Mysterious, cheerful and freedom-loving - all this is about Ivan Kupala. The night of Ivan Kupala is one of the most interesting and at the same time, mystical, when many signs come true and miracles can come to life. About one of the most interesting holidays summer we will tell you in our article.

Ivan Kupala: history and name of the holiday

The holiday of Ivan Kupala is one of the most ancient on Slavic lands, so it is impossible to trace its entire history. The fact is that initially Ivan Kupala was a holiday with a pagan bias - on this day they called upon spirits for a good harvest and weather, and also told fortunes about their betrothed. In addition, the Christian holiday is closely associated with the pagan one due to the procedure of washing and purification in water, which took place in rivers.

But the pagan “version” was met on the day of the Solstice - June 20-22.
However, the holiday has survived to this day as the story of the baptism of Rus'. Ivana Kupala is a folk version of the name John the Baptist, who played an important role in the baptism of Rus'.

It was the Christian version of the holiday that included various entertainments on the water and wreaths thrown downstream. It was believed that in this way the girl would attract her betrothed and with him happiness into her future family.

It is also known that the people called Ivan Kupala Midsummer's Day, Kupala, Kolosok, Yarilin's Day, Kokuy, Ivan the Herbalist, Sontsekres, Kupailo, Kupalle, Ivan Kaldunski.

The date, by the way, was changed for good reason - after all, celebrating it on the night of July 6-7, the celebration was brought closer to one of the largest Christian holidays - the Nativity of John the Baptist.

Why jump over a fire?

One of the main attributes of the celebration of Ivan Kupala is jumping over a fire, as well as searching for blooming ferns. But, for the sake of order, we will deal with the first “entertainment” first.

In paganism, fire is a symbol of warmth and light; it is believed that it can bring both happiness and joy. But in Christianity, fire is purification, fire is salvation for the soul. That is why jumping over a fire calmly passed from a pagan holiday into a Christian one.

Today, jumping over a fire means not only to cleanse yourself, but also to show your “prowess” and attract good luck, because luck, as you know, loves the brave!

It is also interesting that in the villages all women were required to come out to the fire; it was believed that if you did not come out, you could be caught in witchcraft. Indeed, on this clear night, only mystical and evil creatures hide in the shadows and water.

Both boys and girls jumped over the fire alone, as well as couples holding hands. It was believed that if young people crossed the fire without letting go of each other’s hands, it meant that they were destined to be together. If the hands opened, it meant that the couple would soon separate.

The main traditions of the holiday of Ivan Kupala

Mandatory attribute number one is swimming at sunrise. It is believed that in this way a person undergoes a kind of cleansing procedure - he washes away diseases and strengthens the immune system. Bathing took place in various places - some cleaned themselves in rivers, others prepared a bathhouse for this.

By the way, even before sunrise or after sunset, cattle were also brought to the river. It was believed that on this night the water had healing properties and could protect livestock from death and disease.

Then came the fire's turn. Bonfires were lit on hills or near rivers. Sometimes fire was produced in an ancient way - by rubbing wood against wood. Bonfires were lit late in the evening and often burned until the morning.

In addition, that evening and night, young boys and girls went to look for blooming ferns near the water and in the forest. It was believed that the one who finds the mythical plant will be happy all year and lucky in life, because finding a fern was considered to catch luck by the tail.

In our poster we told how they will celebrate in Kyiv.

The holiday of Ivan Kupala has been known to us since childhood. The celebration is dedicated to the dawn of nature, the victory of light over darkness and the summer solstice. This day is accompanied by a huge number of traditions and folk rituals.

The history of the holiday

The history of the holiday goes back to the times when the Slavs worshiped idols and pagan Gods. According to some historians, the name “Kupala” comes from the name of a pagan deity, while others argue that there was no such name, and the name is associated with rituals performed on this day.

Before the advent of the Gregorian calendar, mass celebrations were held precisely on the day of the summer solstice, June 20–22. When the modern calendar was adopted, the holiday began to fall on July 7 (June 24, old style).

