When the day Ivan bathed in. The Slavic holiday was bathed in its traditions and history

Ivan Kupala is probably the most long-awaited summer holiday, which has long been celebrated by the people every year on the night from the sixth to the seventh of July. This traditional celebration is always associated with warm summer days, sun, and a pleasant evening breeze. What can we say about the fact that there are an incalculable number of signs and rituals that are dedicated to this holiday.

The most common tradition on Ivan Kupala is to weave wreaths from wild flowers and herbs, dance in circles around a large fire, jump over it, sing songs, dance and have fun until the morning.

Considering the fact that the holiday has come to us since pagan times, many city residents already forget that there is such a holiday and how to celebrate it, unlike village residents, for whom the original traditions are still somewhat closer. In this regard, the question arises, where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017? Our country will celebrate July 8th.

Celebrating in nature is the best choice

There is a belief that on the night of the celebration of Ivan Kupala, which is celebrated annually from July 6 to 7, one should not go to bed, since it is on this night that various evil spirits wake up. Therefore, in many villages on this night they light fires and have fun until dawn, while preparing various treats and games. A bonfire is an integral part of the celebration of Ivan Kupala, which is why it is best to celebrate the holiday somewhere in nature big company, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to light a fire within the city.

In addition, when making a choice in favor of villages, for example, you can stumble upon folk festival and immerse yourself in local traditions. If there is a river or lake nearby, you can arrange night swimming. And according to the old tradition, you can go into the forest in search of ferns. Since Ivan Kupala is a summer holiday that is closely connected with the forces of nature and traditions, it is best to celebrate it in an appropriate place, where you can completely merge with the forest spirits. You can cook it with you when going outdoors.

City fun

City residents who do not have the opportunity to go outside the city will be interested in finding out where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017 without leaving the city. For example, residents of the Russian capital are given a unique chance to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017 at a festival that is dedicated to the holiday and has been taking place in the city for several years now.

If the decision on where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017 has not yet been made, then the city festival is perhaps the best alternative to celebrating in the countryside or in nature, since it has absorbed only all the best traditions. Visiting the festival means getting a lot of positive emotions, learning a lot interesting facts about the holiday, as well as just relax and have a good time.

At the festival you will be able to enjoy the sound of different music, including folk songs, dance and even learn a new folk dance, which is danced annually around a fire in the outback of the country! Also, a lot of people gather at the festival, so this is a great chance to make new acquaintances. The festival program also includes an entertainment show, which consists of many stanina rituals.

Such a city festival is the best affordable alternative to village fun, since the organizers took care of the presence of the main attributes of Ivan Kupala: a bonfire, songs, dances, and even a fair with traditional decorations, rustic outfits, homemade crafts. You definitely won’t be bored this night! Do on festive table.

Interesting traditions and rituals

One of the most popular traditions, which is especially popular with young and single ladies, is fortune telling on Ivan Kupala. For example, on this night, let out wreaths that the girls have woven themselves, and if the wreath quickly floats on the water, it means that soon a young man will appear in her life who will become her husband, and if the wreath drowns or is knocked down by the current, then the girl will still be lonely for a while. By the way, weaving wreaths from herbs and flowers is another good old tradition, which is followed in both villages and cities, especially at festivals, where you can also attend a master class on weaving wreaths.

Other traditions include the well-known jumping over a fire. For example, a lover jumps over a fire hand in hand to find out what awaits the couple ahead. If during the jump the lover holds hands tightly and does not let go, it means they have a strong union ahead, and if for some reason they open their hands, it means they won’t be together for long.

And if you throw the shirt of a sick child into the fire, he will certainly recover. You can also use wreaths from the holiday of Ivan Kupala for the benefit of your health. For example, dry a wreath woven for a holiday, and then use these flowers and herbs to prepare healing tinctures and decoctions.

When answering the question of where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017, it is necessary to clarify that this is still a folk festival, which means that it must be spent in a friendly company, with fun, and, of course, a feast, regardless of the location. Traditional dishes on Ivan Kupala are lard, pancakes, porridge, eggs and beer.

Happy holiday!

The holiday of Ivan Kupala, which was celebrated yesterday, July 7, is popular in our country, as it is associated with a large number of traditions and customs. For this reason, it would be appropriate to talk about it today, since someone might have lost sight of the date of the holiday.

For those who are interested in what kind of holiday Ivan Kupala is, we answer: Kupala Night or Midsummer Day is one of the most mysterious and unpredictable in the cycle summer holidays V church calendar July. On July 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ. But since ancient pagan, Slavic and Christian traditions are closely intertwined in folk culture, there are important instructions about what to do on Ivan Kupala, as well as what is prohibited on Ivan Kupala 2017.

History of Ivan Kupala

Ivan Kupala is one of the most ancient and mystical Slavic holidays. Ivan Kupala is celebrated on the night of July 6-7.

The holiday of Ivan Kupala, or Midsummer's Day, takes its origins from the times of paganism. Initially, this day was dedicated to the pagan god Kupala. But after the Christianization of Kievan Rus, the name of this day was supplemented with the name of John the Baptist (Forerunner), whose birthday coincided with the Kupala holiday.

Ivan Kupala Day used to fall on the day of the summer solstice and fell on June 24. After the introduction of a new style of chronology, the date moved to July 7. It is on this day that the holiday is celebrated in our time.

The holiday of Ivan Kupala is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic countries. Ivan Kupala is considered the day of youth and love. According to legend, on this night the wedding of Kupala and Marena was played, which symbolized the union of two elements - water and fire, masculine and feminine principles.

Since ancient times, the day of Ivan Kupala has been associated with various rituals, rites, traditions and beliefs.

Fortune telling on the night before Ivan Kupala

The girls on Ivan Kupala were guessing about their betrothed. To do this, wreaths of flowers and field herbs were woven in advance, after which they were lowered into the water, making a wish, mainly for marriage. It was believed that if the wreath floated far away, wait for matchmakers, and if it returned back or unraveled on the water, sit in the wenches for at least a year. If the wreath washes up on the neighboring shore, the betrothed will be far away, and if the wreath drowns, the loved one will leave or the wedding will be upset.

The girls also threw stones into the water and counted the diverging circles - an even number indicated that the wish would come true, if an odd number, on the contrary, promised a change in plans.

Ivan Kupala 2017: signs and customs

Rain on Ivan Kupala foreshadowed the absence of a good harvest, but abundant dew spoke of abundance in the fields and gardens. Many stars in the sky on a festive night promised a large number of mushrooms.

Whoever jumps over the fire on Ivan Kupala the highest will gain luck and good fortune for the whole year.

If you wash your face with morning dew on Kupala, this, as you read, will help cure pimples and blackheads on your face and body.

Unmarried girls have another opportunity to check whether they will arrange their personal life this year. On Kupala they collected herbs and flowers in the dark, put them under the pillow, and in the morning they checked: if there were twelve different types- there will definitely be a wedding!

Those who like to make homemade preparations should pay attention to one more sign of the holiday: if the stars are clearly visible in the sky on the night of Kupala, and heavy dew falls at dawn, expect a large harvest of mushrooms, cucumbers, and other vegetables.

The Legend of Kupala

According to the legend of the ancient Slavs, Kupala had a sister, Kostroma. As children, they were separated by the bird Sirin, who carried Kupala to distant lands. Many years later. One day Kupala was sailing in a boat along the river and picked up a wreath of a girl from the water, who turned out to be Kostroma. The brother and sister did not recognize each other, but according to custom they were supposed to get married. And only after the wedding the couple learned that they were blood relatives.

Deciding that their family could not bear such a shame, Kostroma threw herself into the river and became a mermaid (Mavka), and her brother died by jumping into the fire. One of the gods took pity on Kupala and turned it into a flower, which later received the name Ivan da Marya.

History of the holiday Ivan Kupala

Before the baptism of Rus', our ancestors celebrated Kypala or the Solstice, which was of great importance, since people lived according to natural cycles. With the adoption of Christianity, the date and name of the holiday were associated with the Nativity of John the Baptist or the Bather, which is celebrated annually on July 7. Since the date has shifted, the actual day of the solstice no longer coincides with the Kupala holidays. For example, in 2017, the longest daylight fell on June 21, and Midsummer's Day will be celebrated on the night of July 6-7.

Traditions and rituals of the holiday Ivan Kupala
Ivan Kupala Day is full of traditions and rituals, many of which have survived to this day. The main role was given to the forces of nature, and the symbol of the holiday was the Sun. Ancestors believed that water and fire on this day were endowed with special properties and could save a person from troubles and illnesses. Washing with water and cleansing with fire have become an important holiday tradition in memory of Kupala and Kostroma.

On this day, it was customary to light fires on the banks of rivers and jump over them, dance in circles, swim in ponds, collect herbs, and weave wreaths, with the help of which girls could find out their fate. Also, according to legends, on the night of Kupala, evil spirits wander around the area, but they can be scared away and driven away with the help of bonfires.

Early in the morning people usually went to swim in rivers and lakes. It was believed that swimming in a pond cleanses a person, since on a festive night the water is charged with magical energy and protects people from spiritual and physical illnesses. For the same purpose, one could wash oneself with dew at dawn.

Fire also had special properties, so it was customary to make fires and jump over them. There was a belief that the one who jumps and does not touch the flame will be lucky for a whole year and will be able to find happiness. Mothers burned the clothes of sick children on the Kupala bonfires so that the child’s illness would also burn with it.

On the night before Midsummer, boys and girls split into pairs, exchanged wreaths and jumped over the fire, holding hands. It was believed that if sparks fly after a couple, and the lock of their hand does not separate, then there will soon be a wedding. And those who jumped the highest will be the happiest in marriage.

People paid special attention to plants, which on the night of Ivan Kupala acquire magical power and become especially healing, protect against evil spirits and diseases. Herbs were collected at night or at dawn, dried and used throughout the year, until the following summer.

The symbol of the holiday was the Ivan da Marya flower. Our ancestors believed that the juice of this plant restored people’s lost hearing and clarity of mind. Ivan da Marya flowers were collected and placed in the corners of rooms to prevent thieves from entering the house. Wormwood also had protective properties, but against evil spirits. This plant was dried and hung in the house, and also woven into wreaths. And to scare away witches, nettles were placed on the windowsills and thresholds of the house.

The Legend of the Fern Flower

When talking about the Ivan Kupala holiday, one cannot fail to mention the legend of the fern flower. According to legends, the fern blooms only once a year - on Kupala night. A bud appears in the center of the bush, which blooms at midnight and becomes fire flower. Anyone who manages to pick it will be able to see treasures in the ground, understand animals, open locks, take on any form and predict the future. But the flower hunter needs to be careful. When he finds a fern, he should draw a circle around himself with a knife and wait until midnight. Picking a fern flower can be prevented by forest evil spirits, which will call a person by name and make noise. You cannot respond or turn around, otherwise you will lose your life. Having picked a flower, you need to immediately run home without looking back.

Fortune telling on the night of Ivan Kupala

The most common fortune telling on Kupala were those that could predict an imminent marriage. For the holiday, the girls wove wreaths, inserted lighted candles into them and lowered them into the water. If the wreath floated quickly, the wedding is coming soon, and the groom will come from the direction where the wreath floated. If she drowns right away, the girl will be unmarried all her life. But the happiest one will be the one whose wreath lasts longer on the water, or the one whose candle burns out for the longest time.

At midnight, the girls picked an armful of herbs and hid it under the pillow. In the morning they looked: if there are 12 different plants- There will be a wedding this year.

They also told fortunes using chamomile. To do this, water was poured into a wide and shallow container and two chamomile flowers without stems were placed in it. If they swim in different directions, the lovers will separate. If the flowers stay close, the couple will be together all their lives.

One could find out about the future in the following way: light a fire at night and throw herbs into the fire. If smoke spreads along the ground, it means that trouble awaits a person, and if it rushes upward, there will be happiness, prosperity and prosperity

It was also believed that if you climb over 12 fences at night and make a wish, it will definitely come true within a year.

Photo: website of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Holiday Ivana Kupala for more than two thousand years. Traditionally, the holiday is celebrated on the night of July 6-7. This is perhaps the only pagan holiday that has survived to this day, which is almost uninfluenced by Christianity. This holiday was celebrated throughout Ukraine, as evidenced by Kupala songs.

Night on Ivana Kupala considered magical. Only on Kupala night were young people allowed to play pranks, flirt with each other, kiss, hug (enter into intimate relationships), after Ivana Kupala the guy was supposed to marry the girl he was flirting with.

According to legend, on this night the wedding of Kupala and Marena was played - this symbolized the union of the male and female principles, two elements (Kupala is the embodiment of fire, Marena is water).

Ivana Kupala It is advisable to celebrate near a river - flowing water. Preparations for the holiday began at dawn. The guys mowed the grass in the clearing where all the actions were supposed to take place, prepared firewood for a huge night fire, and brought straw, which had to be stolen (they made a stuffed Kupala from it).

The girls wove wreaths from flowering medicinal herbs - including wormwood, which, according to legend, drives away evil spirits. They wove several wreaths for themselves, and one was special, magical: when creating it, the girl dreamed of the guy she liked and made a wish to marry him. During the holiday, she tried to put it on her chosen one, and in the evening she launched it into the water.

In the evening, girls only Ivana Kupala it was allowed to take off skirts and plakhtas and remain in the undershirt. On this day, it was very important to douse yourself with water: from your mouth, from a handful, from a ladle (if anyone had stocked up on it).

This meant that the participant in the holiday was purified not only by fire, but also by water - a symbol of power, energy, and health. It also symbolized calling for rain so that there would be no drought. It is clear that girls in wet shirts doused with water became even more attractive. In addition, they were cold, which served as another reason for the guys to hug them, warming them up.

During the holiday, everyone had fun, sang, danced in circles, had a feast: they brought bread, pies, together they cooked porridge from cereals (barley or wheat), and fried eggs. Most likely, on Ivana Kupala they drank weak alcohol - beer or mash (there is no mention of vodka in historical sources).

The culmination of the holiday came in the evening.From the grass cut in the morning and dried during the day, the girls made two stuffed animals - Kupala and Madder. After sunset they were burned at the stake, symbolizing the wedding. Then couples - boys and girls, holding hands, jumped over the fire, and it was necessary to jump not over smoke or coals, but over flames.

People believed that fire had powerful healing powers - thus they underwent a ritual of cleansing from the past and together were ready for a new life. Now everyone jumps over the Kupala bonfire: children, people alone, and adults who are not close to each other.

Meanwhile, according to tradition Ivana Kupala, only couples who decided to link their destinies, or already married couples, could jump over the fire.Continuing the theme of the struggle between fire and water, the burnt out fire was poured with water from the river, and everyone brought water by putting it in their mouth.Having had enough fun, singing and dancing, the couples wandered through the forest to look for the mystical fern flower.

According to legend, the fern blooms at exactly midnight. In nature, this plant does not bloom, but to this day legends and fairy tales have been preserved that it is on this magical night of the birth of sincere love, the merging of fire and water, that a miracle occurs - a flower of happiness, good luck and prosperity appears. Everyone is looking for the flower, but they find it only in pairs, and only truly lovers can see it.On Ivana Kupala in the struggle between fire and water, water wins.

The holiday ended with the launching of wreaths into the water. The girls lowered their wreaths (symbol wedding ring) with a candle inserted into it on the water, making a wish - as a rule, to marry your loved one. The water carried away the wish, and the girl believed that it would come true. If the wreath sank, it was a bad sign.

After the celebration Ivana Kupala the guys began to woo their chosen ones, and the time came to prepare for weddings.

In the year of the Red Rooster, the holiday of Ivan Kupala will take place on the eve of the Full Moon on July 9 zodiac sign Sagittarius. This combination will give the holiday maximum strength and support from the Higher Powers. Everybody needs to know when is Ivan Kupala 2017 and conduct effective rituals to increase wealth, love and prosperity on the night of July 6-7.

Lunar calendar for Midsummer

Mystical folk holiday Traditionally celebrated in the first week of July. Moon calendar for 2017 it says that the celebration will take place on the night of the twelfth day of the moon, when issues related to such areas of our lives as:

• Solving legal issues of any complexity;
• All real estate transactions;
• Organization romantic dates and pleasant surprises.

However, this day cannot be called stable, since the waxing Moon in the second phase will saturate the air with electricity and excessive activity. In addition, on July 7, 2017, there is a minor magnetic storm. So keep in mind that conflicts are possible out of the blue and an insatiable desire to get everything at once.

However, most people will be in excellent spirits and actively enjoying life, summer vacation and the opportunity to celebrate in honor of Ivan Kupala with your loved one. It is important to note that the day When Ivan Kupala in 2017 patronized by planets such as Jupiter and Venus. This means that the Higher Powers will give all lovers a chance to harmonize their relationships.

Signs on Ivan Kupala

The magical Kupala night will combine the energy of four elements: fire, water, air and earth. The power of medicinal herbs collected on the night of July 6-7, 2017 will increase several times.

Since ancient times, the collection of Ivanovo herbs has been part of the ritual complex of celebrating the first night holiday in July. The lucky ones will find their fern flower, but other herbs, such as lemon balm, wormwood, nettle, mint, strawberry leaves, fireweed, thistle and many others, can improve the health of any person or pet.

Very good omen see a rainbow a day when Ivan Kupala in 2017. You need to quickly make a wish and photograph the celestial phenomenon. In the future, the image of a good sign will bring you good luck and prosperity.

For girls who are going to get married and give birth to a child, as well as for all women planning a pregnancy, clairvoyants recommend jumping over the fire on Kupala night, holding hands with your loved one. If your foot lands on a burnt section of a branch, beware of trouble; if a lot of sparks fly from the fire, expect a lot of news and surprises, and if you manage to jump to the maximum height, your wish will certainly come true!

Wedding on Ivan Kupala Day

There is a belief that marrying Ivan Kupala means basking in luxury all your life. It is very important for lovers to hold each other's hands on this day, as the exchange of energies occurs at a more intense level than usual.

It should be remembered that the primary colors of this summer day- white, green, pink and blue.

To bring luck to your side, you need to boil or bake a whole chicken on the fire on the night of Ivan Kupala. Early in the morning of July 7, it is cut into pieces and distributed to people in need. It is believed that by doing this you will appease the Higher Powers and they will give you new prospects in business and love.

There is a fortune telling according to which an unmarried girl must collect eleven different herbs on the night of July 6-7, 2017 and weave them all into her wreath. You need to wear it on your head for at least two hours, then the young beauty must take off the jewelry and set it down the river. It’s bad if the wreath drowns - complications in life cannot be avoided, but if it floats away safely long distance- the wedding will be this year!