As you know, church holidays can have a fixed date and a rolling date. For many Orthodox people, it is extremely important to know all the numbers that the bright and revered days bring with them. 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 beautiful summer holiday never changed its date - from year to year it comes from the night of July 6 and ends on July 7 (the Nativity of John the Baptist).

A few words about the holiday

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 events, ancient rituals and traditions. On the night of July 6-7, truly fantastic actions and a long-awaited merger 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 dependence on this astrological phenomenon disappeared after the transition to the Gregorian calendar.

In the Orthodox Church, the feast of Ivan Kupala is timed to coincide with the day of memory of John the Baptist, the priest who baptized Jesus Christ. This date appeared thanks to the confirmation of the gospel testimony, which said that the difference in the age of 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 onset of the New Era. One of the versions says that this day was named after the East Slavic deity Kupala, but there were people who confirmed that this idea was wrong.

Ancient rites 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 the 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 subjected to persecution, because they did not correspond to the Holy Teaching. Over time, the rituals began to acquire more and more 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 honor July 7 as the day Jesus began his righteous journey.

Traditions and rituals

• At sunrise, you should wash or swim in the river. This procedure will wash away all diseases from the body, remove acne, strengthen the immune system.
• To get rid of cockroaches, spiders and other insects that live in the apartment, you need to sprinkle morning dew on the wall, bed, corners and floors of the house.
• On the night of Ivan Kupala, the girls went to the forest to collect medicinal herbs and flowers. Healers are convinced that during this period, each plant is saturated with an unusual power that can cure many diseases. Yarrow, St. John's wort and chamomile were in special demand.
• On this day, it was customary to collect flowers for divination - the rich. Finding a flower, the girl put it under the pillow. A blossoming bud testified to an imminent marriage, and a withered bud indicated that there would be no marriage next year.
• They wove wreaths that floated on the water. According to tradition, it was necessary to collect 12 different types plants and make a wreath out of them. If he drowns, the girl will not marry this year; if he sailed away from the shore, the groom walks very close.
• As soon as the sun set, the youth kindled a huge fire and couples, holding hands, jumped over it. If young people “overcame the obstacle” without opening their hands, then they are destined to be together, on the contrary, the couple will soon part.

Fortune telling on Ivan Kupala

In addition to traditional rituals, there were those that helped everyone to find out their future fate. Here is some of them:

• On a bathing night, you need to pick two blades of grass and insert them into a crack (on a wall or on a stream). The blade should hang down. After a while, you should pay attention to the blades of grass. If they are intertwined, a long and happy family life is ensured, and if they “ran away” from each other, it means that there will be a quick break with a loved one.
• You can find out the duration of your life with the help of a candle. You should light an ordinary wax candle and see how long it will burn. If it burns to the end, then the fortuneteller will live a long life, if it goes out quickly, it means trouble. It is not worth raising a panic, it is possible that this sign speaks of some kind of illness.
• Fortune telling on ritual fire. Near a blazing fire you need to make a wish and watch the flame. If the fire burns brightly and evenly, then the answer will be positive, and if the fire is interrupted and weakens, the wish will not come true.

Known signs

1. It started to rain on the holiday - in a week we should expect heat and dry weather.
2. On the night of Ivan Kupala, the stars shine brightly in the sky, and abundant dew falls at dawn, which means that in summer and autumn there will be a good harvest of cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms and other vegetables.
3. Unmarried girls should go to the bathhouse, take a good steam there and whip themselves with a broom. Then get out of the bathhouse and throw a broom over your shoulder (like throwing a bride's bouquet). In which direction he flew - the betrothed lives there.

One of the most mysterious nights of the year is approaching - the night before Ivan Kupala. This night, which combines both Christian and folk-pagan traditions, is associated with many beliefs and fortune-telling, as well as various rituals, including rather immodest ones and not approved by the church.

When the night falls on the eve of Ivan Kupala in 2017

Ivan Kupala- this is the Russian nickname for one of the most revered predecessors Jesus Christ- prophet John the Baptist (Forerunner). Christian holiday Nativity of John the Baptist celebrated June 24. Accordingly, churches living according to the Gregorian calendar are primarily Catholics and Protestants, have already celebrated this holiday on June 24.

