Summer solstice in 2017 falls on June 21. This day is considered the longest day of the year, when the height of the Sun's rise in the sky is the highest. The summer solstice is also called the first day of summer, since it is on this day that the summer season begins in the northern hemisphere of our planet according to astronomical laws.

In 2017, the summer solstice occurred at 04:24 UTC (04:24 Moscow time). On June 21, at the latitude of Moscow, the Sun will rise above the horizon to a height of more than 57 degrees, and in areas located above the latitude of 66.5 degrees (the Arctic Circle), it will not set below the horizon at all, as a result of which the day will last around the clock. At the South Pole at this time there is a polar night.

In ancient times, the summer solstice was timed to coincide with the Kupala festival. According to tradition, 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 also performed ablutions in rivers and lakes to wash the soul.

To date, the Kupala holiday does not correspond to the astronomical solar equinox, but many peoples celebrate the summer solstice in the old fashioned way. The summer solstice is also widely celebrated in the West. For example, in Britain the holiday is called Lita, it is closely connected with the pagan cult of the sun. The Scandinavian and Baltic peoples splendidly celebrate the day and night of the summer solstice, they are called Ivan's day or Ivan's night. In Latvia, the holiday is called Ligo or Janov's Day, it has state status and is celebrated annually on June 23 and 24.

On the day of the summer solstice, according to popular beliefs, it is necessary to follow the signs. First of all, earlier they paid attention to the weather on this day - bad weather promised a crop failure and a cold summer. It is believed that people born during the summer solstice have good health and a happy fate, as they are under the protection of the sun.

Also among the important beliefs and signs on the summer solstice there are sentences and conspiracies. For example, if on this day you climb over 12 fences, then your wish will come true within a year. And in order to get rid of all diseases, you need to take a steam bath with a broom, collected on the day of the summer solstice.

In 2017, the longest day will come on June 21, it will last 17 hours 8 minutes and 28 seconds. There will come a period when the Sun will reach its highest point, and the next three days will remain in it with little or no movement. The solstice will mark the beginning of the astronomical summer, although in reality it is the middle of the natural one. This day is considered mystical, when solar energy intensifies, wishes come true, and spells and divination work flawlessly.

Prepare the "solar amulet"

You can perform rituals of solar magic, for example, make a solar talisman for yourself. To do this, choose a quiet place, get rid of bad thoughts, put on clothes of gold or yellow color and be sure to Golden ring on the finger. Only then can you start making your Sun. It can be made from wood or cut from thick paper. Then the amulet should be charged - put it on a table covered with a yellow cloth, and let the sun's rays illuminate it.

For love magic collect seven different herbs, flowers and sew into an amulet. Love-attracting properties on this day have flowers of calendula, lavender, rosemary, sunflower, fern leaves, verbena, oak, mountain ash. The traditional magical colors of this day are yellow, red and pink. The "solar" herbs collected at this time have a powerful healing power: wormwood, burdock, St. John's wort, mistletoe, dill, parsley, green onions, thyme, honeysuckle, nettle, meadowsweet.

At the fiery signs, everything conceived will come true

Astrologers take this day as the beginning of summer, when the Sun enters the sign of Cancer. It turns out to be a cardinal sign, meaning the transition from a period of doubt and uncertainty to something new. It remains only to decide which issues should be resolved in the next three months.

You need to program and plan for yourself the future - to wish yourself to realize important life goals, - advises astrologer Emma Litvinova. - The fiery signs of the Zodiac - Leo, Aries and Sagittarius - will be especially able to help themselves during the solstice. The signs of Earth and Air are less powerful, but they can also change a lot in their lives during this period. Water signs this day will not bring anything global, it is better to dream calmly.

Turn the house upside down

According to experts, on the day of the summer solstice, even everyday activities can be turned into a talisman. This will keep you from bad luck, illness, dangerous situations and unkind people. To do this, you need to gather your entire family or close friends in one large room. Everyone needs to be given work to do - for example, to sculpt dumplings together, to fill tubes with cream. In no case should anyone argue, swear, speak in raised tones. Place a bowl of water on the table nearby, light candles, and let everyone put their own thing there: a comb, a keychain, a key, a ring, a bracelet.

When the dumplings are cooked and the tubes are baked, you can sit down at the table and have lunch. After the meal, you can pick up your now amulets.

