to get rid of everything unnecessary. This can be done mentally, but it is better to write on paper everything you want to get rid of and burn it. It is also beneficial before this day to cleanse your home, yourself, find time to cleanse your thoughts. Wish happiness to your loved ones, relatives, friends - this is the easiest thing to do these days. After that, it is very favorable to make plans for the whole year (preferably write in a notebook), make wishes, use intention, conduct meditations for yourself and for the whole Earth. On this day, you must definitely find time in order to touch the depths of your life. Move away from the superficial everyday bustle and pay attention to what is happening inside you, in life. And starting from this foundation, find what ideas of yours are waiting to be born, brought to life, what is ready to become a plan for the future. Plans, compiled on this day and for the whole year, have a special power - because you fill them with the power of the growing Sun. It is advisable to write down and save these plans. During the Solstice, it is auspicious to make wishes, use intention, conduct meditations for yourself and for the whole Earth. All this will have a special power due to the natural rhythms of nature. And on December 22 in the morning, try to meet the sunrise and congratulate him on his birth, thank him for everything that it gives us.

Point designation. - The points of the winter and summer solstices are indicated by the symbols of the zodiac corresponding to the constellations in which they were located at the time of Hipparchus (as a result of the prelude of the equinoxes, these points have shifted and are now located, respectively, in the constellations of Sagittarius and Taurus, and the point of the summer solstice has moved to the constellation of Taurus from the constellation Gemini relatively recently - in the fall of 1988): the winter solstice - the sign of Capricorn (), the summer solstice - the sign of Cancer ().

solstice(solstice) - the old Russian name for the solstice. Corresponded to the moment of the "turn" of the Sun for profit or loss of the day. in Rus' and in many European countries The winter solstice was celebrated as a celebration of the birth of the sun.

Solstice:
1. Sun (Kolovorot).
2. All that universe that lives according to the law of a given time (the solstice is turned to the east) and space (the solstice, that is, Nature).
3. Cult Sign of the Slovenian Family (song "Wolf Solstice").
4. Medical symbol, it encodes the movement of biological time, the process of growth and aging. Circle of metabolism of the circulatory system, respiratory cycle and activity lymphatic system etc.
5. A holiday among the ancient Slavs, dividing the year into a period of life and a period of death.
Summer solstice- the holiday of Midsummer, the shortest night of the year, the triumph of the Great Light. On the night of 20 to 21 (from 21 to 22) June, dreams and reality mix with each other. It is one of the most important and widespread solar holidays.
Night before the Summer Solstice - "there is a time for great Magic and great Power". On this day they gather healing herbs. Plants - a combination of mistletoe with oak, St. John's wort, rose, fern. Celtic holiday Oak. June 20-23 - the most short nights in a year. These nights are full of energy and magic. June 21 is considered a major turning point on the Wheel of the Year. Reality and dreams are mixed, the boundaries between the worlds become thinner. This day symbolizes the highest point, the maximum peak, the rise, rise, ecstasy, both in nature and in human life. The holiday embodies fertility, abundance, glory, triumph, generosity, fullness of life, happiness. Cheerfulness, love of life, fun reign in this shortest of earthly nights. 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. For example, it was believed that the earth gives solid foundation in life, self-confidence, fertility. However, the main essence of this holiday is that people learn to enjoy life, love it, enjoy it. It helps to open the heart and feel happiness. On this holiday, it is customary to go to nature, closer to the water. Until dawn, bonfires blaze, laughter is heard, cheerful songs ring. Ritual bathing, wreaths of flowers, dances around the fire - all these are elements without which a holiday is not conceivable. Also, midsummer good time for the initiation of youth, for the first stage of initiation - familiarization with the magic circle. This night is good for love, but not for special fertility rituals, but just for making love for your own pleasure. To run naked at dawn on the grass wet with dew and splash over the fields, through the forests sexual energy — good remedy from infertility and a guarantee of strong, healthy offspring in the future. On this holiday, a sacrificial effigy is created and burned. It could be Wicker Man, as the Celts do, i.e. a wicker man, inside of which the victims are laid. Such an effigy is burned with the first rays of the sun. It can be a straw (or from last year's hay) scarecrow on a cross. This is set in the center of the fire, which is lit at the beginning of the night. In any case, this is a sacrifice to the Gods of Fertility, so that the harvest is plentiful and neither prolonged rains nor hail spoil it.

