Feast of Ivan Kupala: history, traditions and customs. Signs on Ivan Kupala

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

One of the most romantic, mysterious folk holidays is undoubtedly Ivan Kupala. Whose holiday, traditions and customs of this day - this will be discussed further.

Celebrate it began in the hoary pagan antiquity. Among the Eastern Slavs, it fell on the day of the summer solstice on June 24th. But after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, the date shifted to July 7th. Celebrations and rituals of Ivan's Day necessarily include three main components: fire, water and herbs.

Ivana 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, is named after the pagan deity of fruits and flowers Kupala. But others argue that there was no such god in the Slavic pantheon, and the name "Kupala" is associated with the rites performed on this day.

Historythe feast of Ivan Kupala contains information that such a double name arose at a time when the church tried to completely replace the pagan holiday with a Christian one. The priests were extremely negative about the festivities and fortune-telling that took place on this day. They constantly tried to ban them, considering such entertainments ungodly, demonic and connected them with the worship of the unclean.

When Ivan Kupala is celebrated

The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala brought us information that all major celebrations begin on the evening of July 6 (June 23) at sunset and continue all night until dawn. Night on Ivan Kupala is considered magical. At this time, all evil spirits walk and mischief: witches, mermaids, mavkas, etc., and herbs, water and fire acquire magical and healing properties.

As noted by Ivan Kupala

What to do on Ivan Kupala? Already in the afternoon 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 in different ways: from straw, branches, a whole tree, etc. They were decorated with flowers, ribbons, berries and fruits. Madder symbolized winter withering, the dying of nature, while Kupala was a symbol of rebirth and abundance. Around the scarecrows, the boys and girls danced round dances and sang special ritual songs, thus glorifying the eternal natural cycle. Then the effigies were usually drowned in water or burned at the stake, and the celebrations continued around the large Kupalacampfire.

Kupala fire

It was believed that on the night of Ivan Kupala, the fire acquires a special cleansing power. Therefore, a ritual bonfire was an obligatory attribute of this holiday. It was made very large and tall, so that it blazed like the sun. In the center of the fire place, a high pillar was installed, on which the skull of a horse or cow was often put on - “vidma”. Everyone gathered around the fire, from young to old, led round dances, sang, danced. When the fire burned out a little, young boys and girls began to jump over the fire in order to cleanse themselves, recover from ailments, protect themselves from the evil eye and evil spirits. If the girl could not jump over the fire, then she was considered a witch. They could douse with water, unfasten with nettles, sprinkle with feathers. Young couples jumped holding hands, and if the hands did not separate 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 grievances and troubles with them. Even at the Kupala fire, mothers burned the shirt of a sick child so that the illness that tormented their child would burn with it. And sometimes even livestock was driven over the Kupala fire to rid it of pestilence and disease.

Healing water

The story of the holiday of Ivan Kupala tells that water on this day acquires a special healing power. Swimming in the reservoirs on this day was treated differently. In some regions, ablutions were considered an obligatory ritual, sincethis cleansed the body from diseases, and the soul from bad thoughts. In addition, all evil spirits (mermaids, mermen) left the reservoirs, gathering for their sabbats.

And in others, on the contrary, they were afraid of mass bathing precisely because of the evil spirits that were rampant that day. But they certainly tried to walk barefoot, wash themselves and even lie in the morning dew. This promised strength and he alth to the young men, and beauty to the girls. Also on Midsummer's Day, they liked to take a steam bath with brooms from 12 medicinal herbs collected the day before, on the Kupala night. And the water collected from the springs had miraculous powers.

Magical herbs

The history of the Ivan Kupala holiday contains information that on the magical Kupala night all herbs and plants acquire special power. Herbalists and healers at dawn went to collect miraculous medicinal herbs covered with healing Kupala dew. When collecting, a special prayer-conspiracy was necessarily 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 the elderly. After all, they have pure and innocent souls.

The Slavs believed that on Ivan Kupala (date - July 7) medicinal plants grow forest spirits - mavka and take care of them, supplying them with healing properties.

Symbols of the sun in Kupala rites

Since the holiday of Ivan Kupala (date - July 7) was celebrated on the day of the summer solstice, many of its attributes symbolize our luminary. For example, the guys launched fire wheels from the hills or set fire to tarredbarrels, which was supposed to symbolize the solar cycle. And one of the indispensable accessories of Kupala Christmas time is a wreath. The girl's wreath in the mythology of the Slavs has always symbolized the sun, and also youth and purity. Round dances around bonfires and scarecrows and special ritual songs were associated with sun worship.

Signs on Ivan Kupala for girls regarding wreaths

Every young girl certainly weaved a wreath of flowers, herbs, twigs and berries, which adorned her head during dances and festivities. The girl's wreath had a special, magical meaning on this magical night. For example, girls lowered a wreath into a river or spring, scooped up water through them and washed their faces, believing that this would make their skin white, their cheeks ruddy, and their eyes shining. 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 far, then his mistress was bound to get married this year. If he was spinning on the spot, then marriage had to be postponed until next year. But worst of all, if the wreath sank. Then it was believed that the unfortunate woman did not have a couple and she would have to spend her life alone.

However, the guys did not disregard this action. Surreptitiously observing the ceremony, they then tried to fish out the wreath of their chosen one from the river and demand a kiss from her in return.

Far color

The most famous Kupala legend aboutfern 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 whoever finds 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 locks, 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, the trees could move and talk to each other, just like birds and animals. And in the dark forest between the trees you can see a lot of 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 spirits are activated: mermaids, mavkas, goblin, brownies and other spirits. They arrange their walks, having fun with all sorts of tricks.

But the most harm could be caused by witches who did various dirty tricks that night and gathered for sabbaths. That is why a woman who did not come to the fire on Kupala night could be considered a witch.

To protect themselves from otherworldly forces, they used a variety of amulets: twigs of sacred willow, aspen pegs, hemp blossom, nettle and wormwood. And even torn men's pants, which were hung on the lintel of the barn, so that the witch could not enter and take milk from the cow or take the horse away for a trip to Bald Mountain to the place of the witches' sabbath.

Kupala night was the only opportunity for youthhave fun and dance until dawn, without causing condemnation from adults. Only a smile was caused by their countless pranks and some liberties. Perhaps that is why the people for many centuries so reverently preserved and protected this life-affirming and magical holiday, its traditions and rituals.