Russian Orthodox Church and other churches that adhere to the so-called "old style" (Julian and New Julian calendar) celebrate this holiday July 7. In this way, the night before Ivan Kupala- it's a night from 6 to 7 July.

Ivan Kupala (Midsummer Day)- This is a Slavic folk holiday dedicated to the summer solstice, which, with the advent of Christianity, "merged" with Merry John the Baptist.

The word “baptizer” in Greek means “bather”, “immerser”, because John baptized Jesus by immersing him in the waters of the Jordan River, which was associated with the Jewish tradition of ritual washing. Therefore, the holiday of Ivan Kupala is inextricably linked with water, bathing and ablution, as well as cleansing with the help of fire.

Kupala night and church

AT folk tradition the night before Ivan Kupala is even more important than the holiday itself. Among the traditions are the collection of herbs and flowers, weaving wreaths, lighting fires and jumping over them and, of course, bathing and divination, as well as various nightly very immodest amusements that are not approved by the church. Ever since the Middle Ages, the church has considered folk Kupala rites to be paganism and devilry. Those who participated in them were severely persecuted (see the film "Andrei Rublev"), but this tradition has not been eradicated, and it still exists today.

It was believed that on the night before Ivan Kupala, you need to swim before sunset, preferably in an open pond, so that later you can take part in mass night swimming.

Closer to sunset, on the hillocks near the reservoirs, it was customary to kindle fires with “live fire” (that is, obtained by friction), since on that night two elements - fire and water - were friends.

On the night of Ivan Kupala, the girls chose their “betrothed” with whom they performed marriage ceremonies: holding hands, they jumped together over the fire, exchanged wreaths, looked for the mysterious fern flower, swam in ponds and performed other ritual actions. It should be noted that in the Slavic folk tradition, unmarried girls were allowed quite a considerable freedom of sexual behavior with the extreme severity of family life. (In the nobility, it was exactly the opposite - the behavior of unmarried young ladies was strictly regulated, but they looked through their fingers at adultery in marriage.)

An obligatory custom of Ivanov's day and Kupala night was mass bathing. It was believed that on the night before Ivan Kupala, reservoirs are freed from water, mermaids and other evil spirits, which means until Ilyin's day (August 2) you can swim safely. Water on the night before Ivan Kupala was considered healing, bringing youth and having magical properties.

Fortune telling on a wreath

On the night before Ivan Kupala, the girls guessed at the betrothed, mainly with the help of wreaths. The girls wove wreaths of flowers and field herbs in advance, and at night they lowered them into the water, making a wish. Basically, they were guessing at a quick marriage and a betrothed.

If the wreath has sailed far away - wait for the matchmakers; if the wreath came back or unraveled in the water - another year to sit in the girls; if the wreath stuck to the opposite bank, it means that the betrothed will come from afar; if the wreath immediately drowned, the wedding will be upset, and the groom will leave or cheat.

Divination in circles on the water

The girls threw a pebble into the water and counted the diverging circles - if the number is even - the wish will come true, if it is odd - then do not expect matchmakers this year.

Divination on a fern

It is believed that on the night of Ivan Kupala, the fern acquires magic power and can predict fate. At midnight, the girls went to the forest, where each plucked a few stalks of fern. Each branch was given the name of a potential groom, then the girl drowned the stems in water. Which stem emerged first - that one is narrowed.

Also on the night of Ivan Kupala, other fortune-telling was in use, similar to fortune-telling on the night before Christmas, Epiphany and Trinity.

The main symbol of the Kupala night is huge bonfires, for which brushwood was laid in the form of a high pyramid, and a pole with a tarred wheel impaled on it was placed in the center.

All the women of the village were supposed to approach the fire, those who evaded were considered witches. Also, all the girls had to jump over the fire, a successful jump was considered a good omen and a sign of purification. Those who evaded were considered "unclean" and as punishment were doused with water and flogged with nettles.