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Rus' is an enchanted word

Here is the search result for the next version of the word RUS. The scientist cat responded, meowed about the deep antiquity. His words were heard and understood. Let me start by quoting a sentence from...

The autumn equinox of 2016 will come on September 22 - at this time the Sun will cross the celestial equator and move from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern. An equinox is the point in time at which the center of the sun crosses the celestial equator. The autumnal equinox always occurs in the constellation Libra.

The day of the autumn equinox is a special time for rituals, ceremonies and conspiracies for love and relationships that receive great power. During the autumn equinox, it is good to make global changes in life, especially those related to well-being and love.

The autumnal equinox is the astronomical beginning of autumn. On this day, the length of day and night on the whole Earth is the same and equal to 12 hours. On the days of the spring equinox and the autumn equinox, the Sun rises almost exactly in the east and sets almost exactly in the west. The day of the autumnal equinox was also considered the New Year according to the Old Slavonic calendar. At this time began New Year- a new countdown, "new summer" according to the old calendar, because the year was counted according to the summer. This holiday was called Radogoshch or Tausen. During the autumn equinox, the Slavs, who had harvested, glorified Rod and asked him also in next year give prosperity, harvest and addition to families.

In astrology, the autumnal equinox is one of the four important temporal cardinal points of the year. During the autumn equinox, a powerful release of energy occurs in space, which gives rise to a new action, a new countdown. A powerful energy impulse saturates all life on earth and makes it possible to start everything new, take the initiative and act actively. Therefore, on the day of the equinox, you can switch to another way of life, new round life, vigorous activity, at a new time of the year and, accordingly, at this time new energies appear in space.

The autumn equinox will take place in the sign of Libra, which symbolizes partnerships, harmony and justice. It is at this time of harmony, equality of day and night that a person needs to return to a state of internal balance and harmony, to find the right balance between male and female. feminine, between outer and inner world between yourself and another person.

In almost all ancient cultures, these days were celebrated special holidays and rituals. They were also magical.

The autumn equinox is the time to stop, turn off your daily fuss, calm your thoughts, think, look at the setting star, listen to the breath of Nature, breathe yourself in accordance with the rhythm of the Universe, as our wise ancestors did in ancient times.

On the day of the autumn equinox, the Slavs lit a fire in honor of Svarog, the Creator God of our Universe. It was believed that Svarog could be seen on the night of the autumn equinox, if you look at the Big Dipper. Svarog also symbolized all the ancestors who had gone to another world. Therefore, on the day of Svarog or the day of the autumn equinox, large funeral feasts were held in the center of the settlement - tablecloths were laid on the ground and products were displayed: cottage cheese, pies with cabbage, cheese, berries, honey. Milk and butter were brought to feed the ancestors and Svarog himself. After the holiday, in the evening, everyone went to the bathhouse and asked the common ancestor Svarog to purify the soul and body, which is health.

Svarog is also considered the patron saint of marital union, so September has long been the month of weddings. If you want to get married before next day autumn equinox - then observe the entire ritual of celebrating the day of Svarog and ask Svarog to help you meet your betrothed and combine with him with a sacred marital union.

On this day also great importance rowan had - rowan brushes, along with leaves, were inserted between window frames in the evening, so that they would help the Sun, which would weaken, protect the house from dark forces.

TaroTaro wishes you success and prosperity.

The spring equinox, or astronomical spring, in 2016 will come on March 20. On Sunday, the day will be equal in duration to the night: on everything the globe, wherever we are, day and night will last for 12 hours.

The sun at this moment crosses the celestial equator and passes from southern hemisphere celestial sphere to the north. Astronomical spring is coming in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, and autumn is coming in the southern hemisphere.

What time is the spring equinox

The spring equinox will occur at 06.30 Moscow time (04.30 GMT) on March 20, 2016. And exactly six months later, namely September 23, the day of the autumnal equinox comes, which, accordingly, is called astronomical autumn.

