“Yarylo is now celebrated in different ways: in past a man, with rouged cheeks, adorned with ribbons and bells, with a red hat on his head, went surrounded by a crowd, people of which would dance, sing, drink, and fight - occasionally to death. To finish this, a doll of an aroused man was buried. That is what this pagan celebration in Voronezh was described to be like by Tikhon of Zadonsk [in XVIII century], who destroyed and cursed the idol. In other areas like Voronezh governorate, Yarylo was an idol dressed both in male and female dress. In Belarus Yarylo was depicted as a young man decorated with flowers. Still, it is quite noticeable that Yarylo is the same as Kostrubonko, Kostroma, and Lado, because he is called Lado in Vladimir governorate. Yarylo means one who evokes love and lust, and his summer burial likely mirrors the burial of Kostrubonko in spring. It gives a reason to suggest that it is a celebration of light, evocation of loving, productive force. The celebration takes place when the nature is at its most developed, fertile state (Russian - in “yar”, the word for passion and ardency). An important part of the holiday is divination, often with the use of flowers and flower crowns thrown in water.”
— Mykola Kostomarov on celebration of Yarylo’s holiday, supposedly in late May-early June.