With the advent of Christianity, the church tried to replace pagan holiday to Orthodox. On this day they began to celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist. Nevertheless folk traditions and it was not possible to eradicate the rituals, but the name changed. From that time on, the holiday began to be called Ivan Kupala Day.

Who is John the Baptist

John the Baptist was born into the family of a priest of Judea on July 7 (June 24, old style). He is considered a prophet who predicted the appearance of the Messiah. He was called the Baptist due to the fact that it was he who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

Whose holiday is it by nationality?

Traditionally, the holiday was celebrated by Eastern and Western Slavs. Now in many countries the customs of evening festivities on the night of Ivan Kupala have been preserved. This celebration is celebrated by Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Baltic states and residents of a number of European countries. In many countries, the holiday is considered both folk and church and is called differently.

How the holiday of Ivan Kupala was celebrated in Rus'

Initially, the holiday was celebrated as a day of admiration for the sun and nature. It was a time of washing and purification. It was customary to bathe in ponds to get rid of diseases. In addition to swimming, the celebration was accompanied by folk rituals and traditions.

How is the holiday going?

Folk festivities began in the evening, on the eve of the holiday, and continued throughout the night. It was believed that at this time nature acquired unique magical properties, and devilry- walks around and causes mischief.

It was customary to collect herbs and flowers and weave wreaths from them, and then throw them into the water. The celebration was necessarily accompanied by a large Kupala bonfire, around which round dances were performed and ritual songs were sung.

What not to do on this day

Prohibitions and restrictions are mostly associated with popular beliefs. Thus, it was believed that one should not sleep at Kupala night, so as not to fall into the hands of forest and water evil spirits. On the day of the holiday, it is forbidden to sell or lend anything, otherwise you may invite disaster. Also, misfortune awaits everyone who finds and picks up money on the road.

According to church canons, July 7 falls during the period of Peter the Great's Fast, so if you decide to cleanse yourself spiritually, reduce festivities to a minimum and observe fasting. Since the Nativity of John the Baptist is a church holiday, it is permissible to diversify the diet with fish and a glass of red wine.

Traditions and rituals of the holiday

In everyday life folk life The holiday of Ivan Kupala was of great importance, so it was celebrated observing many traditions and rituals.

Swimming in lakes and rivers

The holiday of Ivan Kupala is associated with water, so many regions supported the custom of swimming in reservoirs. It was believed that water was endowed with special healing powers and could wash away illnesses and drive away bad thoughts from the head.

However, not in all regions swimming in reservoirs was considered safe. On this day, mermaids and mermen left lakes and rivers and held a Sabbath. People were afraid of evil spirits and did not risk swimming. Nevertheless Magic force water was retained. It was necessary to walk barefoot through the dew, visit a bathhouse with 12 herbs collected the day before, and drink water from a spring.

Nowadays, the tradition of pouring water has been preserved, which washes away all illnesses, sorrows and misfortunes.

Cleansing fire (why jump over the fire)

The fire on the night of Ivan Kupala took on a special cleansing power. It was identified with the sun, so the fire was made very large and tall. Around him they danced, danced and sang. When the dark flame subsided, girls and boys jumped over the fire to cleanse their souls and bodies from the evil eye, disease and misfortune. You need to jump three times, otherwise the ritual will not work.

• if a girl was unable to jump over the fire or did not come to the festivities at all, she was called a witch, could be whipped with nettles, doused with water or sprinkled with feathers;
• if a couple in love managed to jump over the flames holding hands, then their union promised to be strong and long;
• to cure the child, the mother burned his shirt at the stake, believing that the illness would burn with the clothes;
• it was possible to get rid of the troubles of family life by burning old trash and unnecessary things on the Kupala fire;
• To prevent animals and livestock from getting sick, they were also driven over a fire.

What herbs are collected on this holiday?

It was believed that herbs and flowers acquired miraculous powers on the night of Ivan Kupala, so from dawn to sunrise, herbalists and healers went in search of healing herbs. It’s especially good if they were with morning “bathing” dew. According to the best beliefs magical properties possessed plants collected by children and old people - people with pure souls.

The collected herbs were used to smoke evil spirits and perform rituals. Typically, herbalists collected:

• nettle;
• sagebrush;
• mother-stepmother;
• blasphemer;
• oregano.

