How do they celebrate the holiday of Ivan Kupala?

The most unique mixture of Christian and pagan traditions represents the wonderful and mystical holiday of Ivan Kupala. Many centuries ago, the ancient Slavs celebrated Kupala on the night of July the seventh. It is the god of fertility and a powerful member of the pagan pantheon. If you touch the Christian traditions, then on the same night celebrate the day of John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ. Fused together, these two holidays made the night of Ivan Kupala simply unforgettable. This is not only a bright walk, but spiritual cleansing.

There are interesting traditions of bathing festivities. So, on the feast of Ivan Kupala it is customary to pour water, purifying oneself in this way, because according to the belief, it is a symbol of spiritual rebirth. It is believed that the bathing water has medicinal properties, like the Epiphany. This tradition is very popular with adults and children, because everyone likes to refresh themselves with water in the summer heat. You can be cleansed in rivers and lakes, and even in the morning dew, but this will have to get up early. In extreme cases, use tap water. On a festive mystical night, unusual parties with an ethnic bias are held in clubs, obligatory douches or foam parties are held here.

Another tradition, which is accompanied by the feast of Ivan Kupala (quite a dangerous occupation, by the way) - jumping through the fire. Despite the fact that fire and water are just as opposite as paganism and Christianity, on this holiday both elements are intertwined. If in the previous version, the ritual of purification with water was performed, then a flame is used for this. It is believed that this way you can find your soul mate. So, in the old days it was believed that a guy and a girl who jumped over a fire without separating their hands would live together a long and happy life. So, this is a wonderful, though rather extreme, option for finding your second half. If you look into the times of Ancient Rus, then jumping over a fire not with your loved ones was considered almost treason. In the modern world, the Kupala festivals and festivities are always accompanied by jumping over the fire.

On the holiday of Ivan Kupala, young girls traditionally made ritual ornaments-beautiful wreaths of grass and flowers, which were launched in the evening. Then the boys jumped into the water to catch a wreath. Sometimes it was distributed in advance, who wreath should catch, so that there would be no misunderstanding. This beautiful tradition still exists. Especially she likes the inhabitants of small towns and villages.

Night on Ivan Kupala is a holiday, when a fern blooms according to legend. It happens exactly at twelve o'clock in the morning. If you believe the legend, then the fern blooms where the untold wealth is hidden. And although science has proved that the fern does not bloom at all, people still go in search of a rare flora. This is one of the best entertainment on a festive night.

A very mystical legend exists up to now. It says that you can not sleep on the night of Ivan Kupala. Otherwise, you may be bewitched by a witch or an evil spirit, in addition, you can become a victim of a mermaid or a watery one. Such a legend made the holiday mystic and served as an excellent excuse for walking until the morning. Pagans considered this holiday as a day of love. Therefore, on the day when the holiday of Ivan Kupala began, lovers paid each other maximum attention.

There are some data according to which the ancient Slavs celebrated the Day of Ivan Kupala in June, when it was the shortest night in the whole year. It is a very beautiful and mysterious holiday, which is surrounded by mysticism, legends and beautiful traditions. Since ancient times Slavs considered this feast a holiday of the Sun. On this day, people destroyed stuffed people, wreathed wreath of grass on their heads and tied with flower belts.