07.05.2019
The magic of the winter solstice. The day is suitable for rituals for the fulfillment of desires. If you have a cherished wish, make it on the day of the rebirth of the Sun. This week is favorable to conduct any spiritual practices, read prayers and meditate. and so
The winter solstice is 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.
On this night, you need to get rid of everything unnecessary, obsolete both in your home and in your soul.
You can write on paper whatever you want to get rid of and burn it. After that, it is very favorable to make plans for the whole year (it is advisable to write in a notebook), make wishes. Three days before December 21 and three after is energetically charged time. Strong streams of energy descend on the Earth, which activate consciousness.
In fact, this day turns the world to summer. And why not take advantage of this turn and influence your own destiny? So everything is in your hands. Take care of this day cleaning the house, get rid of old furniture, socks, unnecessary papers. In general, from everything that was lying around. And, of course, put things in order in your thoughts. And then - tune in to good life goals. And here it is - ready - the Sun will definitely help you.
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.
Click on the bird
In Persia, on the winter solstice, they celebrated the birth of the solar god Mithra, who, having gained strength, conquered winter, opening the way for spring. In pagan Europe, the sacred day began on this day. Yule- a holiday that marked the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature and continued 12 days and 13 nights. Its name carries such concepts as "turn of the year" or "dark time".
According to legend, on these nights all the worlds converge in Midgard, that is, here on Earth. Gods and goddesses descend to people, trolls and elves talk to mere mortals and the dead come out of the underworld. Some men and women temporarily leave their bodies and become werewolves or other spirits. Yule is a time of great feast and sacrifice, when all the living gathered together in order to meet the Sun again, which had risen from darkness, to greet the reborn world and enlist support. higher powers for the coming year. For thirteen nights of Yule, spirits ruled the world.
The celebration was a gap between two years, a sacred period during which there are no usual time and boundaries.
Only the lot of the gods is being made and the spindle of the goddess of Fate is turning. The first night was called "mother" and was dedicated to complex rituals that awaken fertility and support the renewal and growth of all living things. With the onset of darkness, people burned bonfires designed to protect houses from evil spirits. The cycle ended with the "day of fate" - everything that was said and done before sunset determined the upcoming events of the coming year (hence the well-known superstition: how you meet the new year, so you will spend it). It was believed that there were no more sure signs than those that appeared on the 13th night.
The Slavs on the day of the winter solstice was born Dazhdbog- a source of heat and light. People believed that the sun stops at will Karachuna- cruel god underworld, the ruler of darkness, the lord of death, the lord of the cold and the direct ancestor of Santa Claus. Deifying the Sun, the Slavs did their best to help him cope with the annual misfortune. Realizing that life itself comes from the beloved luminary, they performed rituals that personified the victory of light over darkness. At the same time, they tried not to offend the formidable Karachun, exposing sacrificial food for him under the windows of houses, but, on the other hand, they kindled fires and jumped over them, taking into themselves the spirit of fire. And of course, like other peoples, on a frosty day on December 22, our ancestors cared about the future, first of all about the harvest, about offspring - in a word, about a happy future in an uninterrupted circle of life.
It is noteworthy that the famous megaliths of antiquity - stonehenge, Egyptian pyramids, Mayan observatories and other places of worship- were precisely "tuned" to the day of the winter solstice. This, of course, speaks of the importance of the sacred rituals that took place during this period. But in the coming December, we will experience something special.
In 2012 The date of the winter solstice takes on a special meaning: on December 21, according to the Mayan calendar, the 5200-year cycle of earthly civilization ends.
On this day, among other things, a rare astronomical event is expected, the frequency of which is 26,000 years: our yellow dwarf will pass through the axis of the center of the Galaxy.
The legendary Mayan astronomers believed that at that moment the galactic clock would be at the zero point, and then a new galactic year would begin, lasting 26,000 solar years.
