In 2024, the holiday of Ivan Kupala falls from July 6 to July 7 - the date is constant and does not change annually. The day has many popular names: Swimsuit, Suncross, Kolosok, Yarilo, Cleanliness, Ivanov Petrov, Ivan Petrovny, etc. The tradition of organizing festivities after the summer solstice has remained since pagan times. The night after it was considered special - one could absorb the power of nature, cleanse oneself of illnesses and adversities.
History of the holiday
The ancient Slavs worshiped the sun - Yarila. On the day when the luminary rises to its maximum height above the horizon, it sees its subjects better. The solstice is the best time to address the deity.But since it is impossible to look at the solar disk, festive ceremonies were held after sunset. During the rituals, people asked for he alth, prosperity, girls - a worthy groom, young people - a submissive bride.
Ancient rites so entered the blood of the Slavs that they continued to honor the pagan Gods after the Baptism of Rus'. According to the canons of Orthodoxy, such holidays were considered sinful. But Christian priests understood that they could provoke a popular revolt by forbidding the maintenance of ancient traditions. Therefore, they tried to supplant the pagan holiday, replacing the Nativity of John the Baptist, or the Prophet and Baptist John of the Lord.
The date on the calendar was celebrated as a holiday in honor of the birth of the future Prophet in elderly parents. When choosing the time, they were based on the words of the Saint, the essence of which is - after my birth, the day should decrease, the night should increase. When calculating the date, they used the difference between the ages of Jesus and John according to the Gospel testimonies.The replacement was successful. Since the Saint baptized the Lord himself, dipping him in the Jordan, the basis of the rite remained the same - universal cleansing. The ancient name - Yarilov Day, was almost forgotten.
According to the old style, the holiday of Ivan Kupala was celebrated on June 24, and the name was associated with the main rite, similar to pagan. People bathe, pour water on each other, but already in memory of the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Rites and customs of Ivan Kupala
Pagan and Christian traditions on the Nativity of John the Baptist are intertwined so tightly that it is difficult to separate them. On the night after the summer solstice, you can’t sleep - evil spirits come out of the reservoirs and can be dragged to the bottom. Therefore, the clergy established an all-night vigil. After him, during Matins, they read the canon to the Holy Baptist.
The Church does not support the tradition of holding festivities on the holiday. At this time, the Petrovsky post, popularly nicknamed "Petrovka-hunger strike" , takes place. To celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist, on this day it was allowed:
- increase the number of meals to three;
- cook fish;
- serve 2-3 glasses of red wine with dinner.
But the inhabitants of villages and villages, having paid respect to the Baptist, after evening prayers walked until the morning. They performed a ceremony with a "bathing tree" - they decorated a birch, and then they brought it to the village and installed it in the square or in the field. Round dances were made around her, songs were sung. Then they burned a tree to absorb natural strength, jumped over the fire. After midnight, a real festivities began - they poured water on each other, carried out a stumbling (exchanged crosses). After that, the women became "named" sisters, committed to helping each other all their lives.
The tradition of bathing on the holiday was not supported everywhere. Residents of many villages believed that since mermaids and mermen leave the reservoirs on the night of Ivan Kupala, you can dive freely. Others, that evil spirits hide in floodplains near the coast, so it's better to limit yourself to dousing each other.
The most famous holiday tradition left over from paganism is the search for a fern flower. It was believed that it blooms exactly at midnight. Whoever finds it will become happy and rich. The girls wove wreaths and let them go down the river to find out about the prospect of marriage - which side they nailed, from the other side the matchmakers will drive up. A rite for young men is to lower a fiery wheel from the mountain. If it reaches the river and falls into the water, the wedding will be before summer.
As soon as the dew fell, the healers began to collect medicinal herbs. On the day of Ivan Kupala, it was customary to take children with them to the fields and forests to pick plants. They acquired magical power only when they were first touched by a "person with a pure soul." Only healers who attended church for the general vigil could do without helpers.
Signs of Ivan Kupala
If the cattle passes between the Kupala fires, the whole year will not get sick. Some owners themselves performed the ceremony - they took the animals to the fires, others trusted God's will, and at night the barn on Kupala was not closed. Other signs:
- Rain on the solstice day - summer will be hot, thunderstorm - nuts will not be born.
- The sky is clear on Kupala - there will be a lot of mushrooms in autumn.
- To hear a cuckoo - to early frosts, a cricket - to a mild winter. Meeting a snake is a waste of time.
- The night from 6 to 7 July is starry - there will be a lot of vegetables.
- Dew after Kupala night - to a bountiful harvest of cucumbers.
Lovers can find out their future with the help of an old pagan rite. They need to jump over the fire holding hands. It will turn out not to disengage - they will get married. If a sheaf of sparks fly out behind them, they will live together all their lives, in we alth and joy. When it is Ivan Kupala's day in 2024, it will be possible to walk all night. The date of the holiday falls on the night from Saturday to Sunday, which means that it will be possible to get enough sleep all weekend.