Boys and girls who sympathized with each other jumped over the fire, holding hands: it was believed that if the hands did not disengage in the jump, the couple was destined to be together.

Ritual outrages

On the night before Ivan Kupala, as well as at Christmas time, ritual atrocities were common in the villages: young people made noise and hooligans, frightening fellow villagers, and various immodest games and sexual fun not approved by the church were also in use.

In the folk calendar, the feast of Ivan Kupala, celebrated for more than one thousand years on the day of the summer solstice on June 22, stands out with its mystery and mysticism. On this holiday, people demonstrate their respect for the sun, which has powerful magical energy and the life-giving power of water. On the night preceding the day of Ivan Kupala, magic rituals are performed: conspiracies for love, luck, health and well-being, which are considered the strongest and most effective of the year. According to legend, on this night, trees, herbs, flowers, fire and water acquire supernatural magical power, with which you can clearly see your future and solve the mysteries of fate, changing it for the better.

What date is Ivan Kupala in 2017: the date when they celebrate

According to the new calendar Ivan Kupala is celebrated on July 7 and is no longer associated with the summer solstice, although most esotericists continue to celebrate it on June 22nd. Despite this, he did not lose his magical power, and many Kupala conspiracies related to fire and water are successfully used today. From the day of Ivan Kupala to Petrov's Day, celebrated on July 12, thanks to the powerful energy of natural elements, you can make Kupala fortune-telling, which has the highest accuracy of the year.

Conspiracies and love spells on Ivan Kupala

A conspiracy to love with the help of a Kupala fire

Possessing strong magical energy, Kupala fire will help to bewitch your beloved guy if he is at the celebration. A conspiracy pronounced looking at the fire will have a bewitching effect:

“The fire burns hot, it illuminates the darkness of the night, it will help me to open a love secret and bewitch my beloved (name). As soon as we hold hands with him, love passion let's fill up. The fire will strengthen our love, unite our hearts forever"

Having uttered the words of the conspiracy, make every effort to convince your loved one to jump over the fire or drag him into the Kupala round dance.

Love spell on water, bread and salt

This powerful love spell allows you to call the love of the chosen one. young man. For this purpose, it is necessary to do the following: on a Kupala evening, go into an unheated bathhouse, pour water into a container, throwing a little salt into it. Next, you should cross the salted water with a slice of bread. After completing these steps, you should pronounce the words of the conspiracy:

“People cannot live without bread, salt and water. Also, you, the Servant of God (name), without me, the Servants of God (your name) will not be able to live. Water gives water, bread saturates, and you will always remember me and never forget me. From now on and forever. Amen".

Then you need to eat bread, rinse a handkerchief in water, and dry it quietly put it in the pocket of the object of your love. This rite and love spell can also be applied to a husband whose feelings a woman begins to doubt. Then in the charmed water you need to rinse the spouse's shirt, which he wears most often.

Conspiracy on Ivan Kupala from cheating on her husband

Married women suffering from their husband's infidelities can conspire on Ivan Kupala's day to strengthen their husband's love feelings. For this purpose, on the eve of Ivanov's Day, buy two silver spoons. After waiting for midnight on July 7, cook porridge for your beloved hubby from three cereals - barley, corn and pearl barley, mixed in equal quantities. When the porridge is ready, put three spoons into it. butter and the same amount of honey, sprinkled further with a pinch of salt. When finished cooking, put the pot of porridge without a lid on the windowsill, so that moonlight falls on it. At breakfast, you need to give one silver spoon to your husband, and take the second one for yourself and start eating porridge from a common dish, while saying the following words in your thoughts:

“Just as my dear husband enjoys eating moon porridge, its taste and juiciness is amazed, so he loved me the Servant of God (name) and carried day and night in his arms.”

Love plot on Ivan Kupala with the ritual of washing

On the day of Ivan Kupala, they increase many times magical properties water. Thanks to the enormous energy of this element, a ritual of washing is used to carry out a love conspiracy. Ask your chosen one to swim together on a Kupala night and whisper the words of the conspiracy before entering the river:

"Water, water! Wash our souls and bodies with yourself, open your heart (name) for eternal love. Let him, as soon as he plunges into the water, immediately turn his soul and body to me. As we enter into you side by side, we will walk along the path of life lovingly.