It should be noted that, according to most scholars, solar system originated at the center of the galaxy Milky Way, whose diameter is equal to 70 thousand light years, and about 400 billion stars are concentrated in its central part. Thus, the Maya were not mistaken in calling the Milky Way the great cosmic mother that gave birth to life itself. The central bulge seemed to them to be a cosmic womb, inside of which there is something that looks like a dark corridor or "dark gap". Maya called him different names, most often using the term "movement during childbirth." It is through the back of this gap that the Sun will pass during the winter solstice of the current year, reborn from the galactic womb.
Today, most prophets and scientists agree that all of these unique astronomical phenomena do not threaten humanity with the end of the world. But this does not mean that they will go unnoticed for us. Maybe it's time to remember the ancient traditions and take care of the well-being of the next life cycle?
new birth
Celebration traditions winter solstice different nations are quite similar. So, one of its central places was occupied by the customs of commemoration. People tried to appease the powerful forces that came to Earth at the very dark night from other worlds. They were welcomed with lavish offerings and tried to gain information about the future through divination.
Signs of ancient rituals are easy to detect today. For example, Evergreen spruce, decorating Yule as a symbol of life, today has become the main attribute of Christmas and new year holidays. These days, people continue to carol, giving everyone who knocks on the door pre-prepared treats, gifts are exchanged, which symbolizes the sacrifice. And lit candles and Christmas lights are bright flashes of ancient bonfires. After all fire - protection and helper in communicating with spirits. Moreover, Christmas itself, which inherited all these traditions, turned out to be as close as possible to the winter solstice. The new hope of mankind revealed itself in the same days in which people from ancient times were accustomed to meet the reborn gods.
The winter solstice is a special day for all peoples. And everyone has their own customs and magical rituals. Astrologers also have a special attitude to this day, whose advice we are willing to share with you.
The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and the longest night. From tomorrow, the day will begin to increase, our Slavic ancestors believed that on this day the Sun is reborn and kindled bonfires to give the Sun strength for rebirth. We are unlikely to kindle bonfires before sunrise, but some traditions are still worth observing.
What are you having for dinner tonight, December 21st, the winter solstice? Well, if round, like the Sun, pies. And even better if they are not for dinner, but for lunch. Order a pizza for lunch at the office - say hello to the Sun! They say that along with round pies, good luck also comes on this day. Check it out yourself!
On December 21, something new must enter your life! Ideally, if on this day you are offered new job. Great if this is your first day at work. It's good if you meet a new person. Didn't take place? Then buy yourself at least a new face cream or a hair clip. On December 21, something new in life should certainly be!
On the day of the winter solstice, it is good to make wishes. This is done in silence, if you have the skill of meditation, dedicate it to your desire. The magic of this day is so great that any dream has every chance of becoming a reality.
Today, before lunch, be sure to remember all your offenders and try to forgive them. It's not an easy task, that's for sure. But if you do not do this today, then the negative thread will stretch into a new period. Today the Sun is reborn! Leave all the negativity to the darkness! Ahead - only joy!
If you have chronic diseases, today is the time to “reverse” the course of events and turn towards health. Use an unconventional method for this: brew a suitable herbal tea (chest, liver, stomach - depending on your problem) and drink this tea in a meditative state. Magicians, esotericists, astrologers claim that the energy force today so great that you can easily "reverse" the course of events for the better. Try it - what if they are right?
And now about what you can’t do on the day of the winter solstice. Today, December 21, in no case should you stir up old grievances and revive old quarrels. Almost harmless on any other day, the phrase “Do you remember how you broke my favorite cup” can be the beginning of the biggest scandal. Beware! And be sure to refrain from envy, and even more so from revenge!
Have a nice day!
At this time, you can really change your destiny, namely, be reborn in the same way as the Sun, discarding everything superfluous and giving rise to a new one! It is on this day that the old solar cycle ends and a new one begins. Our beloved luminary, which gives life to all living things, begins to grow again.
And with it, all our affairs can “grow” if we use this moment correctly and consciously! Don't miss these days!
The culmination and completion of the three gates (10.10, 11.11 and 12.12) will take place on December 21, 2017 during the December solstice.
At this time, you will be able to balance the incoming energies with the Divine Light and the powerful Galactic Light codes radiating from the Galactic Center as the Earth will align with them at that time.
