Ivan Kupala Day has been celebrated since pagan times. The Slavs believed that on the night of the holiday you can bring prosperity to life, as well as get rid of troubles.
What date is Ivan Kupala in 2018
Celebrating the holiday begins on the evening of July 6, immediately after the Sun disappears below the horizon. Our ancestors did not close their eyes all night, conducting various rituals and looking closely at the changes around. The night from July 6 to July 7 was considered unusual, because, according to popular beliefs, it was at this time that you could meet evil spirits: mermaids, mermen and wood goblins. On the night of Ivan Kupala, the rarest fern flower blooms, capable of attracting good luck to those who find it for life. Initially, this holiday was timed to coincide with the summer solstice, but the date shifted several times, and with the advent of Christianity, the final date was set for July 6th. In 2018, as always, Kupala will be celebrated on the night of July 6-7. Festive festivities will begin on Friday evening.
Ivan Kupala in 2018: traditions and customs of the holiday
The main symbol of the holiday of Ivan Kupala is the combination of opposites, which was previously embodied in a sequence of sacred actions. Having jumped over the high fire, the celebrants went to swim with songs. It was believed that fire cleanses the thoughts and soul, and water takes away diseases of the body. For those who wish to get rid of illnesses or unpleasant memories, dailyhoro.ru experts advise repeating the ritual of our ancestors. If it is not possible to build a full-fledged fire, then jumping over it can be replaced by meditation on a candle flame.
Another important custom of the holiday is fortune-telling. To lift the veil of secrecy over your future, you need to collect five types of wildflowers at sunset, weave a wreath from them and, putting it on your head, think about what you want to know. After this, you need to float the wreath along the river and watch it: if it floats away safely, remaining on the surface of the water, then your wish will come true. If the wreath drowns, then in the coming year you should expect difficulties and obstacles on the way to your goal.
The collection of medicinal herbs is considered another immutable tradition of this holiday. In order for herbs to bring the desired health, they must be collected before sunset. At dusk on the 6th, the herbs collected in the basket must be fumigated with the smoke of the Kupala fire: after this they can be used in medicinal teas and infusions.
Songs are considered an important tradition of this summer holiday. The more and more soulfully you sing on Kupala Night and before it, the easier it will be to “call” your new destiny. The theme of the songs depends on what exactly you want to attract into your life: love means songs about your betrothed or betrothed, wealth means songs about the harvest.
Another way to keep traditions and celebrate Ivan Kupala Day is to go to the forest. During a walk, you need to collect three branches from different trees, intertwine them with each other, and put them under your pillow at night. The dream you see this night may turn out to be prophetic. If you like what you see, the braid of branches should be hidden in a secluded place and stored there until the events from the dream become reality. If the dream turns out to be disturbing, then in order for it not to come true, the rods must be burned in the morning.
The second month of summer promises to be rich in folk holidays. Knowing their characteristics and customs, you can spend July fun and usefully.
5 best fortune telling for Ivan Kupala
Our ancestors believed that on a festive night the spirits of nature spoke to people, which meant that the best time had come for requests and fortune-telling. People asked the spirits of fire for more strength and help in business, and with the help of rituals they tried to find out what was coming. According to legends, on this night, herbs have incredible power and can heal any ailment and protect from evil spirits.
All fortune telling begins at sunset, when the Sun is ready to disappear behind the horizon and illuminates the earth with its last rays. According to ancient tradition, people do not sleep on Kupala night. During fortune telling, there should be no excess clothing on the body: only a loose, light shirt or dress that covers the knees, and a wreath of wild flowers. Jewelry is also removed so that it does not affect the result of fortune telling. The Church does not approve of divination, and if you decide to perform rituals, then the cross must also be removed. Knots on clothing are not allowed, hair must be loose.
Divination at the stake
Fortune telling using a fire can be considered the most widespread and reliable. It is bred from straw and thick branches. Young couples who want a lifelong relationship join hands and jump over the flames before they get too high. The fortune telling is as follows: if a couple managed to jump without unclenching their hands, then they will be together, but if they were unable to stay together, then in the future their paths will diverge.
