Folk signs and ancient superstitions on the winter solstice

The winter solstice, or the shortest day of the year, has long been considered a special milestone in the natural and spiritual cycle. At this moment, the sun seems to "freeze" in its movement, and then begins to return, bringing hope for renewal and light. The Slavs saw this day as a powerful symbol of the turn of fate, observed the weather and conducted rituals related to purification and worship of the sun. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Winter Solstice: why it was considered a turning point

The winter solstice is one of the oldest landmarks in the calendar of the peoples of the Northern Hemisphere. In 2025, the astronomical moment of the solstice falls on December 21, it is fixed Moscow time at about 18:03.

In everyday and cultural terms, this day has historically been considered a "turning point": it marked the beginning of a gradual lengthening of daylight hours, which in agrarian communities was perceived as a harbinger of the rebirth of nature and the hope for a new harvest.

Why was the solstice considered a turning point?

The astronomical essence of the phenomenon is simple: on the day of the winter solstice, the north pole of the Earth is maximally deflected from the Sun, as a result of which the shortest daylight and the longest night of the year are recorded for observers in the Northern Hemisphere.

For a rural society, this physical constant was enough to build a cycle of household chores, rituals, and calendar holidays: with the arrival of the "darkest night," rituals began to "evoke" or "invite" the return of light—from bonfires and candles to symbolic songs and processions.

In a number of Slavic traditions, these rituals became part of the Kolyada complex, when carols, house-to-house visits and ritual dinners served both as an element of social solidarity and a symbolic act of renewal. Finally, the very fact that daylight increased after December 21 reinforced the idea of a "turn" in time and provided psychological support during the harsh winter period.

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Folk signs on December 21: what to expect from the weather

In the Russian folk tradition, December 21 was considered not only as a calendar milestone, but also as a day, according to the weather of which they tried to predict the characteristics of the upcoming winter and even the summer of next year. If there was severe frost and snow on the day of the solstice, this was interpreted as a harbinger of a cold and long winter.

The presence of precipitation or a thaw on the 21st could mean the changeability of the season and serve as a reason for early economic decisions - to add hay, strengthen roofs, postpone sowing plans next year. Such folk observations are part of the global "weather wisdom" known as weather lore, which has served people for centuries to minimize risks in the agricultural cycle.

Observations of nature and animals on this day also had a predictive value. The behavior of cattle, birds, and even trees was taken as signs: if the horse was restless, it was believed that the winter would be harsh; if the sky was clear and windless, it promised light frosts and good snow resistance.

Superstitions related to fire, water and the sun

Fire and water performed key symbolic functions in winter solstice rituals. Fire — from a candle on the windowsill to a campfire in a clearing — was perceived as a "sign of light" that "invited" the sun to return; in some regions, throwing firewood on the hearth or walking around with torches to "disperse the darkness."

The rituals included the idea of "renewal through burning": trash, old things and notes were burned with the desired absolution of past troubles, which was seen both as a magical act of purification and as a psychological ritual of saying goodbye to the passing year.

Water in the rituals had an opposite and at the same time complementary role: washing with cold water at dawn or sprinkling salt and water on the threshold symbolized purification and protection of the house.

A special attitude towards the sun as a living force was expressed in the rituals of veneration of the luminary.: Decorating houses with candles, storing objects with golden or solar symbols in prominent places, and singing Christmas and Christmas carols were aimed not only at aesthetic decoration, but also at "charging" positive energy.

In the culture of many nations, the winter solstice, with its fire and light practices, actually served as a social antidepressant - a collective ritual that helped unite communities and reduce anxiety before the long winter.