This will be a time of celebration and joy as you ascend the spirals of creation to higher, deeper and wiser levels.
The practices suggested below will help you tune in to the energies that this day brings with it and spend it with benefit.
In the week before December 22, strong flows of energy descend on Earth. This is a highly energized time of miracles and magic!
In 2017 winter solstice happen 21 December at 16:27 GMT or at 19:27 Moscow time
Practicum “Magic of the God of the Sun” in the Astronomical New Year!
Days around the winter solstice these are the best days of the year when it's real change your destiny.
That is, to be reborn in the same way as the Sun. Three days before and three days after is an energetically charged time. To the ground strong currents of energy, which activate the creation matrix.
Be with us in this magic time to customize your life for joy And success, well-being And income, health and resilience.
How to Prepare for the Winter Solstice- two weeks before: 
1. The first thing that is important to do is to cleanse your living space from everything old, unnecessary, stale.
Cleansing is best done on all planes - physical, mental, spiritual - both indoors and in oneself. Do a general cleaning in the house, sort out things, give away those that you definitely won’t need. Finish the cleansing with fire, for this use candles, it will be good if they are charged with Reiki energy.
2. Do the same in terms of your information space, freeing yourself from destructive contacts, negative thoughts and connections you do not need.
Write down on a piece of paper everything that you would like to get rid of, and burn it.
3. It is good to carry out water procedures at this time. Take a bath with herbs, salt or aroma oils. Drink more purified and charged water. During this period, you can remember all the bad things that have accumulated in your heart, and standing in the shower, have a good cry, show all the unexpressed emotions: anger, fears, resentment, etc.
Water will wash everything away. A bath with sea salt and oils will nourish your cleansed body with beneficial energies.
4. Pay off all your debts, even the smallest and forgotten ones. And do not create new ones during this period. If possible, keep promises, complete things that you have been putting off for a long time, or outline a plan for their implementation. Forgive yourself and all your offenders.
“Magic of the Sun God” in the Astronomical New Year!
Week Before (December 14-21):
1. After you clean up and get rid of the excess and fill with beneficial energy to the maximum. You can move on to the magic of creation. Because a week before the solstice, the magical period ALREADY begins. When all your words and thoughts can manifest. Therefore, from this day on, control cleanliness: home, thoughts, information, communication. 
Filter out all negativity. Read life-affirming affirmations. Think positively and as joyfully as possible, planning my abundant future.
2. During the week before the Solstice, it’s good to sum up the results of the year: what did you do, what didn’t, where were the problems or failures, and where were the successes and achievements. It is necessary to leave them in the outgoing year or, having recognized and worked through them, turn them into sources of strength.
3. Start a new diary, later you will need it to record events and moods, feelings and signs in the first 12 magical days of the New Year.
4. Manifest your intentions and make wishes, the fulfillment of which you are looking forward to in the coming year. It is on these days, when the sun is gaining its new strength, your strength is growing with it!!!
In the period from December 19-26, it is favorable to draw up a wish map.
"Workshop" Matrix of Desires ""
in two parts
Theoretical part(preparation for the creation of the Matrix of Desires).
Ppractical part(activation of the Matrix of Desires) 
5. This week is favorable to conduct any spiritual practices, read prayers and meditate. And also to go through attunements and initiations in energy. All this will have a special POWER due to the natural rhythms of nature.
6. The week before the winter solstice (December 14 to 21) has long been considered the most favorable time of the year for conception. Choose this week to conceive a child if you are sure of mutual love.
Three days before and on the day of the solstice:
1. All the annual work is completed, the bins are full. Time to take stock and thank the gods and house spirits for their assistance in all matters throughout the year.
Time to let go of all worries and anxieties to meet the new life cycle.
All housework must be completed by the evening of this day (by the evening of the 21st)
2. On the day of the Winter Solstice, the light, embodied in the Sun from December 21 to 22, 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.
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, options will come, let your creativity, the sunny beginning, manifest itself here, this is important.
3. On this day, you must definitely find time in order to touch the depths of your life. step back 
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.
The plans drawn up on this day and for the whole year have a special power - because you fill them with the power of the growing Sun.
