One of the oldest Russian holidays, rooted in ancient times, is the day of Ivan Kupala (Midsummer's Day). This beautiful ceremonial holiday has its own history and traditions.
Instructions
Step 1
The celebration of Ivan Kupala traditionally falls on July 7 (June 24, old style), or rather, on the night of July 6-7. This holiday is associated with the summer solstice and is based on the worship of the main forces of nature: water and the sun. With the advent of Christianity, the church, struggling with pagan rituals, timed the holiday to the day of John the Baptist.
Step 2
On Ivan Kupala, they traditionally collect medicinal herbs, burn fires, weave wreaths and swim in reservoirs. According to ancient legends, on this night all evil spirits leave the water, so you need to take a bath in order to purify the soul.
Step 3
Young girls arrange fortune-telling on the river. They weave wreaths of various herbs (ivan-da-marya, Bogorodskaya grass) and flowers, fix a candle on the wreath and send it down the river. If the wreath floats far away, life will be long and happy, and if it sinks, then you should not expect family happiness this year.
Step 4
Folk signs say that on Midsummer's Day the sun acts with special power. In Russia, a "live fire" was needed to make a Kupala fire. The venerable old men, with the help of rubbing dry sticks, extracted the flame, and from the lighted fire all other bonfires were kindled.
Step 5
They tried to make the fire as big as possible. Round dances were performed around the fire and sang songs. One of the main traditions was bonfire jumping. It was believed that fire has great cleansing power, especially on the feast of Ivan Kupala. Young girls and boys, as well as couples in love, holding hands, jumped over the fire. They believed that fire strengthens feelings and promises marital happiness and longevity. The guys jumped over huge bonfires to show their prowess and courage.
Step 6
It was believed that the fire on Ivan Kupala relieved of ailments, damage and infertility. Mothers burned the shirts taken from sick children at the Kupala bonfire so that the diseases themselves would burn out along with the linen.
Step 7
According to legend, the night on Ivan Kupala was considered a time of rampant evil spirits. In Ancient Russia, it was believed that on this night witches organized sabbaths, trees moved from place to place, and animals and birds spoke to each other in a special language.
Step 8
Another of the mystical beliefs of this holiday is associated with the fern. According to legend, on the night of Ivan Kupala, a wonderful fern flower bloomed, which could indicate the places where the treasures were buried. Witchcraft surrounded this flower, it was considered almost impossible to find it. However, every year there were especially gambling people who went to the forest at night in search of the magic fern.
