Karachun (Korochun)
December 21 · Level 8 · #529 of 2238
Karachun is an old Slavic midwinter festival of the winter solstice, the time of the longest nights. In folk belief, dark forces grow strong at this point before giving way to the returning sun.
How it is celebrated: today it is mostly kept by enthusiasts of Slavic heritage. They light bonfires and candles, share a communal meal, remember their ancestors and wish the sun to grow strong again.
The word lives on in Russian: "дать карачуна" means to die. It is often linked to a root meaning "short", a nod to the shortest day of the year.