It was considered lucky to find a flying herb that could carry a person far away, or an overpowering herb that could save you from enemies.

Fern flower

One of the most interesting beliefs associated with the day of Ivan Kupala is about the fern flower. It was believed that the fern could bloom only once a year - at midnight on Ivan Kupala. The flowering was carefully hidden and guarded by evil spirits. However, the person who finds the flower will receive incredible magical powers. He will be able to understand the language of plants and animals, see through the earth, and talk to spirits.

Kupala wreath

Girls performed most of the rituals for the holiday with a wreath on their heads. It was woven from pre-collected flowers, herbs and branches. It was believed that if you put a wreath in water and scoop up water from it, your skin would be light, your cheeks would be rosy, and your eyes would be shining.

Usually, at the end of the festivities, the wreath was released into the water or burned at the stake. Sometimes, the decoration was saved in order to use the herbs included in it throughout the next year.

Beliefs

It was believed that on the night of Ivan Kupala:

• plants and animals acquired the gift of communication with each other;
• the spirits of ancestors descended to earth in the form of fireflies fluttering in the dark forest;
• you need to lay out nettles on the threshold and windowsill so that evil spirits do not sneak into the house;
• it is necessary to lock up the horses, as they could have been stolen by witches for a trip to Bald Mountain;
• ant oil found in an anthill had healing properties;
• the Ivan da Marya flower, plucked and placed in the house, will protect it from thieves.

How to tell fortunes on Ivan Kupala

One of the most popular is fortune telling with wreaths. Late at night, unmarried girls attached a candle to their wreath and launched it into the water. You need to carefully monitor how it floats.

If a wreath:

• sailed far - the marriage will be quick and happy;
• spinning on the spot - there will be no wedding this year;
• drowned - the bride will never find the groom.

A young man who caught his chosen one’s wreath from the river could demand a kiss in return.

The girls also watched their candle on the wreath, because the longer it burns, the longer life will be.

You can tell fortunes about marriage in another way. At night, without looking, pick a bunch of field herbs and put them under your pillow. If in the morning it turns out that there are more than 12 types of plants in the bouquet, wait for the wedding that year.

You can also put a plantain leaf under your pillow and say: “Triputnik-fellow traveler, you live along the road, you see young and old, tell me my betrothed.” The groom will definitely appear in your dream.

You can make a secret wish. If you climb through 12 vegetable gardens, it will definitely come true.

You can see the future with the help of a church candle. Break it into several pieces and melt it. Pour the liquid wax into a container with cold water. What kind of figure he will take - such events can be expected in the near future.

Symbols of the sun in Kupala rituals

It is known that on Ivan Kupala people worshiped the sun and its light. An indispensable attribute of the holiday is a wreath of flowers and grass, symbolizing the sun. Rituals of worship of the solar luminary were accompanied by round dances around the fire and burning of effigy. Young men brought down set fire wheels and barrels from the hills, identifying the solar cycle.

Signs on Ivan Kupala

If on the day of Ivan Kupala

• heavy dew - to the harvest of cucumbers;
• if the night before the holiday is starry, there will be a lot of mushrooms;
• it is raining - the child will be hot and dry;
• to meet a snake means to expect trouble or loss.

Wedding on Ivan Kupala

People say that if you get married on the day of Ivan Kupala, you can bask in luxury all your life.

Nevertheless, since the holiday always falls on Peter's Fast, the church does not accept such marriages and does not marry in the church. If you are believers, it is better to postpone the wedding to the date when the fast ends, after July 12.

Ivan bathed 2019 on what date and month

What date is Ivan Kupala in 2020, 2021, 2022

So the holiday has a clearly established date and does not change from year to year; in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Ivan Kupala will also be on the night of July 6-7.

The night before the holiday of Ivan Kupala

Among the people, the night before the holiday was considered “terrible.” The witches flocked to Bald Mountain and held a Sabbath. Also, this night was identified with the rise of the Skipper-Serpent above the world.

