Ivan Kupala Festival in the Carpathians: Hutsul traditions and rituals
According to the new calendar, on the night of June 24, Ukraine celebrates the holiday of Ivan Kupala - one of the favorite holidays that we inherited from the ancient Slavic people. This holiday has deep folk traditions, interesting rituals associated with fortune-telling and folk festivities. The main ones are lighting the Kupala bonfire, weaving wreaths and letting them float on water, collecting healing herbs and searching for a fern flower.
Ancient customs on Ivan Kupala
In the Hutsul region, they zealously guard all the traditions and rituals of their people, passing them on from generation to generation. In Transcarpathia, the holiday of Ivan Kupala is considered one of the most mysterious and full of belief in something extraordinary, many legends and beliefs are associated with this day.
The most important of the rituals of this day is considered to be the Kupala bonfire. It symbolizes cleansing from evil spirits, negative energy, illnesses and failures. Everyone tries to jump over the bonfire to cleanse themselves, and young couples in love jump together, holding hands, believing that this guarantees a happy and long family life. Our ancestors also believed that the bonfire has healing powers, so they danced and danced around it, and this tradition has survived to this day.
According to ancient beliefs, it is believed that plants on Kupala night have healing powers. Therefore, herbs collected on Ivan Kupala were dried and used in the treatment of various diseases and used as amulets. And girls wove wreaths of herbs and flowers to let them into the water downstream in the hope of finding their love. If the wreath did not sink, the young girl will soon be a bride, and if vice versa, then the wedding will not be soon.
The bravest ones went into the forest in search of the fern flower, because according to legend, it blooms only on Kupala night and brings wealth and good luck.
Even on Kupala, it is customary to swim in rivers and lakes, douse oneself with water, wash oneself, and lie in the morning dew. And this is also associated with purification and the desire to be healthy. But you should only swim during the day, because swimming at night can bring trouble.
From ancient times to the present day, the holiday of Ivan Kupala in Transcarpathia is a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to nature, celebrate the summer solstice, tell fortunes about love, and have fun on this mystical and mysterious night.
In Voyevodyno on Ivan Kupala Day
We invite you to visit our resortto spend with us one of the most poetic and magical holidays in the calendar, Ivan Kupala, amidst the incredible nature of the Carpathians. Every summer, we organize the Ivan Kupala festival with Ukrainian songs, dances and folk traditions.
The atmosphere of the holiday is breathtaking, allowing you to plunge into the past, feel unity with your ancestors, with your native land. Everyone wears the most beautiful embroidered dresses, girls weave flower wreaths, and then release them into the water on the river.
At the Voyevodyno Ivan Kupala Festival, guests can also enjoy a variety of entertainment:
- lighting a Kupala bonfire and jumping over it;
- weaving wreaths and braids for girls;
- colorful fun and rituals;
- folk art masters fair;
- Signature bohrach and other traditional Transcarpathian dishes
Don't miss the opportunity to take part in the celebration and folk festivities on Ivan Kupala among the amazing nature of the Carpathians and, perhaps, you will be lucky enough to find a mysterious and mystical fern flower.