Winter solstice is to come in northern hemisphere today. By calculation of the observatory in Pulkovo, this astronomic phenomenon is to occur today at 9.35 p.m. Moscow time. For Russians this is the shortest day and the longest night in a year. Since that moment the duration of daylight hours starts growing. According to the traditional custom, the luminary needs people help to gain in strength. In ancient times people sang and danced in a ring, moving counterclockwise, got a burning wheel down the hill, which symbolized the Sun.