What can and cannot be done on the longest day of the year? How did our ancestors attract luck and good fortune on the summer solstice?
Tomorrow in Ukraine, the most unique day of the year begins: with the longest day and the shortest night. This is the day of the summer solstice, which marks the beginning of the astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Our ancestors considered this date sacred and believed that on this day the energy of the sun is especially strong. Therefore, a lot of folk signs and beliefs were associated with the summer solstice. It is interesting that it was on this day that Ivan Kupala was previously celebrated - one of the main national summer holidays, when "heaven and earth open up" for requests and desires. So tomorrow you have the opportunity to "speak" the heavenly body for good luck, good health and luck.
History and traditions of the holiday
The longest day of the year is celebrated in all countries of the world / istockphoto.com
From an astronomical point of view, tomorrow is unique in that it contains a brief moment when the tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the sun is minimal. This means that the sun in its movement across the sky hits its northernmost point. Tomorrow it will happen at 03:32 am UT or 06:32 in our clock. For several days after this, the celestial body at noon will stand at approximately the same height. This fact gave the phenomenon the name "solstice". The longest day of the year will be 17 hours and 33 minutes. After that, the daylight hours will gradually decrease, and the nights will become longer.
It is customary to celebrate this day in all countries of the Northern Hemisphere. For example, in the UK it is called Midsummer Day. On this day, many Englishmen go to Stonehenge to meet the dawn and see how the sun's rays fall through the stone arch of the most ancient structure once a year. In Latvia, the pagan holiday Ligo is celebrated on this day: Latvians decorate their houses with oak branches, nettles and thistles, and arrange walks in nature on the shortest night. In Germany on Mittsommer they like to guess at the betrothed. And in Ireland on the day of the solstice, it is imperative to appease the elves, fairies, gnomes and other supernatural beings.
How to attract good luck for a year
Wildflowers and herbs on this day have magical powers / istockphoto.com
For the ancient Slavs, the day of the summer solstice was sacred. During pagan times, on this day, our ancestors celebrated the holiday of Ivan Kupala. After the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the holiday "shifted" to July 7, however, according to all traditions, the Kupala night should fall on the shortest night of the year. People believed that this is the most mystical time of the year, when not only the sky (as, for example, at Christmas), but also water and earth “opens” for requests. It was believed that correct rituals on this day, you can attract youth, health, luck and even wealth.
- On the day of the summer solstice, you need to get up at dawn (at 4:47). It is advisable to go outside immediately after waking up and wash with dew - according to ancient beliefs, such a ritual rejuvenates the skin.
- It is very useful for the health of the body to walk barefoot in the dew, to expose the face to the first rays of the sun and the summer wind.
- It is necessary to make secret desires “in the sun” at the very moment of the summer solstice (06:32). At this moment, the energy of the sun is incredibly strong and capable of materializing any of your requests.
- To attract good luck, it is better to wear clothes of sunny colors - yellow, orange, amber. All shades of green are also allowed because solstice is dedicated to summer
- On this day, it is advisable to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air. If possible, get out of families into nature: into the forest, in the field or closer to the water. By the way, swimming in reservoirs on the day of the summer solstice is considered very useful - it will fill the body with the energy of the water element
- In nature, be sure to collect a bouquet of wild herbs and flowers. At home, it should be placed in a vase for a few days and then dried. It is believed that plants on this day acquire special magical powers and can attract health to the house.
- If possible, light a fire in the evening. You do not need to jump over it, you just need to sit near the fire and think about your plans for the future. Fire on this day cleanses the soul and body, helps to concentrate energy on achieving goals
- It is highly discouraged to succumb to negative emotions on this day: quarrels, conflicts and disagreements can disrupt your energy balance and "knock down" your mood for well-being
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