4. On the evening of December 21, lay a rich table, light candles, make a small altar to worship the Sun God, decorate it with solar symbols, put bright fruits, symbols of wealth and abundance. This tradition is considered a guarantee that the whole year will be just as satisfying, rich and profitable.
And on the morning of December 22, try to meet the sunrise and congratulate him on his birth, thanking him for everything that it gives us.
"On-line master class "Magic Solstice - a magical holiday of the Slavs""
Nature lives in its own special cycles. Man cannot change these cycles. But under all the changes in nature, under each of the cycles, you can adapt, which will help begin live in harmony with the universe. This knowledge was actively used in practice by ancient people. Each nation has developed its own calendar of important events. Solstice occupied a key position in this calendar.
Practices for the Winter Solstice
1. Salute the Sun and say a prayer.
Sunrise on this day will come at 8:59 (Moscow time). Starting from this day, the day will increase.
Try to meet the dawn, greet the new Sun. Congratulate him on his birth, thank him for his warmth and the benefits that it gives.
2. Let go of the past, obsolete
Determine what you are ready to let go of your life, what it is time to part with.
For some, these are people with whom nothing else connects, old grievances that only take away vitality, negative attitudes that block the path to your new life.
Light a candle and proclaim the intention that you burn everything that has become obsolete. Ask the Sun to burn out of the body all the blocks where negative emotions are stuck.
3. Express gratitude for life
The best prayer is gratitude. If you want something, learn to be grateful for what you already have.
The winter solstice and the end of the year are a good time to start practicing gratitude if you haven't already. Think about what you can be grateful for to life, the universe, yourself, loved ones, friends, and even ill-wishers.
4. Align with a new beginning 
From this day on, a new Sun is reborn, and with it all living things. Use this time to lay the foundation for a new reality.
Just as the Sun will gain strength every day, and the day will increase, so your intentions will gain strength and physical shape.
Try to be mindful on this day. Be in harmony with yourself and nature!
The solstice is one of the two days of the year when the height of the sun above the horizon at noon is at its minimum or maximum. There are two solstices in a year - winter and summer.
On the winter solstice, the sun rises to its lowest point on the horizon.
In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 or 22, which is when the shortest day and longest night occur. The moment of the solstice shifts every year, since the duration of the solar year does not coincide with calendar time.
Winter solstice begins in 2016 December 21 at 13.45 Moscow time. The sun, moving along the ecliptic, at this moment will reach the most distant position from the celestial equator towards South Pole peace. Astronomical winter will come in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, and summer will come in the Southern Hemisphere.
On this day, at the latitude of Moscow, the Sun rises above the horizon to a height of less than 11 degrees.
These December days beyond the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees northern latitude) the polar night sets in, which does not necessarily mean complete darkness throughout the day. Its main feature is that the Sun does not rise above the horizon.
At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, and the location of the luminary can only be recognized by the constellations. A completely different picture in the region of the South Pole of the Earth - in Antarctica at this time the day lasts around the clock.
On December 21, the Sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, starting the path to spring equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.
For thousands of years, the winter solstice has been of great importance for all the peoples of our planet, who lived in harmony with natural cycles and organized their lives in accordance with them. Since ancient times, people have revered the Sun, realizing that their life on earth depends on its light and heat. For them, the winter solstice represented the victory of light over darkness.
So, in Russian folklore, a proverb is dedicated to this day: the sun - for the summer, winter - for the frost. Now the day will gradually increase, and the night will decrease. The winter solstice was used to judge the future harvest. In the old days, on this day they noticed: frost on the trees - to a rich harvest of grain.
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 king rewarded the headman with money.
The ancient Slavs on the day of the winter solstice celebrated pagan New Year, he contacted the deity Kolyada. The main attribute of the festival was a bonfire, depicting and invoking the light of the sun, which, after the longest night of the year, had to rise higher and higher. The ritual New Year's cake - a loaf - also resembled the sun in shape.
In Europe, these days began a 12-day cycle of pagan festivities dedicated to the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of a new life and the renewal of nature.