They jump over the fire one at a time. If the girl is not touched by the flame, she can collect a dowry for a quick wedding. The young men who jumped over the fire, the flames of which did not touch their legs and clothes, will have good luck for the whole year until the next holiday.
Fortune telling on birch branches
The girls need to cut seven branches from one birch tree and mix them. Don't try to pick identical branches. Without looking, one eyelid is pulled out of the pile, and its future fate is determined by it. If it is smooth, then life will be successful. Many knots warn of trouble. Yellow sheets indicate imminent health problems. Branches in the shape of a slingshot indicate a choice that you will have to make in the near future.
Fortune telling with wreaths
Wreaths are woven from herbs and flowers collected in the daytime before the festive Kupala night. In the evening, the wreaths are released into open reservoirs, after making a secret wish. A wreath floating from the shore with the current promises good luck and a quick fulfillment of a dream. A sinking or floating wreath warns that your dreams are unrealistic or that you will have to overcome several obstacles on the way to your cherished goal.
Fortune telling for marriage
Fortune telling related to marriage is perhaps the most important for single girls. They are also performed using self-woven wreaths. The wreaths are placed on the water, lighted candles are placed in the center and the question is loudly asked about whether one is destined to get married this year. A wreath that remained in place or quickly landed on the shore where the girl was standing promised a quick marriage. If he went with the flow, then there will be no wedding this year, but mutual love will be strong. The wreath sinks if the relationship is coming to an end or the partner is cheating.
Fortune telling on a fern
Reliable fortune telling is carried out on fern leaves. Each girl tears off exactly as many sheets as she has suitors, and each one calls them by the guy’s name. The leaves need to be held in your hand and lowered to the bottom of the reservoir. After the hand unclenches, you need to monitor which of the sheets pops up first. The name of the guy written on this piece of paper will be the name of the betrothed.
Kupala night is full of secrets. On this night, many try to find a fern flower that can radically change a person’s life, giving him wealth and prosperity. However, going into the forest during the rampant evil spirits is dangerous, so there are not many daredevils.
Ivan Kupala in 2020 is celebrated on the night of July 6-7. This is a folk Christian holiday. In Orthodoxy it is called the Nativity of John the Baptist (the full name is the Nativity of the honest, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John). This is a great church holiday. It is dedicated to the memory of the Baptist Jesus Christ.
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In pagan times, Ivan Kupala was celebrated on the summer solstice. On this day, the Slavs glorified the sun god. After the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the holiday began to combine pagan and Orthodox features. Instead of the sun god, people began to glorify John the Baptist - the baptizer of Jesus Christ.
John was born into a modest family of a priest. Until the age of 30, he lived in the desert, wore clothes made of camel hair, ate wild honey and the fruits of desert plants. John predicted the coming of the Savior. On the banks of the Jordan, the prophet organized ablutions to rid people of their sins and prepare them for the appearance of Christ. Jesus came to him and received the sacrament of Baptism. The ruler of Galilee and Perea, Herod Antipas, executed John because he accused him of illegally cohabiting with his brother’s wife.
Among the Slavic peoples, the Nativity of John the Baptist is called the holiday of Ivan Kupala due to an incorrect translation of church texts. After the adoption of Christianity in Rus', the Baptist was translated from Greek as “to bathe.” For a long time, Ivan Kupala was considered a pagan deity.
Ivan Kupala has church and folk traditions of celebration. On the eve of the holiday, an all-night vigil is held in churches. At Matins the canon to John the Baptist is read.
By folk tradition on the evening of July 6, people gather on the banks of reservoirs, organize games, sing folk songs and dance in circles. They burn a straw effigy and destroy the Kupala tree. The symbol of the holiday is a fire. Girls and boys jump over it. On Ivan Kupala, it is customary to burn old unnecessary things in the fire.
Young girls are wondering about their betrothed. They weave wreaths from meadow grasses and float them across the water with a torch and candle lit in the center. The girl whose wreath floats further with the burning fire will get married first and be happy in her marriage.
Traditional healers collect medicinal herbs on this day.
The ancient Slavs believed that on the night of July 7, evil spirits left the reservoirs. Therefore, you can swim without fear for your life.