And if you want a change in your life, turn over as many objects in the house as possible at night. Place cups and glasses upside down, turn shoes and chairs over. Then say: "The house is upside down, another life will begin with a new day!" - and go to bed. In the morning, you can return the inverted objects to their usual position. Well, wait for a new life.

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 results in the longest day and shortest night (summer solstice) in one hemisphere of the Earth, and the shortest day and longest night (winter solstice) in the other.

Longest day of the year

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 are the 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 7.34 am Moscow time.

© Sputnik / Vladimir Sergeev

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 thousands of years, the summer solstice was of great importance to our ancient ancestors, who were subject to the cycles of nature.

How did the Slavs celebrate the solstice?

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.

© Sputnik / Alexey Malgavko

The people said: "To Kupala - the Sun for the winter, and summer for the heat", "Whoever does not go to the Bathhouse - he will be a stump-deck, and whoever goes to the Bathhouse - he will be a white birch."

The holiday has many names. Depending on the location and time, he was called Kupala, Kres (Old Russian), Ivan the Good, Love, Ivan Kupala, Ivan the Herbalist, Yarilin Day (in the Yaroslavl and Tver provinces), Sontsecres (Ukrainian), Spirits-day (Bulgarian) and etc. In Ukraine, it is also known as Kupailo, in Belarus - Kupala.

© Sputnik / Konstantin Chalabov

Participants of the Novgorod Kupalle festival in Veliky Novgorod

With the adoption of Christianity, people did not reject the Kupala holiday, but, on the contrary, timed this day to coincide with the day of John the Baptist, which, according to the old style, falls on June 24th. But according to the new style of the calendar, the day of John the Baptist falls on July 7th. To date, the celebration does not correspond to the astronomical solar equinox.

How the solstice is celebrated in the West

The celebration of the summer solstice was present in all ancient pagan systems, many peoples still celebrate it to this day, some in its original form, and some in a simplified one, leaving only the basic rituals and translating the ancient rituals of the ancestors into a bright holiday.

The summer solstice among all Celtic peoples was considered the time of fairies, elves and other supernatural beings. Among the Celtic peoples of Britain, the holiday was called Lita and was closely associated with the pagan cult of the sun.

© Sputnik / Egor Eremov

The Scandinavian and Baltic peoples splendidly celebrated the day and night of the summer solstice. Subsequently, these holidays in different countries received the name Ivan's day or Ivan's night (from the national version of the name Ivan).

In Latvia, the holiday is called Ligo or Janov's Day, it has state status and is celebrated on June 23 and 24, which are official holidays. In Estonia, it is also called Janov's Day, in Lithuania - Jonines (Jonines) or Rasos (Rasos, dew festival). In both countries, it is celebrated on June 24 and is a public holiday and a day off.

In Norway, the holiday named after John the Baptist is called Jonsok ("Midsummer Night"). Another name for the holiday - Jonsvaka (Jonsvoko) - is formed from the name Johan and the verb vake - "keep awake". It was believed that on Midsummer Night one could not sleep until dawn - not only because one could hear the singing of the elves, but first of all with the aim of protecting the whole coming year. Another name for the holiday, more "official" - Sankthansnatt or Sankthansaften (night of St. Hans).

Sputnik

Sailing yacht from Finland "Svanhild" at the "Days of the Sea" festival in the port of Vanasadam in Tallinn

In Sweden, the holiday is called Midsommar. Until 1953, it was celebrated on the same day when Christian church celebrated the day of John the Baptist. But now the holiday usually falls on the penultimate Saturday of June, that is, it is usually celebrated from June 20 to 26. In Sweden, the celebration begins the day before, on Friday, which is also a public holiday.

In Finland, during pagan times, the holiday was called in honor of the God of Fire - Ukon juhla (Ukon juhla), but now it is called Juhannus (Juhannus) - an outdated form of the pronunciation of the name of John the Baptist. Since 1954, Juhannus has been celebrated on the Saturday that falls between the 20th and 26th of June. Since 1934, this day has been an official holiday - the Day of the National Flag of the country.

Folk omens on the day of the summer solstice

On this day, it is customary to follow the signs, that's what the people paid attention to.

Bad weather at the summer solstice predicted crop failure and a poor year. It is believed that if the Sun hid behind clouds, the summer will be bad.