In ancient times, when there were no calendars, it was believed that it was on the day of the vernal equinox that renewal in nature began: melting snow, swelling of buds on trees, the return of birds from the south, the first spring thunder.

Why doesn't the spring equinox have an exact date?

The interval between two equinoxes of the same name is called the tropical year, which is adopted for measuring time. Our regular daily calendar contains equal number days - 365 days. A tropical year is approximately 365.2422 solar days, so the equinox falls on different time days, moving forward every year by almost six hours.

For four years, the date of the equinox shifts by almost a day and, if it were not for the intercalary day leap year(February 29), the moment of the equinox would have continued to "float away" further along the calendar. To compensate for this shift, the concept of a leap year was introduced, which returns the equinox to the previous number.

Slavic vernal equinox

The day of the vernal equinox is not only a unique natural phenomenon and the beginning of astrological spring, but also a pagan Slavic holiday- Comedian.

Komoyeditsa appeared in the time of the Magi, and it was celebrated until the 16th century. At the same time, the holiday itself began a week before the day of the spring equinox and lasted a week after. It symbolized the complete victory of spring over winter. Yarilo-Sun came into its own: a new annual cycle began. Therefore, in ancient times, on the day of the vernal equinox, the Slavs, like many other peoples, had the beginning of a new year.

How the vernal equinox is celebrated in other countries

The day of the spring equinox is considered the beginning of the year (not calendar), for example, in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and Afghanistan. On March 21, Muslims will celebrate Navruz - a holiday of the beginning of spring and the arrival of a new year.

IN modern Japan the day of the equinox is called "Spring Higan" and is a holiday. According to tradition, the Japanese consider it right to visit the graves of deceased ancestors on this day, the altars are updated.

In Mexico, this holiday is celebrated by gathering at the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. According to their beliefs, to meet spring at the top of the highest pyramid means to receive a blessing on whole year. At the foot of the pyramids, Mexican actors perform ritual dances.

Who is Ostara?

The name Ostara is associated with the Germanic or Anglo-Germanic goddess Eostre (Istra), as we are informed by Beda the Venerable in the book "De Ratione Temporum" - he was the first to declare that christian easter(Easter) was named after her. The goddess, known as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austro, Ausos, was the goddess of dawn and fertility among the northern European peoples. This is the greatest female deity of antiquity, fruitful of all nature.

The name "Ostara" has common roots with the names of Astrea, Astarte, Astghik (Armenia), Atargatis, Ishtar, Ashtoret, Greek Eos and Jewish Esther, which evokes associations with the morning dawn, the eastern direction, the beginning and the "morning star" - the planet Venus. In addition, the peoples of the Mediterranean region celebrated the spring equinox with celebrations associated with the resurrection and / or return to the world of living male companions of mother goddesses: Attis, Adonis, Astara, Tammuz-Dumuzi, and so on, up to the Christian Jesus. This symbolized the spring revival of nature, hitherto dead and bound by ice-death.

Rituals and Traditions for the Spring Equinox

One of the main rituals of the ancient Slavs on the day of the vernal equinox was the lighting of bonfires, symbolizing the main deity - Yarilo (the god of the Sun). But the fire was kindled not just like that, but with the help of glass.

In order to better recharge themselves from solar fire, the Slavs jumped over bonfires, believing that in this way they burn all bad things, all diseases, receiving health, strength and new abilities from the Sun. A boy jumping over a fire was bound to grow up to be a real hero, and a girl - to become the mother of a hero and protector of the clan.

Like everything folk holidays, on the day of the vernal equinox, they tried with the help of signs to find out the weather on next year. So, if there was frost that day, they said that forty more frosts awaited everyone.

On this day, it was impossible to think about the bad: the ancients believed that this would definitely come true. One of the customs was to bake cookies in the shape of a bird that day. They were called larks.

rituals

It is believed that the day of the spring equinox is the time for those who want to start new life, correct previous mistakes, rewrite something "with clean slate". To do this, you need to clean your home or workplace.

Most main advice- On March 20, think and talk only about good and pleasant things. bad thoughts, anxiety, swear words, quarrels and negativity will lead to the fact that everything you talked about and thought about that day is realized. So esotericists recommend spending this day only with positive emotions.