The day before Kupala night

According to beliefs, before the holiday, on the afternoon of July 6, you need to clean the house in order to meet the celebration clean. From the very morning, people cleaned the wells to make the water in them “special.” During the day, wreaths and brooms were prepared for the bathhouse. Herbalists and healers went to the forest for “magical” herbs. In the evening, before the celebration, people washed themselves with the evening dew to gain health and strength.

On Kupala night

People walked all night long. People lit fires and jumped over them. They led round dances, sang ritual songs, danced and had fun. Girls and boys traditionally told fortunes, and at midnight they went in search of fern blossoms.

The morning after Kupala night

After Kupala Night, it was customary to collect medicinal herbs and plants for the entire next year.

Ivan Kupala is a unique holiday symbolizing warmth, sunlight and summer. It is better to celebrate it in nature. Usually the festivities take place in a large company on the shore of a reservoir. The indispensable attributes of the holiday are a large Kupala bonfire, a wreath of herbs and flowers, mass rituals and fortune telling.

Not really

The summer holiday of Ivan Kupala has centuries-old history. This day is shrouded in many legends, rituals and traditions, and Kupala night is considered a mystical time in which everyone can fulfill their cherished desire.

It is known that the holiday has folk origin, but there is no exact data. Historians suggest that the holiday was formed from pagan purification rites that took place on the summer solstice. It was on the day of the solstice that Ivan Kupala was celebrated in pre-Christian names. With the advent of the Orthodox religion, the holiday acquired a different meaning and became the day of John the Baptist. However, ancient Slavic rituals and traditions are still popular among the people to this day.

Traditions and customs of the holiday of Ivan Kupala

In the morning on Ivan Kupala it is customary to wash oneself in natural sources. Our ancestors went to rivers and lakes at dawn to wash away the negativity and gain health and vigor. However, some are of the opinion that you should not approach bodies of water on Midsummer’s Day, otherwise, according to popular beliefs, there is a risk of being dragged away by water evil spirits: mavkas, mermaids, mermans, kikimoras.

The main tradition of the holiday remains jumping over the fire. Our ancestors considered fire to be cleansing, so on Kupala night they jumped over the flaring flames and led cattle between the fires in the hope of ridding them of diseases.

At the very short night haven't slept for years. At this time, evil spirits were activated, which could bring illness and adversity to the sleeping person, as well as take the soul to the other world.

On the day of the holiday, it was customary to collect medicinal herbs, which were carefully dried and used as a preventive measure for diseases and to protect the home from negativity. Herbs were also prepared for various rituals.

One of the most interesting traditions is the search for a fern flower on the night of Ivan Kupala. According to legend, this mystical flower appears at midnight, blooms for only a few seconds and is carefully guarded by evil spirits. The bravest ones went into the thickets to find the treasured plant. It, according to legend, showed treasures, endowed its owner with unprecedented power and allowed him to see things inaccessible to ordinary people.

On the day of the holiday, the Sun was revered and rituals associated with obtaining a rich harvest were performed. Girls and boys spent time in the fields to saturate the earth with the energy of love and happiness.

On the night before the holiday, unmarried girls wove wreaths of 12 herbs and flowers, dipped them in water and told fortunes about their betrothed. Happy family life They promised wreaths that lasted longer than others on the water. Drowned people foreshadowed trouble and meant that the betrothed had stopped loving his bride and the wedding would not happen.

On the threshold on the day of celebration, bunches of nettles were placed so that rampant evil spirits could not enter the house and harm the most defenseless family members: the elderly, pregnant women and babies.

The inflorescences of Ivan da Marya, picked on the night of Ivan Kupala, were placed in the corners of the home to protect against thieves. According to legend, these flowers were an enchanted brother and sister who fell in love with each other and were punished for this by being turned into flowers. Thieves will hear the voices of lovers talking to each other and will be afraid to commit theft.

On the night of Ivan Kupala, everyone can look into their future and find out what awaits them on the path of life. The magic of these days allows you to perform all kinds of rituals to gain wealth, love and well-being. We wish you good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

29.06.2017 02:16

On the night of Ivan Kupala, many rituals and fortune telling have been performed since ancient times. They all help...

