When Ivana Kupala in 2022 in Russia

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Ivana Kupala is a Slavic holiday that has been revered by our ancestors since ancient times. Today it is timed to coincide with the birthday of John the Baptist, so many are interested in the history of the holiday, its traditions and when it will be celebrated in 2022.

history of the holiday

Among the Slavs, Ivan Kupala was the most revered and at the same time bright holiday. He was dedicated to the God of the summer sun Kupala and celebrated on the day of the Solstice, June 21. The Slavs believed that on this day the Sun turns to winter.

After the adoption of Christianity, the church decided to eradicate the pagan holiday and timed it to commemorate John the Baptist. Since then, it has been considered a symbol of the Orthodox rite of baptism. According to the old style, it was celebrated on June 24, and today it is on July 7.

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Traditions and rituals

Many who are interested in the history of the Eastern Slavs are interested not only in what date the brightest holiday was celebrated, but also in what customs, traditions and signs are associated with it.

Magic water

Cleansing with water is one of the most important traditions of the holiday. The Slavs believed that from the day of Ivan Kupala to Ilyin's day, all evil spirits leave the reservoirs, and the water in them gains life-giving power. Therefore, on the holiday, they necessarily bathed in order to cleanse their souls from evil, and their bodies from diseases. The girls washed themselves with dew, which was collected at dawn, in order to remain beautiful and young all year round.

In villages where there were no reservoirs, people drowned baths, steamed in them and also washed themselves of everything unclean and bad. Brooms for the bath were harvested on the same day, because it was believed that plants, like water, on Ivan Kupala gained special healing power.

Purification by fire

According to legend, on the day of the Solstice, water entered into a holy union with fire, therefore, on the holiday, Kupala bonfires were lit on the banks of reservoirs. Fire, like water, had a special power, our ancestors believed that only he could become a defender for them from all evil spirits.

All the girls and women always gathered near the fire, because the one who could not come could be accused of witchcraft. It was believed that witches were afraid of fire on the Kupala night.

Young people gathered around the fire to lead round dances and, according to tradition, jump in pairs over the fire. The older generation drove their cattle between the fires so that they would not get sick, and the mothers burned the clothes that they took off the sick children in the fire. They set fire to large wheels and barrels, rolled them down the mountain and carried them on narrow poles as a symbol of the solstice.

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Herbs and flowers

On the Kupala night, all flowers and plants were endowed with healing power, so many rituals were performed with them. They collected herbs before dawn, because it was believed that together with the sunlight they lost their magical power.

Plants that must be collected for the holiday: nettle, wormwood, wild rosemary, coltsfoot and oregano. Herbs were used in various ceremonies and as amulets from evil.

The main flower on Ivan Kupala was a fern. According to legend, it blossomed on that very night. The flowering fern was considered a magical plant that could fulfill any desire.

Fortune telling and beliefs

On Ivan Kupala, the girls wondered about the betrothed with the help of a wreath: they wove wreaths of various herbs, inserted small candles into them and lowered them into the water. If the wreath swam quickly, it means that the girl will soon get married, and if she drowned, she will not meet her betrothed this year.

Also, for the holiday, the Ivan da Marya flower was necessarily collected, which was laid out in the corners of the house to protect itself from thieves, and nettles from evil spirits on the windows and near the door. Horses were necessarily locked on the Kupala night, because.that night witches could hunt them to get to Bald Mountain.

On the holiday, they looked for anthills to collect ant oil, which the Kupala night endowed with a special healing power.

Outcomes

For many centuries, the Slavic holiday has lost its true meaning. But, despite the prohibitions of the church, today in many European countries, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, they continue to celebrate it widely and vividly. The way our ancestors did it, who lived according to their souls, and not according to the canons. In 2022, the holiday of Ivan Kupala is celebrated on July 7.