The feast of Ivan Kupala: from paganism to Christianity

The holiday of Ivan Kupala is an ancient paganthe rite. He falls in the middle of summer - July 7. In Russia that night they bathed in lakes and rivers, jumped through the bonfires, collected medicinal herbs, wreathed wreaths, guessed ... Since then, almost nothing has changed.

How did the holiday of Ivan Kupala

Paganism

All the holidays of the ancient Slavs were guided bythe sun: two days of the solstice and two days of the equinox were at that time the reference points for all kinds of farming. The fact is that even before the baptism of Rus, the day of the summer solstice was called the Sun-rot (or Kupalo), which meant the "turning" of the sun to decline. But what does Kupalo mean? About this - further.

The Legend of Kupalo

The legend of this holiday is a kind of eroticsubtext. The fact is that Kupalo was separated from his own sister in his childhood. Later he married her, knowing nothing of their relationship. Everything ended tragically. They committed suicide: drowned in the lake.

Sunshine Festival

It was a holiday of summer and green mowing. Slavs girded with green vegetation (flower bands, herbs), put on her head grass and flower wreaths, circled in dances and sang songs. It was customary to build a bonfire in the middle of which to fasten a pole with a flaming wheel - the symbol of the Sun. Since it was a pagan holiday, it was performed in honor of the sun god. Interestingly, in honor of the incestuous legend of brother and sister on this day among gentiles homosexual games were permitted.

Feast of John the Baptist

When in Russia Christianity was accepted, thisThe holiday was timed to the birthday of a man who baptized Jesus on the Jordan River, John the Baptist, who was born on July 7. Since then, the feast of Ivan Kupala and John the Baptist have been combined as water-related. The date of the celebration no longer coincides with the astronomical solstice, that is, it does not hesitate. That is why today every schoolboy knows the number of the holiday of Ivan Kupala.

Rituals and traditions committed on the eve of the holiday

In the shortest summer night on the eve of thisfestivities are held related to fire, with herbs and, of course, with water. There is an opinion that the holiday of Ivan Kupala is also a holiday of all witches! That is why it is not recommended to sleep on a bathing night, as all the evil spirits (witches, mermaids, leche, water) come to life.

From the Carpathians to the north of Russia thismysterious, mystical and pretty wild party! Until now, it is believed that on a mysterious bathing night the trees come alive and move from place to place, talking to each other with the rustling of their leaves ... The grasses are filled this night with a special miracle force!

Day of Ivan Kupala in our time

Today this holiday has a specialculturological nature. For example, in Moscow, the festival of Ivan Kupala 2013 was held at the art-residence Guslitsa, where theaters performed, concerts and exhibitions were held, and rare films were shown. And, of course, it was not without traditional games, dances, jumps through the fire.