Then boldly go into the water with your beloved.

A conspiracy for a love potion on the day of Ivan Kupala

On the Kupala night, a strong love potion is prepared, with the help of which they evoke the affection and love of their chosen one. To this end, it is necessary to collect thirteen any herbs in the moonlight and find thirteen different pebbles on the road. The collected ritual objects should be brought into the house, put a pot of water on the fire and throw herbs and pebbles into it. Wait for the water to boil and, holding your hands over it, say the words thirteen times in a row:

“In the ninth heaven, three clear dawns praise the Holy Trinity. They foreshadow to me, the Servant of God (his name), that if I brew a witchcraft potion, then in a short time I will bewitch the chosen one to me. Thirteen devils will help me, and thirteen herbs and thirteen stones will call them. I conjure, come to me, the Servant of God (name), help to cook the witchcraft potion. So that these words are molded and stick to the Servant of God (name) firmly for life. Amen".

The charmed potion prepared on the night of Midsummer's Day should be used on July 13th. To do this, you need to spill the love potion in the place where the desired subject usually walks.

A conspiracy to attract good luck on the holiday of Ivan Kupala

On Ivan Kupala, conspiracies to attract good luck have a powerful effect due to the colossal energy of the sun and fire, which are especially active on the Kupala day. The strongest effect has a conspiracy on rising Sun. To make it, it is necessary not to sleep on the night of Ivan Kupala, and wait for the dawn to appear. Looking at the appearance of the first rays of sunrise, you need to say seven times:

“The sun is red, the sun will rise clear in the blue sky, it will bring me great luck. I was the first to see its rays and therefore I became lucky. I know that everything will come out of me, and happiness will find me.

Conspiracy on the Kupala fire

Turning to fiery energy, a conspiracy to attract good luck acquires great magical power. From our ancestors, a conspiracy has come down to us, uttered by them during round dances around the fire. And today they successfully use it, bypassing the Kupala fire in a round dance and pronouncing the magic words:

“As the sacred fire illuminates a dark night, so luck illuminates my days. It will become clear in my affairs, but beautiful in life. The flame of fire will bring good luck to me for the whole year, but I will not meet troubles for a whole year.

The success of this conspiracy will be guaranteed if during the round dance the movement is clockwise. In the opposite direction of the movement of the round dance, it is impossible to pronounce the words of the conspiracy, otherwise you can harm your deeds and intentions and turn capricious fortune away from yourself for a long time.

When applying Kupala conspiracies, one must remember that they must be done with good intentions. Then all the magical rituals performed on this magical night will be successful. On the contrary, conspiracies with the wishes of evil will not have the desired effect, because the folk holiday of Ivan Kupala carries a colossal good mood of all the people participating in its celebration.

Fortune telling on Ivan Kupala

Ivan Kupala Day is the most mysterious, mysterious and mystical folk holiday. Enchanting magic emanating from the greatest earthly elements - the Sun, Water and Fire permeated its atmosphere. Celebrated since pagan times by our ancestors on the day of the solstice, it served to worship the almighty gods "Yarila" and "Kupala", who have tremendous life-giving energy that gives life and fruitfulness to all life on earth. People sincerely believed that on the Kupala night, all the surrounding nature is endowed with magical power, able to talk and predict the future.

Divination at the stake

Fortune telling on a sacred fire is one of the most beloved rituals of the Kupala night. The bewitching flame of the fire, illuminating the darkness, creates a magical atmosphere and an energy field for divination. To find out what fate is preparing in the near future, you should jump over the fire of the Kupala bonfire with a run. When the flames have not touched you, this is a good sign of success in love and a prediction of an imminent wedding and a happy family life. And if the fire hooked your legs or clothes, you are promised a lot of life's trials and disappointment in your loved one.

