Kupała Night is a Slavic holiday associated with the summer solstice of the Sun, celebrated during the shortest night of the year, which falls around June 21-22 .
In Anglo-Saxon countries it is known as Midsummer.
Kupalnocka is devoted primarily to the elements of water and fire, which have a cleansing power. It is also a celebration of love, fertility, sun and moon.
The Slavic customs and rituals associated with the Kupała Night were to ensure health and harvest for the saints. Bonfires were lit in which herbs were burned. Various fortune-telling and dances took place during joyful games.
Girls put wreaths with lighted candles into the currents of the rivers. If the wreath was fished out by a bachelor, it meant that she would get married quickly. If he was swimming, the girl wasn't going to get married soon. If, however, it got on fire, drowned or entangled in the rushes, it was foretold of this old age. They are probably the remains of the old spring magic rituals ending the enchantment of the "good beginning", referring to the soulful rituals and the coming harvest.
In some regions it was believed that you could not bathe in rivers, streams or lakes during the day until Kupala Day, while bathing after dusk or before sunrise cured various ailments, as water was then a healing element belonging to the moon.
The Kupala Night celebrations began with the ritual making of fire from ash and birch wood (some sources mention only oak wood). Jumping over the fire and dancing around was supposed to cleanse, protect against evil powers and disease. According to beliefs, aquarians, waterlines and drowners, as well as most other water demons, liked to lurk for summer-thirsty people who unreasonably take a bath before Kupała night. Only after this holiday, swimming in water became relatively safe.
Photos from Roskosh Model
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