One of the most romantic, mysterious folk holidays is, of course, Ivan Kupala. Whose holiday, traditions and customs of this day will be discussed later.
Celebrate it began in gray pagan antiquity. Among the Eastern Slavs, it was on the day of the summer solstice on June 24. But after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, the date shifted to July 7th. Celebrations and ceremonies of St. John's Day necessarily include three main components: fire, water and herbs.
Ivan Kupala and Christianity
The history of the origin of the holiday of Ivan Kupala tells that after the baptism of Russia, the celebration coincided with the church holiday of the Birth of John the Baptist (Ivan the Baptist). The first part of the modern name of Ivan Kupala is associated with him. The second part, according to some researchers, bears the name of the pagan deity of the fruits and flowers of Kupala. But others argue that in the Slavic pantheon there was no such god, and the name "Kupala" is associated with the rites held on this day.
The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala contains information that such a double name arose during the period when the church tried to completely replace the pagan holiday with a Christian one. Priests were extremely negative about the festivities and fortune-telling that took place on this day. They constantly tried to ban them, considering such amusements as godless, demonic, and associated them with worship of the unclean.
When Ivan Kupala is celebrated
The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala informed us that in all the main celebrations begin on the evening of July 6 (June 23) with the sunset and continue all night until dawn. A night on Ivan Kupala is considered magical. At this time, all evil spirits walk and dirty: witches, mermaids, mavki, etc., and herbs, water and fire acquire magical and healing properties.
As noted by Ivan Kupala
What to do on Ivan Kupala? Already after dinner on July 6 (June 23), the girls began to collect flowers, herbs and weave wreaths. Also, young people made stuffed Marena and Kupala, the main characters of the holiday. In different regions they were made differently: from straw, twigs, a whole tree, etc. They were decorated with flowers, ribbons, berries and fruits. Marena symbolized winter wilting, the dying of nature, while Kupala was a symbol of rebirth and abundance. Around the stuffed boys and girls led round dances and sang special ritual songs, thus glorifying the eternal natural cycle. Then the stuffed animals were usually drowned in water or burned at the stake, and celebrations continued around the large Kupala bonfire.
Kupala bonfire
It was believed that on the night of Ivan Kupala the fire acquires a special cleansing power. Therefore, a mandatory attribute of this holiday was a ritual bonfire. It was made very large and tall to blaze like the sun. A tall pillar was installed in the center of the fire-shield, on which a horse or cow skull was often worn - “vidma”. Around the bonfire everyone gathered, from young to old, dances, sang, danced. When the fire burned out a little, young boys and girls began to jump over the fire to clear themselves, recover from ailments, protect themselves from evil eyes and evil spirits. If the girl could not jump over the fire, then she was considered a witch. Could pour water, unfasten nettles, sprinkle feathers. Young couples jumped holding hands, and if the hands didn’t disunite in the jump, they could hope for a strong union.
What else to do on Ivan Kupala? There was also a custom to burn old and unnecessary things on this day, getting rid of old insults and troubles with them. Even at the Kupala bonfire, mothers burned the shirt of a sick child, so that the illness that tormented their child burned with it. And sometimes even livestock was driven over the Kupala bonfire in order to rid it of morale and disease.
Healing water
The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala tells that on the same day, ode gains special healing power. Bathing in water bodies on this day was treated differently. In some regions, bathing was considered an obligatory ritual, as it cleansed the body of illnesses, and the soul of evil thoughts. In addition, all the evil spirits (mermaids, water) left the reservoirs, gathering for their covens.
And in others, on the contrary, they feared mass bathing precisely because of the evil spirits that had unfolded that day. But they certainly tried to walk barefoot, wash and even lie in the morning dew. This promised the boys strength and health, and the girls beauty. Also on Midsummer Day, they liked to take a steam bath in a bath with brooms from 12 herbs collected on the eve of Kupala night. And the water collected from the sources had miraculous power.
Magical herbs
The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala contains information that on a magical night of Kupala, all herbs and plants acquire special strength. Herbalists and healers went to collect miraculous medicinal herbs covered with healing Kupala dew with dawn. When collecting, a special conspiracy prayer was always read. And in Belarus, for example, it was believed that the properties of herbs would be further enhanced if they were collected by "old and small", that is, children and old people. After all, they have pure and innocent souls.
The Slavs believed that on Ivan Kupala (number - July 7), medicinal plants grow forest spirits - mavki and take care of them, providing healing properties.
Symbols of the sun in Kupala rites
Since the feast of Ivan Kupala (July 7) was celebrated on the summer solstice, many of its attributes symbolize our luminary. For example, guys let off fire wheels or set on fire tarred barrels from the hills, which was supposed to symbolize the solar cycle. And one of the indispensable accessories of the Kupala Christmas time is a wreath. The girl’s wreath in the mythology of the Slavs has always symbolized the sun, as well as youth and purity. Dances around the fires and scarecrows and special ritual songs were associated with sun worship.
Signs on Ivan Kupala for girls regarding wreaths
Each young girl certainly weaved herself from flowers, herbs, twigs and berries a wreath that adorned her head during dancing and festivities. The girl’s wreath on this magical night had a special, magical meaning. For example, girls lowered a wreath in a river or spring, scooped water through them and washed their faces, believing that this would make their skin white, their cheeks rosy, and their eyes shiny. But the main ritual action began a little later, when the girls ran away from the guys and, having attached lighted candles to their wreaths, sent them to swim along the river. Each girl carefully watched her wreath. If he sailed away, then his mistress would certainly have married this year. If it was spinning in place, then the marriage had to be postponed until next year. But worst of all, if the wreath sank. Then it was believed that the unlucky did not have a couple and she would have to spend a lonely century.
However, the guys did not disregard this action. Observing stealthily behind the rite, they later tried to catch a wreath of their chosen one from the river and demand a kiss from her in return.
Fern color
The most famous legend of Kupala fern flower. It has long been believed that once a year a fern flower blooms on a magical night. It blooms only for a moment and is guarded by evil spirits, but those who find it will gain extraordinary abilities. He will be able to understand the language of animals, birds and plants, see buried treasures through the earth’s firmament, open any castles, control the earth, water and unclean spirits, become invisible and so on.
Beliefs and signs on Ivan Kupala
It was believed that on this magical night, trees can move and talk among themselves, just like birds and animals. And in the dark forest between the trees you can see many fluttering fireflies. These are the souls of the ancestors who returned to earth for only one night.
Also, on the night of Kupala, all kinds of evil are activated: mermaids, mawks, gobbers, brownies and other spirits. They arrange their gulbys, having fun with all kinds of tricks.
But most of the harm could be done by witches, repairing various dirty tricks that night and gathering for the Sabbaths. That is why a woman who didn’t come to the fire on a Kupala night could be considered a witch.
To protect themselves from otherworldly forces, they used a wide variety of amulets: branches of a holy willow, aspen pegs, hemp blossom, nettle and wormwood. And even torn men's pants, which were hung on the lintel of the crib, so that the witch could not go in and take the milk from the cow or take the horse away for a trip to Lysaya Gora to the place of the witch's coven.
Kupala night was the only opportunity for young people to have fun and dance until dawn, without causing condemnation from adults. Only their smile caused innumerable pranks and some liberties. Perhaps that is why the people for many centuries so tremblingly preserved and protected this life-affirming and magical holiday, its traditions and rites.