Fortune telling on the betrothed according to the Kupala wreath

The wreath has long been considered a symbol of the infinity of the universe, the cycle of forces inherent in nature and a talisman against evil spirits, damage and the evil eye. Dedicate the eve of the Kupala night to weaving a wreath of field herbs and flowers. Before sunset, make a wish on your betrothed and lower the wreath to float on the water:

• the wreath will immediately sink - not to see marriage, the betrothed will either fall out of love or deceive;
• a wreath will unravel on the water - this year the Mendelssohn March will not be played for you;
• the wreath will return to your shore - do not expect a wedding this year;
• a wreath will float to the far shore - wait for the betrothed from the other side and the wedding.

Fortune telling on the betrothed according to the Kupala wreath and the Kupala fire

If a girl does not have a fiancé for Ivan Kupala, when the Kupala fire burns out, you need to guess who will be the betrothed and throw a wreath into the fire, after couples in love have already jumped over it. If a young man catches your wreath on the fly, he will be your betrothed in the future. When several girls who have beloved guys throw their wreaths into the fire, then whose wreath burns first, that girl will go down the aisle before her friends.

Fortune telling on wreaths for the fulfillment of a wish

To find out if your cherished desire will come true, as well as when divining for a betrothed, you need to weave a wreath, but be sure to weave burdock leaves, bear's ear grass, Bogorodsk grass and flowering Ivan-da-Marya into it. Place a burning candle or torch in the center of the wreath. When making a wish, lower the wreath into the water and watch its behavior:

• quickly sails away from the shore and sails away with a burning candle - the desire will soon come true;
• returned back to the shore - the desire is not destined to come true;
• the wreath stopped in the middle of the reservoir - you will live a year without changes, but also without problems;
• your wreath sailed further than others - this year will be happy for you;
• a candle in a wreath burns longer than others - a long life is expected;

Divination on a birch wreath

Weaving a wreath of birch branches, fortune-telling for health in the coming year. When a wreath thrown into the water floated away, it meant good health and a long life, returning back - foreshadowed illness, and if he quickly went to the bottom - served as a harbinger of death.

Divination in circles on the water

You can find out about your near future by guessing in circles on the water. Having made your innermost desire on the Kupala night, fill a large bowl with water and, throwing a pebble into it, count the diverging circles. We counted an even number - the desire is destined to come true, but it turned out an odd number of circles - your desires will turn out to be unrealizable.

Divination with an onion

Girls, having gathered together on the day of Ivan Kupala, choose bulbs for themselves and each remember their own. After that, making a wish to get married, they plant their bulbs in the ground. Whose bulb sprouts faster, that girl will put on a wedding dress and marry earlier than others.

Fortune telling on chamomile

To find out if you will be together this year with your loved one, tell fortunes on Midsummer's Day on a camomile. To spend magical ritual, pour water into the basin and lower two chamomile flowers without a stem there, in advance with their first letters of your names. If the flowers float side by side, then your couple will go through life together, and when the daisies disperse in opposite directions, then you will be separated.

Divination with a dandelion

On Ivan Kupala, picking a dandelion from a white fluffy hat, make a secret desire and blow on it with all your might. If all the fluff from the dandelion cap flies away - the desire will certainly come true soon, if half of the cap flies away - the desire will come true, but not as soon as you want, and if the dandelion cap practically remains unchanged - the desire will not come true.

Fortune telling on a leaf from a tree

By the behavior of a leaf of a tree, you can find out about the attitude of a loved one towards you. To tell fortunes, you need to pick a green leaf from any tree. Print the first letter of your beloved on a piece of paper and toss it up. If the leaf flies high and soars in the air - be sure of the love of your chosen one. When the leaf flies low, driven by the wind - there will be romantic date, and if it begins to spin, stormy and selfless love is expected, but if the leaf instantly touches the ground, then the chosen one either does not love you or will soon stop loving you.

Divination by birch branches

You can find out how life will turn out this year by guessing on a Kupala day on birch twigs. Having broken any seven small branches from a birch, you need to put them together, and then with eyes closed choose one of them. The branch turned out to be smooth and smooth - this portends a prosperous life without shocks, and when a curve is caught, all sorts of obstacles are expected on the path of life.

