erinthul

Kupala Night

Added 2023-06-21 18:23:31 +0000 UTC

The shortest night of the year. Really macigal time of the year and my favourite slavic celebration (maybe on the same place as Dziady). Marek Kępa wrote about it in his article and I wanted to share that with you :)

"Slavic ancestors of modern-day Poles observed midsummer by having joyful outdoor celebrations with bonfires, dancing and singing, a holiday called Kupala Night. The festivities would often involve some otherwise unthinkable promiscuity.

After the founding of the Polish state and the simultaneous introduction of Christianity to its territory in 966, the pagan celebrations of Kupala Night fell into disfavour. Nevertheless, efforts to root out the tradition proved futile. Eventually a tamer version of the custom was incorporated into the Christian calendar as St. John’s Eve.

Kupala Night symbolises love in Poland. Bonfires are thought to be beneficial to lovers, and daring celebrants jump over the flames to secure good fortune and ward off evil. Young women make crowns from herbs and wild flowers and, having put a burning candle on top, let them float away on lakes and rivers. It is believed that the fate of the crown predicts the future of its maker. If it floats steadily, or even better, if it is removed from the water by a sweetheart, she will be lucky in love.

Some Poles also venture into the woods in search of the mythical fern flower, which appears exclusively in midsummer and can supposedly be found only by people of exceptional virtue".

Link here to a full article.

Love, Erinthul.