If there is a lot of dew in the morning - to a rich harvest. This dew was collected and poured into one vessel, it was considered healing. The same power was possessed by the water collected in the morning from wells and springs. They washed themselves with it on the same day and drank.

If there are a lot of stars in the sky, this is a mushroom summer.

It is also believed that if you climb over 12 fences on this day, then your wish will come true within a year.

And in order to get rid of all diseases, you need to take a steam bath with a broom collected on that day.

The material is compiled from open sources.

Seize the opportunity between June 21 and 24 and use the days of the summer solstice to perform strong conspiracies for success in business and rituals for the fidelity of a loved one. And it will give energy to people with a strong spirit.

Summer Solstice

The sun is a true esoteric healer, who has been worshiped by all people from time immemorial. Therefore, a summer day, when the central star of our solar system reaches its maximum strength, traditionally used to gain happiness and longevity.

For several thousand years, holidays have been celebrated on the day of the summer solstice, praising fire, water, earth, and air. All kinds of divination June 21, 2017 is the longest day of the year makes it clear and understandable.

When you weave a wreath of field herbs and put it on your head, it will symbolize the Sun. Now make a wish and make a small sacrifice to the fire. Small things are thrown into a kindled fire (notebook, wallet, old shoes, small banknotes) with the words: “Paid”. Think positively about your future, then your desire will materialize in the coming days.

There is an effective money ritual to attract wealth into your life. To this end, all coins are selected from the purse department and hidden under the threshold of the house. You can place a trifle in the doorway or in the cracks found next to it. Very quickly, you will begin to make a profit where you had to fail before.

To attract positive changes, it is necessary from June 21 to 22 to put upside down objects suitable for these purposes in your apartment. It can be furniture items, as well as dishes in the kitchen. Read the plot: “The house is upside down, and my fate will change for the better with a new day!” At the same time, you need to think that everything is in your hands and only you are the master of your destiny.

Charm on the day of the summer solstice

There is a belief that if June 21, 2017 is the longest day of the year meet with the first rays of the Sun and ask the Higher Powers for help, then you will receive support from the inhabitants of the other world invisible to the eye.

Even dew on the day of the summer solstice acquires a powerful healing power and can drive illness from the body. But all medicinal herbs and flowers are filled with triple power and more fully affect the human body.

The most effective amulet can be made using a yellow (or gold) ribbon and nine beads. different color. You make a knot from the tape, then you string the first bead and secure it with another knot from the tape. Now - leave a small free gap and again make a knot and string a bead. According to this scheme, we place all nine beads on the tape. When placing each bead, we make one wish at a time, or we repeat the same wish all nine times. Both ends of the tape are also tied together with a knot. The resulting amulet is placed over front door home or carry it with you in your bag.

Evening will come only after nine o'clock in the evening

Today is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere of our planet. This means that daylight hours today will last longer than any other day. In Moscow, for example, the Sun began to rise above the horizon already at 3:45, and the sunset will come only at 21:18. V southern hemisphere today, on the contrary, should be the shortest, and the night - the longest

The summer solstice can fall on June 20 (usually on leap years) or on June 22, but it is on June 21 that it occurs most often. The height to which the Sun will rise above the horizon today will be the maximum in the Northern Hemisphere, and the minimum for the entire year in the Southern Hemisphere. At the same time, for several days before and after June 21, the sun at noon turns out to be almost at the same height, although in other periods of the year this indicator changes somewhat more rapidly. That is why the word "solstice" is used to refer to today. At the north and south poles of the Earth, today the middle of the polar day and polar night, which last for half a year, has come, respectively.

Scientists call today the beginning of the astronomical summer in Eurasia, North America and most of Africa, as well as astronomical winters in Australia and South America.

In many countries, there are traditions, one way or another connected with the onset of the long day per year, even if they rarely coincide with "astronomically" exact date. In particular, from the evening of June 23 (July 6, according to a new style) and until June 24 (July 7), folk holiday Eastern Slavs Ivan Kupala. In Sweden, Latvia and some other countries, the summer solstice is officially considered a day off.

From tomorrow, the day in the Northern Hemisphere will begin to gradually decrease, and in the Southern Hemisphere - to increase. September 22 will be the day of the spring equinox, when the day and night on the whole Earth will last almost equally (if you do not take into account the influence of atmospheric refraction, due to which the day will still be a little longer), and on December 21 - the day of the winter solstice.