Fortune telling on a peach stone

Eating a peach on a Kupala day, think constantly about your desire. Examine the remaining bone carefully. When you find even one there straight line- Wish will come true.

Fortune telling on candle wax

To find out your future by candle wax, you need to buy a candle in the church and break it into several parts, melt the wax. Next, pour the melted wax into a bowl filled with cold water. Figures obtained from hardened wax portend events in the future:

• a ring and a candle mean a wedding;
• wallet, coin, chest promise wealth;
• a heart portends love;
• flag - unexpected guests;
• the star promises good luck;
• a figurine that looks like a dog - to a new friend;
• flowers or a flower - a date with a new acquaintance.

After telling fortunes on a Kupala night filled with magic, go to bed, putting seven different wild flowers under your pillow, plucked at the dawn of Ivan Kupala's day, under your pillow. This night you will see prophetic dream portending good changes in life.

Ivan Kupala is probably the most long-awaited summer holiday that has long been celebrated by the people every year on the night of the sixth to the seventh of July. This traditional walk is always associated with warm summer days, sunshine, and a pleasant evening breeze. What can we say about the fact that there is an incalculable number of signs and rituals that are dedicated to this holiday.

The most common tradition on Ivan Kupala is to weave wreaths of wild flowers and herbs, dance around a large fire, jump over it, sing songs, dance and have fun until the morning.

Considering the fact that the holiday came to us from the time of paganism, many city dwellers already forget that there is such a holiday and how to celebrate it, unlike the villagers, who are still somewhat closer to the original traditions. In this regard, the question arises, where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017? Already on July 8 in our country will be celebrated.

Celebration in nature is the best choice

There is a belief that on the night of the celebration of Ivan Kupala, which is celebrated annually from July 6 to 7, you can’t go to bed, since it is on this night that various evil spirits wake up. Therefore, in many villages, bonfires are lit on this night and they have fun until dawn, while preparing various treats and games. A bonfire is an integral part of the celebration of Ivan Kupala, which is why it is best to celebrate the holiday somewhere in nature with a large company, since it is unlikely that you will be able to light a fire in the city.

In addition, making a choice in favor of villages, for example, you can stumble upon folk festival and immerse yourself in local traditions. If there is a river or lake nearby, then you can arrange night swimming. And also by old tradition, you can go to the forest in search of a fern. Since Ivana Kupala is a summer holiday that is closely connected with the forces of nature and traditions, it is best to celebrate it in a proper place where you can completely and completely merge with the forest spirits. You can cook with you to nature.

urban fun

City residents who do not have the opportunity to go out of town will be interested to know where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017 without leaving the city. For example, residents of the capital of Russia are given a unique chance to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017 at the festival, which is timed to coincide with the holiday and has been held in the city for more than a year.

If the decision on where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017 has not yet been made, then the city festival is perhaps the best alternative to celebrating in the countryside or in nature, since it has absorbed only all the best traditions. To visit the festival means to get a lot positive emotions, learn a lot interesting facts about the holiday, as well as just relax and have a good time.

At the festival, you can enjoy the sound of different music, including folk songs, dance and even learn a new folk dance, which is danced annually around a fire in the outback of the country! Also, a lot of people gather at the festival, so this is a great chance to make new acquaintances. The program of the festival also includes an entertaining show, which consists of many bed rituals.

Such a city festival is the best affordable alternative to village fun, as the organizers took care of the presence of the main attributes of Ivan Kupala: a fire, songs, dances, and even a fair with traditional decorations, village dresses, homemade crafts. You won't be bored tonight for sure! Make on festive table.

Interesting traditions and rites

One of the most popular traditions, which young and single ladies especially like, is fortune-telling for Ivan Kupala. For example, on this night, accept letting out wreaths that the girls themselves wove, and if the wreath quickly floats on the water, then soon a young man will appear in her life who will become her husband, and if the wreath sinks or is knocked down by the current, then be a girl yet alone for a while. By the way, weaving wreaths of herbs and flowers is another old good tradition, which is followed both in villages and in cities, especially at festivals, where you can also get to a master class on weaving wreaths.

