Kupala Night

The Ivan Kupala Day (Russian: Иван - Купала; Belarusian Купалле; Ukrainian Івана Купала; Polish Noc Kupaly / Noc Iwana Kupaly ) is in Russia, Belarus, Poland and Ukraine traditionally celebrated festival of the summer solstice. Usually ( connection with the birthday of John the Baptist ) is celebrated this day according to the Gregorian calendar on July 7. Ivan Kupala has pagan roots. The day is Korotschun, the feast of the winter solstice, opposite.

The name of the festival derives from the Russian name for John from, and not, as incorrectly assumed by a Slavic sun and light God Kupala together. Scientists believe that neo- pagans have invented God Kupala, but the old Slavs did not have this God.

Until the modern period, the Slavic midsummer night as a spectacular pagan festival is known. Many customs of Ivan Kupala are with the water, the fire, coupled unfolding magical powers of plants and self- cleaning. It is common that young women with candles settle tipped braided wreaths of flowers into rivers and by their drift in the water read their own future. Another custom is the jumping of young couples over a campfire.

There was an old belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala is the only time of the year when ferns bloom very briefly. Whoever finds a Farnblume on Ivan Kupala, should be able to see all hidden in the earth treasures using the flower. Therefore searched on Ivan Kupala many people in the woods after flowering magical ferns. In the short story by Nikolai Gogol The evening of Ivan Kupala, a young man finds a magical Farnblume, but earns him a curse. The legendary witches Sabbath on Ivan Kupala inspired Modest Mussorgsky to his symphonic poem Night on Bald Mountain.

In Poland, the festival is celebrated as Noc Świętojańska (Saint John's night) on the feast of St. John the Baptist, June 24. A short name is " Wianki " ( wreath ).