Midsummer's Day, Ivan Kupala's Day … a mysterious fern blooming in the depths of the forest, wreaths, dwellings decorated with "living" fire and flowers - and of course, a river or a lake. The day of Ivan Kupala (more precisely, the Kupala night) was one of the magical days among the Slavic peoples, when the pagan gods, the natural elements could ask for cleansing, protection, health, wealth and, of course, the betrothed.
The oldest traditions of this amazing day (more precisely, night), full of magic and miracles, of course, are associated with the summer solstice. However, after the adoption of Christianity, when the usual folk holidays "adjusted" to the new canons of faith, he was invited to the birth of John the Kristina, which is celebrated on July 7th. The date of the promotion of the festival is to coincide with the astronomical summer experience.
Some experts claim that Kupala is a Slavic version of the name John the Baptist. John - translated from Greek - "bather, plunger". However, you should not mix the two traditions. Either we follow pagan, ancient canons, or church ones - but it will not work to observe both at the same time and show respect for both Orthodoxy and paganism.
Today the holiday of Ivan Kupala falls on July 7, more precisely, on the night of July 6-7, although, undoubtedly, it would be more correct to celebrate it at the solstice.
The day of Ivan Kupala, both in the old and in the new style, is associated with the sign of Cancer. This sign is under the auspices of the Moon, our night luminary and the heavenly body, symbolizing motherhood, mother, Rod. The moon has an extremely strong effect on the water on our planet, literally saturating it with mystical power - and at night this influence is most pronounced.
This year, Kupala night falls on the 13th lunar day - the day when the line between the worlds becomes especially thinner and you can easily see the past, turn to your ancestors, see the future.
The holiday of Ivan Kupala is, of course, primarily for women. Although on this day and on this night absolutely everyone danced, rejoiced, wooed and loved each other, the main rituals should be performed by women.
Fire. Jumping over it, young people and girls were cleared of negativity, evil eye, corruption and even karmic attachments. Fire on this day has special properties. As we know, regular cleansing of the soul and body, a wide variety of practices aimed at this is a prerequisite for achieving a happy and balanced life, for all goals.
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Fresh flowers and plants. They were used to decorate houses, wreaths were woven from them, they were trusted in water, whispering their deepest desires. Girls and boys took off their shoes and walked barefoot on the grass all night long, and washed themselves with dew or water from natural springs. This helped to maintain attractiveness and youth for a long time. By the day of Ivan Kupala, all agricultural work has been completed, the harvest is ripening, and nature is blooming - all the rituals of the Kupala day were dedicated to gaining health, beauty and fertility.
Search for the mystical fern flower. They are looking for him not just like that - but to find an unprecedented treasure, which is buried under him. Thus, the day of Ivan Kupala is also associated with the possibility of enrichment, wealth, prosperity.
And, finally, bathing and gifts that were brought on this day to a river, lake or sea, that is, water.
Water is the most powerful conductor of information. Natural reservoirs are perceived by many esotericists as working portals to the subtle worlds. Water can cleanse, erase information, helps remove negativity - both physical and invisible pollution. She is also a guide to the world of ancestors, makes it possible to honor their memory and ask for help, reflects the events of the future. And water keeps secrets that are inaccessible to anyone else - for example, the name of your betrothed.
To carry out the Kupala ceremony near the sea, river or lake, you will need: flat light baked goods such as a biscuit or a dried bun, three things; three candles without aluminum sleeves; three small wreaths of natural flowers, the size of the biscuits or buns; wooden toothpicks, a bottle of wine, a handful of salt, as well as any treats and drinks and good company. It would be good for women (girls, a girl) to take with them a long light cotton dress, best of all - a completely new one. You can also weave large wreaths and put them on your heads, if it doesn't work out - just one living flower will do.
Light a fire on the shore, you can use the grill; if prohibited by the rules, use several large candles to create a bonfire effect. You can put them on a plate, in a shallow saucepan, or on some other fireproof base.
After bowing to the water, open a bottle of wine, and without trying the drink, splash some wine into the water. Leave the bottle.
Ablution. Enter the water at sunset, wait until the Sun completely disappears below the horizon. If you are near a freshwater reservoir, rub with salt before swimming - a small handful is enough. Actually, if you are near the sea - there is no excess salt!
You can't swim for long, are you cold? Great, just walk along the shore barefoot all this time - walk, laugh, sing, help yourself and wait for the sun to completely leave the sky. It was at this moment, according to old legends, that in the depths of the forest a mysterious flower begins to break through from the greenery of fern leaves.
But we will stay near the water.
When the sun is gone, you need to go ashore and put on a new dress on your wet body. It will be your talisman all year round. For men, Kupala's magic is not so powerful, men ask for the protection of higher powers in winter, from Kolyada - the Young Sun, but you can also stock up on a light new T-shirt for them. The old clothes in which you came are supposed to be burned in the fire, but if this is not possible, set the edge on fire, extinguish and put in a bag to later throw away.
Decorate your new dress with a living flower or put a wreath on your head.
Already in a new dress or other new clothes (at least a T-shirt), take the first bun, use toothpicks to fix a candle and a wreath on it. Light a candle. Enter the water knee-deep and place the wreath and offering on the water. Say: "Thank you, mother water, for life, for joy, for magic power, purity and health, I greet you tonight, I ask for your help."
Celebrate with friends, eat and drink, but do not touch the wine that started the ceremony.
When the bun is drowned or the candle goes out, prepare a second offering.
Put in the second bun with a wreath and a candle and say: “Thanks be to the ancestors for growing and nurturing, for the root of my family, prosperity and prosperity, my love and respect for them. Let me continue my family with health and children, save wealth, multiply joy. To the gratitude of the ancestors, you can add any wishes and requests for help in matters in which right now you need maximum support.
Likewise, when the second bun also sinks (or the second candle goes out), prepare the third. The incantation on her is as follows.
For unmarried and childless young girls: “A small bird, I want to be in a gilded cage for the narrowed one on the shoulder and by the groove; take some water that will be useful to you, and open the name of the betrothed-mummer for me, bring him to me on a boat-boat, dream him in my dream.
For unmarried and divorced or widowed, with or without children: “A swan does not live without a swan, a turtledove does not coo without a dove; Take some water that will be useful to you, and give me to someone who will love and pamper”.
For older women who do not want to get married: “I ask my children (nephews, grandchildren - list by name) health and joy, let them grow up big and healthy, happy and rich; Take some water that will be useful to you, and give me joy for little children, strengthen my family and continue."
When the third offering also disappears from sight (the candle drowns or goes out), pour the wine used to salute the water equally among all who came with you to this shore, drink it - and nothing else can be eaten or drunk this evening.
When leaving home, throw a wreath from your head or a flower from your dress into the water. You cannot turn to the water - in the morning of the Kupala night, the spirits return to the reservoirs, which were allowed to wander the world of people, they can scare you or distort the meaning of the rituals.
It is very important to go home immediately and go to bed right away. You will see prophetic dreams, young girls will definitely dream of their beloved.
It so happens that dreams are terrible, frightening - in fact, most likely, you misunderstood them. But if you really want the dream not to come true, immediately after waking up, light and immediately extinguish three matches in the water, saying: "I am carcassing worries and troubles, leaving happiness and joy." Throw water and matches into the toilet and rinse.
Natalie LO YAN