Ivan Kupala Day begins to be celebrated on the night of June 7, it is considered special: at this time you can tell fortunes for your betrothed and go through bathing rituals, as well as find a fern flower that will bring good luck and wealth. Read about what you can and cannot do on this holiday in our “Question and Answer” section.

What not to do?

It is believed that until July 7, swimming in reservoirs is prohibited. And only with the arrival of Ivan Kupala this ban was lifted. It remains relevant only for pregnant women, the elderly and children. According to legend, evil spirits come out of the water and can harm them.

On the day of Ivan Kupala you cannot sleep; it is believed that goblins, brownies and mermaids can take you away at any moment.

You should not give, sell or borrow anything on Ivan Kupala, as the family may become poor. And if a person finds money on the road, even a large sum, he should under no circumstances take it.

What can you do on this day?

On this day you can jump over fires, play burners, run races, dance, sing songs, and communicate. You can pour water on those you meet on Midsummer Day. At sunrise, July 7, you should wash or swim in the river. According to our ancestors, the procedure will wash away all diseases and strengthen the immune system.

What rituals and traditions exist on this day?

There are a lot of rituals and traditions on this day, but the most important of them is mass bathing. It is believed that the night from July 6 to 7 should be spent in the company of friends, and not alone. And if you go swimming, don’t dry yourself with a towel when you go out.

Previously, ritual bathing bonfires were held on the banks of rivers to drive away evil spirits. The clothes of sick people were burned in the fire in order to protect themselves from any bad weather.

Another ritual on Ivan Kupala is a real bathhouse with brooms made from medicinal herbs collected in the evening on the eve of the holiday. Such brooms are called Ivanovsky and are credited with medicinal properties.

Boys and girls wove bathing wreaths and hung them over the door to protect their home from evil spirits.

Holiday traditions

Ivan's holiday is celebrated on the night of July 6-7, 2018. The ancient Slavs believed that this was a special and even magical night. Ivan Kupala is celebrated very loudly, organizing festivities and reproducing ancient authentic rituals. There are a number of unspoken rules and customs for the celebration. Therefore, on this day it is also customary to congratulate each other on the holiday. The editors of I WANT prepared original congratulations in verse, prose and SMS from Ivan Kupala, which you can send to your family and friends.

On the calendar church holidays July does not have this date in red (but there is the Nativity of John the Baptist). But for a long time, July 6 and 7 were celebrated by the Slavs on a grand scale. Previously, we have already published the traditions of Ivan Kupala, as well as the main prohibitions of the day. Many people used to believe that on Kupala night all the forest evil spirits woke up - witches, snakes, mermen, mermaids, werewolves. But it is on the night of Ivan Kupala that you can tell fortunes about your betrothed, jump over a fire, collect medicinal herbs, and look for the color of ferns. This is truly one of the most interesting and mysterious holidays on the calendar.

Now we publish original congratulations on the holiday of Ivan Kupala. Save it for yourself beautiful congratulations in verse with the holiday of Ivan Kupala.

Congratulations on Ivan Kupala in verse

***
Magical night on Ivan Kupala
It is fraught with many mysteries!
Water, they say, adds health,
Fire cleanses from filth and slander!

Let grace descend this night,
Sadness and need will take you with you!
Live, love, appreciate each other,
Feel free to carry your love through the years!

***
Long-awaited holiday
Comes to us in the summer
Ivan Kupala Day
I wish to meet you.

Let the Kupala wreath
The river carries away into the distance,
To joy, to luck
And towards fate.

Let them burn in the fires
All your sorrows
Let Ivan Kupala
Cleanses the soul.

I wish everyone a happy holiday,
Magic and miracles
Joyful, happy
Let life be yours.

According to ancient Slavic precepts,
Coming from our ancestors over the centuries,
Mysterious holiday, sung,
Came with the legends to us!
The key to past greatness
Or maybe self-discovery?
We see our form in the water,
Waking up from dreams and loving!
Kupala comes like a fairy tale.
... and there are so few fairy tales anymore.
Romance, tenderness and affection
We all have it in our souls!

This holiday is like a secret,
Comes to us in the middle of summer.
This holiday is Ivan Kupala,
Day of bonfires, wreaths, laughter.