Other traditions include well-known jumping over a fire. For example, a lover jumps over a fire by the hand to find out what lies ahead for their couple. If during the jump the lover holds hands tightly and does not let them go, then they have a strong union ahead, and if for some reason they open their hands, then they will not be together for long.

And if you throw the shirt of a sick child into the fire, then he must certainly recover. You can also use wreaths from the holiday of Ivan Kupala for the benefit of health. For example, dry a wreath woven for a holiday, and then use these flowers and herbs to prepare healing tinctures and decoctions.

Answering the question of where to celebrate Ivan Kupala 2017, it must be clarified that after all this is a folk festival, which means that it is necessary to spend it in a friendly company, with fun, and, of course, a feast, regardless of location. Traditional dishes on Ivan Kupala - this is lard, pancakes, porridge, eggs and beer.

Happy holiday!

The holiday of Ivan Kupala, dedicated to the summer solstice, is celebrated on the night of July 6-7. It has other names - Ivan's Day, Ivan Travnik, Kolosok, Kres, Yarilin's Day and coincides with the Christian holiday of the Nativity of John the Baptist. For many years this ancient holiday widely noted in different countries, overgrown different traditions and ritual ceremonies.

History of the holidays of Ivan Kupala

Why does the holiday have such a name? Ivan Kupala is the Russian nickname for one of the most revered predecessors of Jesus Christ - the prophet John the Baptist (Forerunner). The Christian holiday of the Nativity of John the Baptist of the church, living according to the Gregorian calendar, is celebrated on June 24th. And John is translated from Greek as "bather, sinker." John baptized Jesus following the Jewish tradition of ritual washing and immersing him in the waters of the Jordan. Therefore, the holiday, which is celebrated on the night of July 6-7, is inextricably linked with water, bathing and ablution, as well as cleansing with the help of fire.

Rites and traditions of the holiday of Ivan Kupala

Ivan Kupala is perhaps the most magical and unusual holiday. It appeared as a veneration of the main deity - the Sun, Kupala, who gives life, light and hope. But in one night, as they believed in Russia, all four elements were combined: fire, water, earth and air.

One of the most important rituals for Ivan Kupala is bathing. It is believed that it is on this day (and you can’t swim at night) that a lot of special healing powers appear in the water that can help a person in his affairs.

Fire became no less magical substance on the night of Ivan Kupala. The participants of the holiday made large fires on the banks of the reservoirs and jumped over the fire. This rite helped them to be cleansed of all evil thoughts and diseases. Also on this day, they jumped over the fire in pairs, holding each other's hands. If young people managed to jump and not let go of their hands, then this promised them a strong and long union.

On this day, the girls wove wreaths (it was necessary to use 12 different plants for this) and let them float on the water. If the wreath sinks, then this year the girl will sit in the girls. And if it sails away from the shore, it means the wedding is coming soon.

By the way, on Ivan Kupala, girls went to the forest to collect medicinal herbs and flowers, which acquired a special healing power that day. They all really wanted to find a fern flower with magical powers. People believed that the one who found this flower would learn not only to understand the language of animals, but also to see all the treasures, as well as open all the treasures by attaching the flower to the locks.

Even on this day, it was customary to pray to St. John the Baptist with a headache and for children.

What not to do on Ivan Kupala

According to ancient beliefs, on the night of Ivan Kupala, all sorts of evil spirits wake up - witches, snakes, watermen, mermaids, werewolves. And in order not to fall into their insidious networks, it was impossible to sleep that night. It was not recommended to go swimming either, as there was a high probability that a merman or a mermaid would be drawn into the water. Evil spirits could also attack pregnant women, children and the elderly, so they also had to be kept away from water that night.

So that the family would not become impoverished, nothing was given to anyone on Ivan Kupala, they were not sold or borrowed. For the same reason, jewelry and money found on the road that day were not lifted from the ground.

But if the girl did not visit the evening Kupala fire, then she was considered a witch.