Ivan Kupala 2012 - the magic night

Ivan Kupala - one of the favorite national holidays in the post-Soviet space. Ivanov is celebrating the day in the night from July 6 to July 7 - according to the old style, this corresponds to June 24. How to celebrate the night on Ivana Kupala 2012? What are the traditions of the holiday?
Initially Ivan Kupala - pagan feast of the ancient Slavs, dedicated to the summer solstice (June 22) and the pagan sun god - Dazhbogu. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the holiday began to celebrate the birthday of John the Baptist (John the Baptist) - June 24, according to the old style.
The main symbols of the holiday are fire and Kupalo (Marena). Bathed - this is a straw effigy, dressed in a woman's shirt and decorated with beads, flowers. In some places, Kupal is called a tree of willows decorated with flowers and ribbons.
Celebrating Ivanov's Day is associated withnumerous ancient traditions, folk traditions. Many different rituals are dedicated to water, fire, grasses, which at this time are assigned special mystical properties.
So, one of the most famous legends of the day of Ivan Kupala is associated with a fern - a plant that, according to the ancient Slavs, can bring luck and wealth. The legend says: if on the night of Ivan Kupala find a blossoming fern - he will point to the treasure.
Girls on Ivan Kupala from time immemorial guessing on the betrothed, trying to look into the future. Wreaths from fragrant grasses and with a lighted ray of a girl were lowered into river waves and by how long the wreath would swim, they solved their destiny.
If the wreath immediately drowned - the narrowed girl fell out of love and will not take in marriage, but if she swims for a long time - to be the happiest girl. And whom the ray burns the longest, everyone will have a long life.
By favorite folk entertainment on the night of Ivan Kupala and to this day remains the kindling of fires and jumping through them: who is bolder and more remote. Kupala bonfires are attributed to a healing and purifying force. That is why in olden times, through extinguished fires, cattle were used to protect him from death, and the clothes of sick children were thrown at the fires, so that the fires burned with clothing.
On the night of Ivan Kupala, all evil spirits are gaining strength - our ancestors believed. So it was supposed to protect themselves and their house with nettles, and lock the horses - so that the witches did not gallop on them to the coven. On this shortest night of the year, I was not supposed to sleep either.
The night of Ivan Kupala is magical and mysterious. All wishes and fortune-telling on this night necessarily come true. Here are a few ways to guess:
- Guessing on flowers. In a container with water, throw 2 any flowers without stems. If the flowers float together - to play a wedding in love, if they disperse - there is a separation or parting.
- Guessing on a bouquet. At midnight to collect different colors, not counting them and making a wish. Collect the bouquet put under the pillow, and in the morning check: whether there are 12 different plants in the bouquet. If there is - the desire will come true.
- To make a wish come true, you need to run around 12 different gardens on the day of Ivan Kupala.
Kupal fortune-telling is valid until July 12, so if you missed the opportunityto pay off on the night of Ivan Kupala 2012, do not worry, you will still have such an opportunity. In this magical night everyone can have a lot of fun, do not miss your chance!














