Ivan Kupala
Summer Solstice Celebration
Key Features
- Celebrated June 23-24
- Fire and water rituals
- Herb gathering
- Divination practices
- Fertility symbolism
Main Rituals
- Jumping over bonfires
- Wreath floating
- Nighttime herb collecting
- Search for fern flower
- Ritual bathing
Historical Roots
Ivan Kupala combines:
- Pre-Christian summer solstice celebrations
- Christian St. John's feast day
- Ancient fertility rites
- Nature worship traditions
- Protective magic practices
Regional Variations
Different Slavic regions celebrate uniquely:
- Ukraine - Wreath divination in rivers
- Russia - Nighttime fern flower quests
- Poland - Sobótka bonfire festivals
- Belarus - Kupalle singing traditions
Modern Celebrations
Contemporary Ivan Kupala practices:
- Cultural festivals and reenactments
- Neopagan religious observances
- Tourist attractions
- Folk music performances
- Eco-spiritual gatherings