#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Winter solstice day – the longest night and shortest day of the year – is ahead. This is an astronomical event when the sun occupies the lowest point relative to the Earth’s horizon.
According to astronomers, in 2024 the winter solstice will occur on 21 December at 12:20 Moscow time. In the Northern hemisphere the beginning of the winter solstice will happen at 09:20.
Our ancestors believed that the winter sun god Kolyada was born on this day. He opposes his antagonist – the evil spirit Karachun, who wants to steal the luminary.
Slavs associated the holiday of the winter solstice with rebirth to life. The main symbol was a bonfire, which symbolised the luminary. Young people went to the yards and sang carols, which promised prosperity. In return it was necessary to give sweets. Housewives baked pies in the form of the sun.
After the day of the winter solstice, the daylight hours will gradually increase, and by 1 January its duration will be longer by seven minutes.
Astronomical spring will come on 23 March – on the day of vernal equinox. At this time day and night will be equal – 12 hours each.
Polar night in Norilsk in 2024 will end on 14 January 2025 (sunrise – 12:49). On this day, northerners will be able to see the first rays of the sun, but it is not certain, because the sky in Norilsk is often hidden by clouds, and the rays do not penetrate through them. There were winters when the sun could be seen only in April.
Earlier we told that in Norilsk and Taimyr polar night lasts 45 days. This year residents of the northern city met the polar night at 20 locations.
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Text: Angelika Stepanova, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko
