The Slavic holiday was steeped in its traditions and history. Slavic holiday Kupala its traditions and history When is the day of Ivan Kupala celebrated?

12.07.202027.05.2017

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, who are still somewhat closer to the original traditions. 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 with a large group, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to light a fire within the city.

In addition, when choosing villages, for example, you can stumble upon folk festivals 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 out of town 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 old good 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 after all, this is 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 - this is lard, pancakes, porridge, eggs and beer.

Have a nice holiday!

In different regions where the Slavs live, the dates of the Ivan Kupala holiday may differ. The fact is that in some regions this day is traditionally associated with a church holiday and then it falls on July 7, but in other regions Ivan Kupala will be celebrated on June 22 in 2019. Because, answering the question of what date is this event, it focuses exclusively on the day summer solstice.

If we consider this holiday from the point of view of Christianity, then you can read, which is celebrated from July 6 to July 7. As for the pagan date and traditions that have harmoniously intertwined with modernity, we are talking about the date June 22 - this is precisely the day when the holiday of Ivan Kupala is celebrated in 2019, because it will be the day of the summer solstice.

The ancient Slavs, who professed paganism before the arrival of Christianity in Rus', always celebrated the summer solstice with great pomp. Moreover, the day was not Ivan Kupala, as it is commonly called today, but the holiday of Ivan Kupala, who was the ancient god of the sun and was the personification of solar energy and sunlight.

This holiday has many ancient origins and traditions, some of which have passed into modern times. Due to the fact that the Christian church always has a holiday in honor of St. Ivan somewhere near the summer solstice, there has been confusion in the dates. We remind you that they were brought to Moscow and they will be in the capital for another month.

The ancient Slavic holiday in its original version has been almost completely forgotten, and the increasingly popular date of Ivan Kupala’s day is precisely the night from July 6 to 7, and not the date of the summer solstice, which this year will be celebrated on June 21-22. Ivan is a canonical Jewish name and in Rus' it came along with Christianity. At a time when our ancestors professed paganism in our territories, there was only the God of purification and the sun, Kupala.

Judging by logic and correct chronology, then there should be no Ivan Kupala holiday. Because in Christian Orthodox calendar St. Ivan's Day is celebrated at the beginning of July, and according to pagan traditions, at the end of June, on the day of the summer solstice, a holiday is celebrated with pagan roots Bathed. As such, Ivan Kupala never existed, it’s just that in the popular imagination, two traditions were superimposed on one another, resulting in a compilation that still misleads many people.

Interesting! A similar mixture of Christian and pagan traditions can be seen on other church holidays. For example, Forgiveness Sunday- the last day before the beginning of Lent before Easter is called Maslenitsa. Many traditions of this holiday have been preserved since the times when the Slavs were pagans. In nature, barbecue is always relevant, for example, excellent.

How the celebration of Kupala has changed

According to the modern calendar, the holiday of Ivan Kupala should be celebrated on June 20, 21 and 22, on which date in a particular year the summer solstice falls. But on June 24, Orthodox Christians celebrate the birthday of John the Baptist or John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River. The proximity of the two holidays allowed the church to shift the date and add the name “Ivan” to the name of the holiday.

There are still many misconceptions about the celebration and interpretation of the summer solstice, and we can safely say that every year there are only more of them. But still, certain traditions and rituals have been preserved and practiced.

Pagan attributes of the holiday

Sun- this is fire and this attribute has a special meaning. The ancestors burned huge bonfires that day and all night, believing that fire has special magic: it cleanses space, allows you to drive away grievances and failures, thereby making room for something new. They tried to light fires through a lens from the sun or by rubbing wood against wood. It was believed that diseases and everything bad were burned in the fire on Kupala night. There was a tradition of throwing the underwear of sick people into the fire so that they would recover faster.

The second important symbol is water, a lot is focused on it. On the day of the summer solstice, water, according to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, has healing powers. At the same time, it was forbidden to swim in reservoirs, because people believed that various evil spirits crawled to the surface, which in cunning ways could drag a person to the very bottom. Dew has a special magical power on this day: you need to go out at dawn and wash yourself with dew in order to be beautiful and young. The girl who wants to find a groom must wash herself three times.

Particular attention was also paid to collecting medicinal and healing herbs. A detailed herbalist can be seen in the photo below; I would also like to say separately about the ritual associated with fern. As you know, this plant does not bloom, but the ancient Slavs believed that the exception occurs precisely on the night of the Kupala holiday. Finding a fern in bloom will ensure happiness and success for life.

Love and purification rites

Since it is on this night that the fern blooms the only time a year, it should be noted that the energy of love on the holiday is very strong. For example, you can tell fortunes using wreaths. The girls wove them from herbs and flowers they collected with their own hands. Then they floated wreaths on the water and watched them float: if they drowned, then they wouldn’t get married this year; if they floated far, far away, then life with their loved ones would be long and happy.

You can pick 12 or 24 types of herbs at midnight to tell fortunes about the grooms. Place the herbs under the pillow, first tying them into a bouquet. Sentence that the betrothed dream and come in a dream to look at the garden. You can also count how many herbs ended up in the bouquet; if there are exactly 12 of them, then you can safely expect matchmakers this year.

The cleansing ritual is carried out with morning dew; it was written about in detail in the middle of this material. The holiday of Kupala, which is now called Ivana Kupala, can be celebrated on June 21-22 or July 6-7. In any case, many traditions are very similar, and special attention should be paid to gratitude and love, going out into nature, lighting bonfires and enjoying the beauty of our planet.

Ivan Kupala is the popular name for the church holiday of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. It is celebrated on July 7

How did the holiday of Ivan Kupala originate?

The Church classifies the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist into the category of great holidays: it is less significant than the Twelves, but is more revered among the people compared to the others. According to the gospel story, on this day the prediction of the Archangel Gabriel came true: the elderly couple - priest Zechariah and Elizabeth - had a long-awaited son, who was named John. He was destined to become the herald of the Savior, to announce his coming and, thereby, the coming of the “day of the Lord.” That's why John was called the Baptist. Proclaiming the approach of the kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of God, John called on people to repent of their sins, and instructed them to always share with their neighbors and not harm them. Those who repented underwent a rite of purification in the waters of the Jordan River, which was called “baptism by water” or “ total immersion". John carried out the baptism, for which he received another name - Baptist. In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus Christ and some of his disciples received baptism with water from John. Seeing Jesus Christ, John pointed to him to his disciples and everyone present and said: "Here The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (Gospel of John).

The date of birth of John the Baptist fell on the day of the summer solstice and the period of the ancient pagan holiday of Kupala, one of the brightest and revered among the Eastern Slavs.

In Rus', its popular name - Ivan Kupala - is usually associated with a certain pagan deity, although the very existence of such a deity is not confirmed (the first mention of it is found only in the late Gustin chronicle of the 17th century, and even then due to a misunderstanding: the chronicler, knowing about the “demonic games "on Ivan Kupala, took the name of the holiday for the name of a pagan god).

The pagan character of the holiday was preserved in Russia for many centuries until the 19th century. Its special significance was due to the fact that Ivan Kupala was celebrated at the turn of two periods of the solar 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 gradually “faded” in the subsequent months of the calendar year: the days became shorter and the nights 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 together with the days of Agrafena the Bathing Lady (July 6) and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Peter's Day, July 12).

Customs and rituals on Ivan Kupala

Customs and beliefs associated with Midsummer's Day are similar among all European peoples. In Russia, Kupala is a straw doll that was burned or drowned, or buried in the ground. Sometimes, next to a doll representing a female creature (Kupala, Marina-Marena), a male doll appears (Yarilo, Kostroma, Kostrubonko). This pair of Kupala personified creatures - Ivan and Kupala, Ivan and Marya - gave the name to the flowers Ivan da Marya, into which, according to Kupala songs, a brother and sister turned, married out of ignorance of their relationship.

Kupala ritual was associated with two natural elements - fire and water, which in the mythological consciousness of the people were interpreted inextricably as brother and sister. The combination of these components is found in the name "Kupala". In folk etymology it is associated with the verbs “bathe”, “boil”. Researchers of traditional Russian culture of the late 19th - early 20th centuries assumed that “Kupala games and holidays were held in honor of a solar wedding, one of the acts of which was the sun bathing in the waters. Hence the name of these holidays - “Kupala”.

Everywhere on Midsummer night, bonfires were lit along the banks of rivers. Young people gathered around the Kupala bonfires and festivities took place. To gain good luck and good health, girls and boys, alone or in pairs, jumped over the Kupala fire. The shirt of a sick child was thrown into the fire so that his illness would burn with it; mothers carried their children over the fire in the hope of its healing and cleansing power. The ashes from the Kupala fires were scattered across grain fields and vegetable gardens.

The celebration of Ivan Kupala was accompanied everywhere by washing with water, mass bathing of people in rivers, lakes, holy springs, washing in baths, and washing with dew. The custom of dousing with water was widespread. Guys poured water on smartly dressed girls and vice versa, other people they met also got it, only children and the elderly were spared.

Beliefs on Ivan Kupala

There was a belief that on Midsummer's Eve herbs had a special magical power that had a beneficial effect on people, and they sought to use this power. People said that even ferns bloom on Kupala night, and herbaceous plants and flowers talk to each other and reveal their healing secrets. Ivanovo herbs were collected and used to treat people and livestock. With their help, they were used to relieve insomnia and melancholy, they were used to weave wreaths and prepare bath brooms, they were used to cast spells and used them in love magic, and they protected houses from fire and thieves. Herbs were used to ward off evil spirits, which, according to legend, are especially active on the shortest Kupala night.

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 Kupala (Agrafena Bathing House). People relied on the cleansing properties of Ivanovo herbs when collecting plant material for brooms, which were also made only at this time.

WITH special attention The peasants treated their crops, where grain crops had already ripened and gained strength. The main actions of this period were aimed at preserving already ripened ears of grain from the influence of otherworldly forces and human encroachments (there was a ban on picking the fruits of a new harvest), physical and spiritual cleansing before the start of field work, the universal means for which were water and fire, as well as obtaining from nature and the earth strength and health. For this purpose, girls and young women, and often all young people, rolled on the rye.

The main role in agrarian-magical rituals was given to girls and young women, and they were led, as a rule, by adult women, which is due to the idea of the symbolic connection of women with the land, which was in a state of fruiting.

According to ethnographers, among the Eastern Slavs, the holiday was preserved in its most archaic form by the Belarusians, partly by the Ukrainians, while the Russians either forgot the main elements of Kupala rituals or transferred them to other holidays - Trinity and Peter's Day.

Ivan Kupala Day has two origins:

Old Believers. In those days when the Christian faith had not yet been accepted in Rus', on the day of the summer solstice, the main deity was revered - the Sun God Kupala. It was he who, according to popular belief, gave life, faith and hope to the whole world. It was believed that on this day a person merges with nature, receives energy and magical power from it. That is why so many rites and magical rituals are associated with this holiday, many of which are still valid today.
Church. Ivan Kupala, in fact, is a Slavic version of the sound of the name John the Baptist. The name John is translated from Greek as “immerser in water,” which is why the inhabitants of Rus' nicknamed him Ivan Kupala. John was a simple person, born into the family of a priest, until the age of 30 he led a hermit’s lifestyle. He was close to God, and he told him that our Savior would soon come to him. So John waited for Jesus Christ and baptized the pagans on the banks of the Jordan, preparing for the coming of the Son of God. He was executed on the orders of Herod because he was in an illegal marriage with his brother's wife.

Attention! Actually originally church holiday Ivan Kupala was called the Nativity of John the Baptist, but due to an incorrect translation by historians from Europe, this celebration began to be called the day of Ivan Kupala.

When will they celebrate

During the times of paganism in Rus', the holiday of Ivan Kupala was celebrated on the longest day of the year, i.e. June 24. After the change of the calendar, it began to be celebrated later and falls every year from July 6 to July 7. But some Old Believers still celebrate this day according to the old calendar, on the day of the summer solstice, and walk for 4 whole days from June 20 to 24.

Rituals and traditions

1. At sunrise, on July 7, you need to wash and swim in an open reservoir, this will wash away all sins, heal from all diseases, cleanse the body and boost immunity.

2. Morning dew, collected in the morning of Ivan Kupala, will help get rid of “dirty” living creatures in the house - cockroaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, mice. To do this, dew is collected in a bowl and sprinkled on the walls of the house.

3. On the night of July 7, you need to go into the forest and collect medicinal herbs. Doctors are convinced that all plants on this day acquire miraculous powers and help get rid of many serious diseases.

Advice! Traditional healers advise collecting chamomile, yarrow, and St. John's wort.

4. Also on this day it was customary to collect special fortune-telling flowers - rich flowers. This flower should have been placed under the pillow. If it blossoms, then the girl will get married this year; if it withers, then marriage can’t be expected.

5. According to folk tradition, before Ivan Kupala Day, young people gather near a reservoir, organize mass celebrations, sing, dance in circles, weave wreaths, and burn old things.

6. After sunset, it was customary to light fires through which couples in love had to jump. The couple, holding hands, must jump through the fire. If the lovers do not unclench their hands during the jump, then they are not afraid of any obstacles and the union will be happy and long.

7. After jumping over the fire, the girls jumped into the water. It was a good sign that if the wreath fell from the girl’s head and floated rather than drowned, then the year would be successful.

8. In the old days there was a legend that evil creatures live in forest reservoirs, and on the night of July 6, all evil spirits leave the water. Therefore, it was possible to swim in the lakes without fear for your health, which was usually used by villagers.

Attention! An interesting fact is that if someone refused to swim on this day, he was immediately suspected of witchcraft.

9. In the morning on the day of Ivan Kupala, the girls went out into the field and collected dew. It was believed that this water was healing, after it the face was beautiful, acne went away, and eye diseases were treated with it.

10. To protect themselves from evil spirits on this day, girls carried garlic with them and placed nettles near the house.

Signs for Ivan Kupala Day

If it starts to rain on the day of the holiday, then within a week the weather will be hot and dry.
If on the night of July 6-7 the weather is good and clear, so that the stars are visible, and dew falls in the morning, then the year will be fruitful.
Lonely girls always went to the bathhouse on this day. It was necessary not only to take a good swim, but also to whip yourself with brooms. After ablutions, the girls went outside and threw this broom over their shoulder without looking back. In which direction he flies, that’s where the betrothed lives.
Jumping over the fire also had a symbolic meaning: jump over three times - the year will be successful, happy; if you stumble while jumping, there will be many unpleasant moments in the new year; if you accidentally touch a fire and the fire breaks up, there will be discord in the family.
Anyone who finds a fern flower on this holiday will gain magical powers. It is very difficult to find such a flower, because... Not only people, but also all evil spirits are hunting for him. Having found it, you need to hide it under your clothes, near your heart.

Thus, Ivan Kupala Day is not only folk holiday, but also church. Many pagan traditions and rituals have come down to us, which are now more entertaining in nature, while our ancestors believed in the power and magic of this celebration.

Celebration of Ivan Kupala - video

When Ivan Kupala in 2019 - the holiday falls on July 7. This is one of the most mystical events of the year, which in significance can only be compared with Halloween or Anti-Easter. Ivan Kupala was originally a pagan holiday with which many are associated folk traditions, such as jumping over fires for purification or searching for treasure using a magical fern flower.

Summer comes and the sun gains its strength, the time of long days comes and short nights. June, filled with warmth and juices, will show its strength on the days of the solstice and scorch the earth with the first summer heat. Then comes July - the month in which the day of Ivan Kupala (Kupalo) is celebrated according to the new style.

The ancient Slavs celebrated the onset of summer with the beginning of rosehip flowering, in early June. Until the eighteenth century, summer in the calendar was designated from the celebration of the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24), and it ended with the Feast of the Conception of the same saint, approximately September 23. The month of June was previously called Cherven in Rus', because there were a lot of cherries at that time, as well as grain growth and cresen, i.e. fire.

Fire and water - the main symbols of Ivan Kupala

This choice of holiday symbols may seem strange to you. Indeed, what could fire and water have in common? It turns out there is something. Both elements bring cleansing, only water cleanses the body, and fire cleanses the soul.

On Ivan Kupala, people really swam en masse in rivers and other bodies of water. But, it should be noted that there were certain. In particular, approaching bodies of water after sunset was strictly prohibited - so that evil spirits would not drown. While jumping over the fire, everyone tried to jump as high as possible. It was believed that the one who jumps the highest will be the happiest for the year.

What date is Ivan Kupala celebrated in 2019?

At one time, the day of Ivan Kupala was an ancient one. The event was timed to coincide with the Solstice (summer solstice).

Are you wondering what is causing this discrepancy in dates? To answer this question, we need to turn to the pagan traditions of our ancestors. Initially, Ivan Kupala was a purely mystical holiday. On this day (or rather, the night before), rituals were performed, conspiracies were pronounced, and fortune telling was performed.

Nature transforms on Ivan Kupala

Wreaths were launched into the water,
to tell fortunes for the groom

At Solstice, the earth returned its power to the sun. On this day, rituals were held to cleanse children from diseases with dew and fire. Early in the morning, the kids ran through the dew, gaining strength from the earth and plants. Mothers sat their children on a wide wooden shovel and placed it in the oven for a moment so that diseases and damage would go away. This ritual was called “baking a child”; it was believed that it helps against “canine old age” (rickets). Do not rush to be amazed at the “barbaric” customs of your ancestors - children were placed only for a short time, and not in a hot oven, but in a warm, cooling oven.

The week preceding the Solstice is called Rusal. At this time, rituals were held to say goodbye to the mermaids; people brought gifts for mermaids, leaving them in the forest or near a reservoir next to birch trees.

A wonderful and fabulous atmosphere reigned during the days of the Solstice celebration, people sang songs, told fortunes and had fun, and bonfires were lit. Burned old clothes to renew and cleanse. By jumping over the sacred fire, they purified their spirit and renewed their connection with their ancestors.

Fern flower on the night of Kupala

According to ancient folk beliefs, on Kupala night one should look for the color of the fern or, as it was also called, “paparysha”. People believed that whoever finds and brings the mystical flower to his home will soon know where the treasures are buried.

Finding a treasured flower is not easy...

However, to get untold riches at your disposal, you need to be a desperate daredevil. On the night of Kupala, all evil spirits come out to protect the fern flowers. So the lover of quick money will have a hard time - if he meets with him for a short time, he will perish forever! In addition, as legend says, the fern flower is given only to selected people with a pure soul.

But what to do if you really want to gain wealth? In this case, you will need to find a wild fern on the night of Ivan Kupala. Your own flower in an indoor pot or on summer cottage will not work, so you will have to go outside the city, to a wooded area. You need to take it with you, without which you won’t be able to get the treasured flower.

Only the most persistent will find the color of ferns!

Near the found fern you should draw a protective circle that will protect you from evil spirits. Wait patiently until the flower appears, which may be fiery or silver. Immediately pick the color as soon as it appears! This moment cannot be missed, because the fern blooms for just one moment.

It will be very difficult to return home; evil spirits will call out to you, try to frighten you with terrible visions, and “confuse” the road. The obstacles that must be overcome are described in great detail in Gogol's "May Night". Anyone who looks back, responds to the call of evil spirits, or goes astray will most likely not be able to leave the forest alive.

Why is bloodflower dangerous?

There is another version of the legend about a fern plucked on the holiday of Ivan Kupala. This is what the ancient text says:

Find a dead place in the forest and go there on Kupala night. Wait until the moon appears from behind the clouds, and then look around - the moon will show you the bloodflower! Don’t hesitate for a second - quickly cut the treasured flower. Sprinkle it with fresh blood, and you will be happy...

At first glance, the task does not seem too difficult. Finding a dead (i.e., desolate, neglected) place in the forest will not be special labor. The evil spirit itself will tell the person where to look for the bloodflower, but there will be no happiness from this! The devil's flower will open a treasure for a person and make him rich. But in return, the bloodbloom will drive a person crazy and force him to kill the one who is dear to him...