The winter solstice is the astronomical start of winter and the shortest day of the year. It has been celebrated as the return of the sun for thousands of years. Many customs and myths surround the festival.
AUSTRIA. Wednesday, December 21st is the shortest day of the year. The sun greets Austria at 07:43 and says goodbye again at 16:03. After that, the days are slow but sure. The winter solstice is not only astronomically relevant. It also marks the beginning of the restless nights and was the origin of today’s Christmas celebrations.
Supposedly the shortest day of the year
While December 21st is widely considered the shortest day of the year, that’s only half the story. In fact, from 20 to 24 December so long. From 25.12. the days are getting longer by the minute. On the day of the winter solstice, however, the sun also reaches its lowest height at midday, so that it only appears on this day for the shortest period of the year.
Astronomical start of winter
The winter solstice also marks the astronomical beginning of winter. The meteorological beginning of winter was already on the 1st of December – in the northern hemisphere, of course. In meteorology, the seasons begin on the first day of the month in which the solstice or equinox falls.
hard nights begin
The Rauhnächt are sacred nights at the turn of the year, which are given a special meaning. These take place between Christmas and January 6th. There are many stories and myths associated with these nights. If you want to believe in its effectiveness, it’s up to you. Traditionally, during busy nights, the four walls themselves should be smoked, for example with incense or dried herbs. Ghosts are in dark and difficult nights, that is, on the nights of December 21st, December 25th, January 1st and January 6th. especially on the go.
The four important Raunnachts were considered so dangerous in some places that they were celebrated with fasting and prayer. There was no clutter in the house, nor white linen hanging from the clothesline (which the knights stole and used as a year-round shroud for the owner). Women and children are no longer allowed to leave the house after dark.
December 21st is the day of Thomas
December 21 is also referred to as the day of remembrance of “Doubtful Thomas”, as he initially did not believe in Jesus’ resurrection, but only when Jesus appeared to him again and he was able to put his fingers in his wounds. Because he had been plagued by doubts for the longest time, he had the longest night of the year, from December 21st to December 22nd.
Winter Solstice and Christmas
If the Christian narrative is correct, then Christmas was first celebrated 2022 years ago – at the birth of Christ. However, due to inaccuracies in the calendar, this is not the case. Scientists now agree that Jesus lived, but was probably not born on December 25, 2022 years ago, but between seven and four BC. Chr.
With regard to Christianity, which in the 3rd and 4th centuries also spread more and more in the Roman Empire, many researchers assume that equating the birth of Christ with the birth of the “new” sun served to attract more followers to win people from other cultures to their own Christian religion.
More on the subject:
Here the custom of the “Rauhnachtln” is still alive
Smoking is good for the hard night
Old customs between Christmas and New Year