This ancient holiday has pagan roots, it has no analogues in either the American or Western European traditions. Since ancient times, folk customs prescribed to celebrate this event on the day of the summer solstice, but later its date changed slightly. If you are wondering what date Ivan Kupala 2018, then know that the holiday is supposed to be celebrated July 7(on Saturday). To be more precise, “Kupala” is considered night from 6th to 7th second summer month.
The Slavic holiday of Ivan Kupala is associated with numerous ancient legends, rituals, and special events. Our ancestors organized various entertainments at this time: young people led round dances, boys and girls jumped over fires, the flames of which soared high into the sky. These ritual bonfires were supposed to give the right to roam the earth on the night of Ivan Kupala. It was believed that by jumping over the flames of a fire, a person cleanses himself of sins and all kinds of defilement.
Of course, Ivan Kupala 2018 no longer resembles a similar celebration in the Middle Ages. The described folk festivals are held only in rural areas. However, a resident of a modern metropolis has the opportunity to temporarily enter a fairy tale and experience all the mysticism of a mysterious night. After all, when the day of Ivan Kupala comes in 2018, it will be possible to guess and even spend magical rituals, and their power will increase significantly on the night of July 7!
Jumping over the fire. This is probably the most “promoted” ritual that is performed on Kupala night. In the old days, the Slavs performed it for many reasons. Firstly, as already mentioned, there was a belief that fire could cleanse a person of sins. Secondly, jumping over the fire helped destroy the induced curse or evil eye. And finally, our ancestors just wanted to demonstrate their prowess! There was a sign that if on the day before Ivan Kupala a couple in love jumps over the fire, then their union will be strong and nothing can destroy their love. However, there is one caveat - lovers should not unclench their hands while jumping.
Swimming in reservoirs. A rather controversial tradition, which is still present in some folklore sources. According to one version, swimming in the water on Ivan Kupala helps to cleanse oneself of sins and even get rid of existing ailments. Other sources claim that swimming in reservoirs at this time is strictly prohibited! Otherwise, you can become a victim, which can destroy the daredevil.
Legend has it that the mermaid will ask the bather one question: “wormwood or parsley”? If you say “wormwood”, then the mermaid will answer - “you yourself will perish”, and if you choose the option “parsley”, then she will exclaim - “oh you are my darling!” After which the mermaid will tickle the person to death.
Plant collection. Finding out when Ivan Kupala Day is in 2018 is not only out of curiosity. At this time, witch doctors and healers are engaged in collecting magical plants that can be used for a variety of purposes: from treating diseases with spells to. The legendary fern flower deserves special attention, but we will talk about it later.
Fortune telling with wreaths. This method of predicting the future was used by young girls who wanted to know how quickly they would meet their love. The girls wove wreaths from flowering plants and field herbs, and also wove a small candle into them. The candles were set on fire, then all these structures were lowered into the water. It was believed that whose candle went out faster (or the wreath sank first), that girl would be the first to get married.
Fortune telling on birch branches. This simple method of prediction made it possible to find out your fate on next year. It was necessary to pick 7 small birch branches, and then hand them to the person being told fortunes, holding them in his hand. The fortuneteller would randomly pull out one of the branches and examine it. If you came across a straight and smooth stick, then this foreshadowed quiet life, happiness, material wealth. A crooked branch with tubercles and flaws in the bark spoke of the need to prepare for illness, troubles and difficulties.
Only a real daredevil will find out what night is Ivan Kupala in order to get rich or fulfill his dream! The fact is that on the night of July 6-7, you can pick a fern flower, which can only bloom once a year. This legendary plant can give its owner wealth, happiness, power over people and the elements. Legend also claims that the owner of a fern flower will not be able to be killed or imprisoned by enemies. However, getting it is very difficult, since evil spirits will not want to part with the magical artifact easily!
It is believed that you can’t pick a fern flower from every plant, but only from one that grows in a deep forest. It is best to find the bush shortly before midnight, since it is at 12 at night that a small scarlet bud will appear on it, from which a flower will bloom. If you don’t have time to tear it off at that very second, it will simply disappear (as legend says, it will be torn off by an invisible hand).
