Tesla could do it any time.
The real reason for the 26th is a lack of Proper Religion.
A lack of Sun Worship causes destruction.
When the Sun reaches the farthest point south, the 26th, it hangs in one place for five days.
During these five days it's gravatational pull is from one direction.
It has long been known as a time of disaster. Dis Astar=Evil Star.
The Sumarians counted the perfect year as 360 days. The gift of life for the year was over, and now came the wrath, for the bad would be punished.
All fires were put out, the people ate cold food, unground grain, for it was the time of floods, storms, earthquakes, so they prepared, and wearing their old clothes, not brushing their hair, nor bathing, they wailed the funeral song for the year that had died.
They waited for the just punishment to come, for the Five Dead Days were the time of chastisement.
Putting out all fires, stocking up on uncooked grain, was a good idea, for it was storm. flood, and earthquake weather. The land tide of Earth had stopped, and now the gravatational pull came from one point, for five days, as it reversed.
The Solar engine was being shifted into reverse, and like a train, coming to a stop, then reversing, all of the stresses were suddenly opposed, the gaps between the cars from pull, now closed and smashed together from push.
An Ocean away the Mayan and Aztec also had the same rites of the Dead Days, also put out all fires in the land, and stocked uncooked food.
It was time to mourn, show sorrow, and beg forgivness, for the Sun would cast down cities, crack open the Earth, bring down mountains, and walls of water came from the sea washing away all trace of over proud people.
Some years, they were spared, but some years they were punished severly.
Putting out fires and stocking food that did not need to be cooked were disaster planning, for if once a generation, some girl talked back to her mother, and angered the Sun, everyone would pay.
The uncooked grain was seed, for when everything was destroyed, they each needed seed so the survivors would have something to plant.
Like children caught doing something very bad, they waited for their punishment. They told their life giving parent they were very sorry, and and fully accepted that they would get what they deserved.
They begged the Sun to return, to give them another chance. To forgive them.
In preparing to meet their fate, in the Mayan and Sumarian, all debts had to be paid in full before the Dead Days. For during the punishment, none could call that another owed them.
Punished or spared it was over in five days, for the Sun God is just, and has mercy on life.
On the sixth day, those who kept watch, measured the position of the Sun, reported He was Rising from the Dead and would give them another year of life.
Picking the fairest virgin in the land, she was dressed in her finest, then her heart was cut out, opened, and a new fire kindeled within. It spread from house to house, village to village, and the sacred flame must be kept living for 360 days. Letting the fire go out could cause big problems.
Then everyone took a bath, put on their best, and feasted for days.
The Five Dead Days are found in places that had earthquakes, Tsunami.
In other places the Sun was worshipped on the longest day, shortest night. Mid Summers Night in the North. A time to burn fires all night, and play with girls for spring born children of the Sun. It was the highth of Solar Power, and a good warm night for making babies. Paternity was not a question, for it was worship of the Sun's Power to give life. The Sun was considered the Father of All.
The girls built the fire, brought the feast, and it stood for all the good the Sun had given them. Out in the darkness in a ring around the fire, was for sex.
Close to the fire they ate, danced around it, then danced farther into the night, a spinning circle of life seeking life, males turning one way, females another, till they danced in pairs laying down in the dark, then each continued the circle dance. All women who wanted children had a right to dance around the circle of men.
I miss the good old days.