On this day I wish you
All wishes come true.
Celebrate it with your friends
And in a great mood.

Let it be like a flame, very bright
Life will shine with success
Deceptions will go away like smoke
And fate will become a friend.

Midsummer's Day - Ivan Kupala:
The solstice is already approaching winter.
The holiday is in full swing -
The place is small
Wreaths are thrown on the water.

A whirlwind spins in a round dance,
A place for fun, an hour for games.
We congratulate all Slavs together,
We wish you happiness every hour!

Ivan Kupala, bring good things,
May there be peace and tranquility for us.
May we have plenty of summer,
Let's meet winter in peace!
***

Unravel your braids, bride,
Come out bareheaded
Yes, decorate yourself with a wreath,
Have fun today to your heart's content.

Leave your sorrows, groom,
Near the river, at the pier
There is no place for loneliness.
Your fate-bride is waiting for you.

You spin and spin,
Cherish every moment.
Let the wreaths be promised on the river
Wedding rings.

Let the fires crackle and burn,
Your feelings are inflamed
Cleanse from adversity.
Let the round dance begin.

On this night of miracles and manifestations
The fern will show its color.
There will be quite a few wonderful things
On Ivan on Kupala.

Short congratulations on Ivan Kupala via SMS

These short congratulations with Ivan Kupala you can send SMS to your family and friends without spending a lot of time typing.

During the day we will pour ourselves
And indulge in fun.
We will weave wreaths from flowers,
To let them go by the river.

By nightfall we'll make a fire,
We'll jump on a dare.
Ask: “What kind of fun?”
It's Ivan Kupala Day!

I congratulate you
Summer and warmth!
With hot swims
From night until morning.

Let everything go to Kupala
Dreams will come true.
Fern in color
You will find it at midnight.

I want to believe
Into miracles, like in a fairy tale.
The main thing is that in life
Everything turned out so clearly

It's time to swim in the ponds,
Ivan Kupala came to us,
Let's sing and have fun
We will set a huge table
And we wish everyone in the area
Love, health, kindness,
Everything bad will go away from life,
And soon your dreams will come true!

Round dances, treasured herbs.
There are bonfires and bustle in the clearing.
And mermaids on the leaves of the kupava
Like shadows sitting by the pond.

The stars are like crystal fragments.
And the girls weave wreaths.
Congratulations on Ivan Kupala
May these days bring happiness!

On Ivan, on Kupala,
We wish you from the bottom of our hearts,
Pure, righteous fate.
Let the water carry a wreath,
He will bring his husband to the bride.

Original congratulations on Ivan Kupala in prose

Congratulations in prose from Ivan Kupala will help you beautifully express your thoughts if you have to congratulate someone in your own words.

On the holiday of Ivan Kupala, let me wish you to find a blooming fern, albeit in a figurative sense: may everything in your life return to normal, joy and happiness will settle in your home, a smile will bloom in your soul, and at work everything will turn out in the best possible way.
***

Today our ancestors celebrated Ivan Kupala, this is the night when all evil remains on the other side of the fire. Let it be like this in the lives of each of us, let everyone who needs a miracle find a fern flower. And let only happiness and joy await ahead, and let sorrows be burned in a bright flame.

On a dark Kupala night, fires are burning and wreaths twisted by girlish hands float on the water. So let the beautiful ones not be forgotten in the future Slavic traditions and cultural heritage that gave us unusual holiday on Ivan Kupala, will be carefully preserved for many years by our descendants.

To the glorious summer holiday Ivan Kupala, we wish you to strengthen your health with a vigorous swim, protect your home from troubles with a fragrant wreath of collected herbs and be in prosperity and well-being, even if you cannot find a blooming fern! May your day be full of fun and carefreeness!

Congratulations on Ivan Kupala and I sincerely wish to light in my soul that very bright flame of hope and may it lead you to your cherished dream, to great love, to good luck, to a real miracle.