However, picking the treasured flower is only half the battle! Now your task is to get out of the forest as quickly as possible in order to stay alive. And the devil will try to confuse your path! The roots of trees and bushes will grab your legs and clothes, and evil spirits will call out to you from different directions. It may seem to you that there is a forest fire ahead, that an angry bear or a pack of hungry wolves is running towards you.
If a daredevil succumbs to these provocations and turns away from his path or looks back even once, he will never get out of the forest.
HD Video on the topic “what date is Ivan Kupala 2018” - dedication to Margarita
As is known, church holidays can have a permanent date or a moving one. For many Orthodox people, it is extremely important to know all the numbers that bring with them the bright and revered days. To find out when the next church celebration is, just look at.
It is from this calendar that you can understand what date Ivan Kupala is in 2017. This wonderful summer holiday has never changed its date - from year to year it begins on the night of July 6 and ends on July 7 (Nativity of John the Baptist).
Ivan Kupala Day is an ancient celebration that is familiar to many peoples and has been celebrated since time immemorial. This day is often associated with various mystical incidents, ancient rituals and traditions. On the night of July 6-7, truly fantastic events and a long-awaited fusion with nature take place. Many witnesses claim that during this period they feel an incredible surge of strength and energy, and also see many wonderful and inexplicable things.
In addition, the date of the holiday was not chosen by chance - the solstice occurs in the second month of summer. But the dependence on this astrological phenomenon disappeared after the transition to the Gregorian calendar.
In the Orthodox Church, the holiday of Ivan Kupala is timed to commemorate John the Baptist, the priest who baptized Jesus Christ. This date appeared thanks to the confirmation of the Gospel testimony, which said that the age difference between the Forerunner and Christ is only 6 months.
The celebration has deep, centuries-old roots, which allowed the formation of many traditions even before the advent of the New Era. One version says that this day was named in honor of the East Slavic deity Kupala, but there were people who confirmed that this idea was wrong.
Ancient rituals on Ivan Kupala are most often pagan in nature. Each of the rituals is associated with superstitions and various beliefs that were especially popular among ancient tribes. Many shamans believed that plants, water and fire were endowed with supernatural powers. On the night of July 6-7, this force is activated and transferred to all living beings nearby.
After Christianity began to spread throughout the earth, such customs were persecuted because they did not correspond to the Holy Teaching. Over time, the rituals began to acquire more and more new details; they tried to combine them with monotheism.
This happened due to the fact that the faith of some people was shaken, and they no longer knew who to go to for advice in case of trouble: to the priest or to the healers.
By the way, the church still does not favor this holiday, considering it wrong and inappropriate. On the contrary, they celebrate July 7th as the day Jesus began his righteous journey.
In addition to traditional rituals, there were also ones that helped everyone who wanted to find out their future fate. Here are some of them:
What wishes can be fulfilled on the most magical summer night and why the magic will definitely work. What is the secret of the oldest Slavic holiday.
For those who are interested in the question “what date”, we inform you that this year one of the most important folk events is held on July 7th. This celebration is a summer holiday of the Slavic peoples, which is dedicated to the forces of Fire, Earth and Water.
The date of the event coincides with Christian holiday The Nativity of John the Baptist, although some communities continue to celebrate it as in the old days - on the day of the summer solstice, that is, June 24. Therefore, it is impossible to say unambiguously what date it is customary to celebrate Ivan Kupala.
At this time, it is customary to perform all kinds of rituals endowed with healing powers. Mass swims were considered obligatory, since according to legend, evil spirits were driven out of the reservoirs - mermaids and mermen, who could harm people.
By the way, on this holiday (according to legend) water begins to become friends with fire. Therefore, one of its symbols is bonfires lit along the banks of rivers and popular girlish fortune-telling. The girls launched wreaths into the water and if they remained on the surface for quite a long time, it served as a sign happy life and marriage. Until now, in many cities, antique stylization is carried out: artists and simply young people participate in traditional fun, jumping over a fire and fortune-telling.
Also, folk witches advise this number for the implementation effective conspiracies- for health, for marriage and for money. Fans of traditional medicine can go collect magical herbs: overpowering grass and fern. World literature has often described beautiful and romantic ceremonies, reflecting the richness of folklore.