On the day of the winter solstice in Scotland it was a custom to start the sun wheel - "solstice". The barrel was smeared with burning tar and let down the street. The wheel is a symbol of the sun, the spokes of the wheel resembled rays, the rotation of the spokes during movement made the wheel alive and looked like a luminary.
Winter solstice before all other seasons was determined in China (there are 24 seasons in the Chinese calendar). IN ancient China it was believed that from that time the male force of nature rises and a new cycle begins. The winter solstice was considered a happy day worthy of celebration. On this day, everyone - from the emperor to the commoner - went on vacation. The army was brought into a state of waiting for orders, border fortresses and trading shops were closed, people went to visit each other, gave gifts. The Chinese made sacrifices to the god of Heaven and ancestors, and also ate porridge made from beans and sticky rice to protect themselves from evil spirits and diseases. Until now, the winter solstice is considered one of the traditional Chinese holidays.
In India, the winter solstice - Sankranti - is celebrated in Hindu and Sikh communities, where bonfires are lit on the night before the celebration, the heat of which symbolizes the warmth of the sun, which begins to warm the earth after the winter cold.
Today is the shortest day of the year
It is the shortest day of the year and one of the coldest days of winter. The pagans believed that on this day the formidable Karachun, the deity of death, takes his power, underground god who rules the frost evil spirit. The ancient Slavs believed that he commands winter and frost and shortens the daylight hours.
The servants of the formidable Karachun are bears-rods, in which snowstorms turn around, and snowstorms-wolves. It was believed that, according to the bear’s desire, the icy winter also lasts: the bear will turn in his lair on the other side, which means that winter has exactly half the way to spring.
Winter solstice- astronomical phenomenon; occurs when the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation away from the Sun takes highest value. The maximum angle of inclination of the earth's axis relative to the Sun at the time of the solstice is 23° 26'.
It is more obvious to those living at high latitudes that the winter solstice falls on the shortest day and the longest long night in the year when the sun is at its lowest in the sky
IN folk calendar today Anfisa Needlewoman.
On this day, they remember the saint who suffered for the Christian faith in the 5th century.
On Anfisa, all girls in Rus' were supposed to do needlework: spin, weave, sew, embroider. It was desirable to do this alone, and if it didn’t work out or didn’t want to retire, it was necessary to conduct special rituals from spoilage. “A girl sews on Anfisa, but an extra eye while sewing is for the evil eye,” our ancestors said and advised young needlewomen to wrap a silk thread around their wrists so as not to prick their fingers with a needle. The same rite protected from yawning and hiccups.
Name days are celebrated on this day Anfisa, Kirill, Sergey.
By the way, 137 years ago Joseph Stalin was born, Soviet statesman and military leader, head of the USSR (1924-1953).
At the latitude of Moscow, the Sun rises above the horizon to a height of less than 11 degrees. At other latitudes, the height of the maximum height of the Sun above the horizon can be calculated by the formula: Sun height \u003d 90 - (point latitude + 23.5).
During the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, the Sun remains above the horizon least of all. December 21 and 22 are the shortest days of the year.
From 21 to 22 December - the longest night.
The longitude of the day at the latitude of Moscow reaches only 6 hours 56 minutes.
At this time, residents of the central and northern strip of Russia have to use artificial lighting for the longest time, practically around the clock. But this fact favors nighttime observations, when the night is the longest and the sky remains dark for more than half a day.
This is the most favorable period for observing various celestial objects in the night sky, but winter cold and frequent inclement weather (in central Russia) do not allow full-fledged observations.
During the winter solstice, the Sun does not rise at all above a latitude of 66.5 degrees, and the night lasts around the clock. Only twilight at these latitudes suggests that the Sun is somewhere below the horizon in the middle of the twilight segment.
At the North Pole of the Earth, not only the Sun is not visible, but also twilight, so the direction to the Sun can only be known from the constellations. From the North Pole, it will be visible in the direction below the constellation Hercules.
On December 21, the Sun crosses the 18 hour meridian and begins to rise up the ecliptic, beginning its journey to the vernal equinox when it crosses the celestial equator.
The winter solstice has occupied an important place in culture since at least the Neolithic.
It is believed that this is proved by the surviving archaeological sites - such as, for example, Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland. The main axis of both structures indicates the point of sunrise (Newgrange) or sunset (Stonehenge) of the sun on the winter solstice.
The ancient Slavs also celebrated the days of the solstice and equinox.
These days (two solstices and two equinoxes - Kolyada, Velikden, Kupala and Ovsen - Tausen) served as starting points for farming, construction, and other vital matters for society.
These days, in addition to the exact date, also have their own “week” (Rusalia, Carols and others). The Semitic predecessor is also presumably associated with the solstice. "festival of light" - Hanukkah.
http://www.astrogalaxy.ru/912.html
********
Winter solstice 2014. Ancient winter holidays: Solstice, Christmas time, Yule, Christmas, New Year
A miniature winter village is a fun house decoration for Christmas.
Some have been collecting various elements of such decoration for years. The celebration of the winter solstice (December 21) and the summer solstice on June 21 are the most ancient of all the rituals of mankind.
After the winter solstice - the "birth of a new sun", to everyone's joy, daylight hours gradually begin to lengthen and night darkness shortens.
Dates of the winter solstice for the coming years:
2014: 21 December 23:03 GMT (22 December 3h 03m Moscow)
2015: December 22, 4:48 p.m. GMT (December 22, 8h 48m Moscow)
2016: December 21, 10:44 a.m. GMT (21 December 14h 44m Moscow)
Ancient Celebrations of the Winter Solstice
For our ancient ancestors, agricultural and pastoral tribes who were completely dependent on nature, the winter revival of the sun after the solstice day was not an ordinary, but a very significant event for the survival of the family.
New Year (Solstice and Christmas time) among the ancient Slavs
December 20 was the last day of autumn for the ancient Slavs, and on December 21, at the solstice - the day of the winter solstice, Kolyaden began - the first month of winter and the new year. On the same day, in accordance with natural rhythms, the Christmas of Kolyada, the hypostasis of one of the main Slavic gods Dazhdbog (Dazhbog, Dazhbog), who embodied the Sun, was celebrated.
The celebration of Christmas time - Christmas and New Year, filled with fun, delicious food and magical rituals, stretched out among the ancient Slavs for 21 days, helping to pass the dark cold winter. On Svyatki they prepared kolivo, or sochivo - porridge with honey and raisins, and socheviki - sweet pies with cottage cheese and jam.
The huts were decorated with dolls of the god Veles (the Slavic prototype of the modern Father Frost) and the Snow Maiden, and burning wheels were rolled on the streets and bonfires were lit to help the emerging winter sun. Carolers went from house to house - young boys and girls who sang carols (ritual songs with wishes for well-being) and received refreshments as a reward.
At the first midnight of Kolyada, the priests sacrificed a duck, a piglet and other animals to Kolyada; all this as a treat is present on the Christmas tables of the ancient (and modern!) Slavs. At Christmas time they dressed up in new clothes and put on the tables the best treat for the family gathered together. It was believed, "as you meet the New Year, so you will spend it.
The days of Christmas time were considered magical.
People guessed for the future, trying to predict the harvest, wars, weddings... They commemorated their dead relatives, left refreshments for them and kindled bonfires. They dressed (dressed up) in the skins of real and mythical animals, evil spirits, and also tried on the clothes (and roles) of other people and people of the opposite sex.
At that time, the dark forces were endowed with special power, which, according to legend, came especially close to the world of the living. It is noticeable that the Christmas rituals of the Slavs are very similar to the rituals of celebrating Samhain among the ancient Celts and the celebration of Yule among the Germans.
Yule - New Year among the Germanic tribes
Yule (Yule, Yuletide) is an ancient German celebration of the winter solstice and the New Year. Like the ancient Slavs, the inhabitants of central and northern Europe performed symbolic actions with fire during the winter solstice.
A large log (yule), specially prepared in advance, was ignited with the help of coals left from the same log of the last year's solstice, and slowly burned for 12 days. The remaining coals were collected and carefully stored until the next year (“preservation of fire”), some of them were mixed with seeds for sowing in order to give the earth the power of the born Sun.
