User:Sławobóg/sandbox
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Kupala Night (also Kupala's Night or just Kupala; Belarusian: Kupallye, Russian: Ivan Kupala, Kupala, Ukrainian: Ivan Kupalo) is one of the major folk holidays[1] of the Eastern Slavs[2], that coincided with the Christian feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist[1], East Slavic feast of Saint John's Eve. In folk tradition, it was revered as the day of the summer solstice[1][2] and was celebrated on June 24[2], although the night before was more ritualized[1]. The name of the holiday is ultimately derived from the East Slavic word kǫpati "to bathe".
Kupala Night | |
---|---|
Also called | Kupala's Night, Kupala |
Observed by | East Slavs |
Significance | celebration relates to the summer solstice |
Date | June 23–24 |
Frequency | Annual |
Related to | Summer Solstice, Saint John's Eve, Nativity of St. John the Baptist |
A number of activities and rituals are associated with Kupala Night, such as gathering herbs and flowers and decorating people, animals and houses with them, entering water, bathing, dousing with water, sending garlands on water, lighting fires, dancing, singing, jumping over fire, hunting witches and scaring them away. It was also believed that on this day the sun plays and other wonders of nature happen.[1] The celebrations were held near the water, on the hills. Young men and women participated.[2]
The rituals and symbolism of the holiday may point to its pre-Christian origins.