Ivan Kupala (Midsummer Night, Midsummer Day) is one of the main holidays of the Slavic calendar, coinciding with the Nativity of John the Baptist. After switching to a new style The holiday falls on July 7, or more precisely, on the night of July 7. Some European countries Celebrate Midsummer's Day or St. Ivan's Day (similar to Ivan Kupala) according to the old style, on the days of the summer solstice - from June 20 to 26.

Since ancient times, the Kupala holiday has been one of the most vibrant and revered among the Eastern Slavs. Its pagan character persisted throughout the centuries. The significance of the holiday was determined by the fact that it was celebrated at the turn of two periods of the solar annual cycle, which formed the basis of the ancient agricultural calendar. This was the time of the highest solar activity with a subsequent change in the movement of the sun across the sky, which, as people believed, turned or “shifted” towards winter. As a result of this "shift" the light shone in the following months calendar year gradually “faded away”: the day became shorter and the night longer.

In the Christian worldview, the image of the “outgoing” sun began to be perceived as a symbol of John the Baptist, whose date of birth coincided with the summer solstice. In the Eastern and Western traditions, the saint was endowed with such epithets as light, a torch preceding the Sun, correlated with the image of Jesus Christ.

Within the framework of the folk calendar, Ivan Kupala formed a single holiday cycle along with the days of Agrafena the Bathing Lady (July 6) and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Peter's Day, July 12).

Kupala holidays were celebrated during pagan times in honor of the Sun God, whose wife was the luminous Charge, Zarya-Zarnitsa, the red maiden.

This time was the period of the highest flowering of nature: the sun was at its zenith, vegetation reached its peak of flowering, fruits began to ripen; the day was considered the longest of the year, and the night the shortest. In the minds of the peasants, the magical power of fire, water, earth, and vegetation was so great during this period that they were credited with protective, cleansing, productive, and healing properties. Connecting with this power ensured good luck for the year.

In the same time calendar period, which coincided with the Kupala holidays, was considered the most “dangerous” (on a par with Christmastide): according to legend, otherworldly forces became active at this time. The Kupala night was especially terrible in the eyes of the peasants; it was also the apogee of the holiday, since it was at this time that the main ritual actions were performed.

The Kupala holiday is associated with natural elements - fire, which usually appears in two forms: earthly and heavenly (sun), and water.

The theme of fire in the Kupala tradition is expressed in the rituals of lighting Kupala bonfires and in the widespread belief that the sun “plays” and “bathes” on this day. The old people, using the friction of dry sticks, produced “live fire”, lit fires, in the middle of which they placed a pole with a burning wheel mounted on it - a symbol of the sun.

Washing with water consisted of mass bathing of people in water sources, washing or washing with water or dew, washing in baths, and dousing with water.

Rituals with water could be performed at night, at dawn, during the break between church services - morning and mass. The idea of ​​the healing effect of Kupala ablution was widespread. A man who refused to bathe was suspected of witchcraft.

Beliefs and rituals related to the plant world were also popular. People girded themselves with bandages of flowers, and put wreaths of herbs on their heads. They danced in circles and sang songs.

Stories about unusual phenomena that occurred at this time with plants, about their miraculous powers were widespread. Knowledgeable and experienced people, and especially village doctors and healers, collected medicinal roots and herbs on Midsummer's Eve for the whole year. The idea that herbs on Midsummer's Day have a special power that has a beneficial effect on people's health is reflected in the custom of preparing bath brooms specifically from Midsummer.

A traditional activity on the night of Ivan Kupala is the search for a blooming fern. Fern was considered one of the most mysterious, witchcraft plants. According to popular beliefs, a blooming fern not only fulfills deepest desires, but also helps to find treasures.

It was believed that not only the fern flower has magic, but also the blossoming migratory grass. Flying grass, according to popular belief, can travel far away. And if on the night of Ivan Kupala you pick the grass, then your enemies will not be afraid of you.

The holiday of Ivan Kupala was universally considered a holiday of youth and young couples. The guys, as a rule, united during the Kupala night in groups that walked around the village, made noise and rowdy, littered the gates and doors with household equipment and firewood stored in the yard, and blocked pipes.

On this day it was noted: heavy dew on Ivan's day means a harvest of cucumbers; on Midsummer's night it's starry - there will be a lot of mushrooms.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources