Ivan Kupala holiday is one of the most mysterious and brightest in the traditional Ukrainian calendar. It honors the unity of two powerful elements - fire and water, which symbolize the purification, renewal and revival. Ivan Kupala is celebrated during the summer solstice, when nature is in heyday, and according to popular beliefs, doors to the world of change and miracles open.
One of the central traditions is the rituals of purification. People jump over a large Kupala fire, imaginally burning all the bad ones that have accumulated in a year. After that, they go to swim in a river or lake - to wash away fatigue, anxiety and recharge with new energy. In some areas, they also drink spring water - they believe that it is healing precisely on the night of Kupala.
Equally significant rite is the weaving of wreaths from the field flowers. The girls let them on the water to find out about the future: if the wreath floats evenly - love will be mutual, if sinking - you should be careful.
This night they also collect healing herbs - it is considered that on July 6-7 they gain much strength. They are dried and stored as a charm for the whole year.
A separate part of the Kupala magic is the search for the mythical flower of ferns, which appears only once a year and brings happiness to the one who will find it. Although no one has seen this flower yet, the very idea of finding a symbolic role - the desire for internal discovery and changes.
The holiday ends with singing, dancing and nights' fun at the fire. It's not just entertainment - it is a sense of unity, a deep connection with nature and the community.
Although in the modern world, many of these customs have lost their magical meaning, Ivan Kupala remains the Day of Recovery of the Balance, when we, like our ancestors, turn to the power of nature to purify our hearts and start a new cycle of life.
