Midsummer: history, traditions and customs. Signs of Midsummer

One of the most romantic, mysterious folk festivals is, of course, Midsummer. Whose feast, traditions and customs of the day - this will be discussed further.

To Celebrate it began in the gray pagan antiquity. The Eastern Slavs, he fell on the summer solstice on June 24. But after the introduction of the Gregorian calendar moved the date to July 7. Celebrations and rites of Midsummer day will include three main components: fire, water and grass.

Midsummer and Christianity

History of the origin of the holiday of Ivan Kupala says that after the baptism of Rus, the event coincided with the Church feast of the Birth of John the Baptist (John the Baptist). It is associated with the first part of the name of Ivan Kupala. The second part, according to some researchers, bears the name of a pagan deity of fruits and flowers in Midsummer. But others argue that in the Slavic Pantheon, this God was not, and the name “bathed" is associated with rituals held on this day.

The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala contains information, what is the double name originated in the period when the Church tried to replace pagan holiday for a Christian. Priests are extremely negative attitude to the festivals and divination that took place on this day. Constantly tried to ban them, considering this kind of amusement godless, demonic and connected them with the worship of the unclean.

To celebrate Midsummer

History of Midsummer brought us information thatCE the main celebrations begin on the evening of 6 July (23 June) with sunset and continues all night until dawn. The night of Ivan Kupala is considered to be magical. At this time, walks, and nasty all the evil spirits: witches, mermaids, Mavka, etc., and grass, fire and water to acquire magical and healing properties.

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How to celebrate Midsummer

What to do on Midsummer? After lunch 6 July (23 June), the girls began to pick flowers, and grass to weave wreaths. Also the youth was manufactured stuffed Marena and Kupalo, the protagonists of the holiday. In different regions they were made in different ways: straw, branches, whole trees, etc. They are decorated with flowers, ribbons, berries and fruits. Madder symbolized winter withering and dying of nature, while Midsummer was a symbol of rebirth and abundance. Around stuffed boys and girls danced and sang special ritual songs, praising thus, the eternal natural cycle. Then stuffed usually drowned in water or burned at the stake, and the festivities continued around a large Midsummer fires.

Midsummer bonfire

It was thought that In the night of Midsummer fire acquires a special cleansing power. Therefore a mandatory attribute of this holiday was the ritual bonfire. It did very big and high that blazed like the sun. In the center of ognelisa set high column, which often wore the skull of a horse or a cow – “vidimo”. Around the fire gathered, young and old, danced, sang, and danced. When the fire burned a little, young boys and girls began to jump over the fire to purify, to cure ailments, to protect themselves from evil eye and evil spirits. If the girl could not jump over the fire, then she was considered a witch. Could pour water, beat with nettles, sprinkle with feathers. Young couples jumping, hand in hand, and if the jump hands did not Raseinyai, I would hope for a strong Union.

More what to do on Midsummer? Also, it was the custom to burn on this day, old and unnecessary things, getting together with them from old grudges and troubles. Even at the Midsummer fire burned mother the shirt of the sick child to her burned and illness, tormenting their child. And sometimes through the Midsummer bonfire has surpassed even the livestock, to deliver it from pestilence and disease.

Healing water

The history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala says thatOde to this day is of special healing powers. To bathe in the waters in that day were treated differently. In some regions, ablution was considered a mandatory ritual, as it cleansed the body from disease, and the soul from bad thoughts. In addition, all the evil spirits (mermaids, mermen) were leaving the ponds, going to their covens.

And in the other, on the contrary, was afraid of bathing because of carousing on this day, evil forces. But certainly tried to walk barefoot, wash your face and even lie in the morning dew. It promised to young men strength and health, and beauty to the girls. Also in Midsummer liked to take a bath with brooms from 12 medicinal herbs gathered on the eve of Kupala night. And the water is drawn from sources that had miraculous powers.

Magical herbs

In the history of the holiday of Ivan Kupala provides information that magical Midsummer night all the herbs and plants acquire a special power. Herbalist and healers dawn went to collect the miraculous healing herbs, covered with the healing Kupala dew. When collecting be sure to read the special prayer of the conspiracy. And in Belarus, for example, believed that the properties of the herbs will be even greater if they will collect"old and small", that is, children and the elderly. Because they have a pure and innocent soul.

The Slavs believed that on Ivan Kupala (number - July 7) medicinal plants grown forest spirits - Mavka and care for them, providing healing properties.

Symbol of the sun in Midsummer rituals

As the holiday of Ivan Kupala (number 7 July) was celebrated on the summer solstice, many of its attributes symbolize our light. For example, the guys started up the hills, wheels of fire, or set fire to tarred barrels that was supposed to symbolize the solar cycle. And one of the indispensable accessories of Midsummer Christmas is a wreath. The girl's wreath in the mythology of the Slavs has always symbolized the sun, and youth and purity. With sun worship were associated dances around the bonfire and the effigies and special ceremonial songs.

Signs of Midsummer, and for girls relative wreaths

Every young girl will certainly wove itself from flowers, herbs, twigs and berries wreath which adorned her head while dancing and festivities. The girl's wreath in this magical night had a special, magical significance. For example, girls dropped a wreath into the river or a spring, and scraped through the water, and washed his face, believing that this will make their skin white, cheeks rosy and eyes shiny. But the main ritual action starts a little later, when the girls run away from guys and attaching to your wreaths with lit candles, sent them to sail on the river. Each girl was carefully watching her wreath. If it went away, then his landlady was bound to come out this year to get married. If spun in place, then the marriage should have been postponed until next year. But worst of all, if the wreath sank. It was considered that neschastlivaya pair and she'll have to pass the age alone.

However, the guys did not leave without attention to this action. Surreptitiously watching the ceremony, they tried then to recover from the river a wreath of his lady and to ask her a kiss in return.

Color fern

The Most famous Midsummer legend about the fern flower. It has long been believed that once a year a magical night blooming fern flower. It blooms only a moment, and guarded by evil spirits, but whoever finds it will gain extraordinary abilities. He will be able to understand the language of animals, birds and plants to see through the solid earth buried treasures, to open all the locks, control the land, water and unclean spirits, to become invisible and so on.

Beliefs and superstitions of Midsummer

It was Believed that on this magical night the trees can move and talk to each other, as well as birds and animals. And in the dark forest between the trees you can see many fireflies fluttering. These are the souls of ancestors returning to earth for one night.

Also in the night of Kupala aktiviziruyutsya all kinds of evil: mermaid Mavka, goblins, brownies and other spirits. They make their Playground, having fun with all sorts of tricks.

But the most damage could cause witches, putting this night different dirty tricks and gathering on the Sabbath. That is why a woman who in a Midsummer night did not come to the fire, could find the witch.

To protect themselves from supernatural forces, used a variety of amulets: Holy knife twigs of willow, aspen pegs, color hemp, nettle, and wormwood. And even the torn men's pants that hang on prichalke of the barn, so she couldn't come and take the milk of the cow or to take a horse for a trip to Bald mountain to the place the witch coven.

Midsummer night was the only opportunity for young people to have fun and dance until dawn, without judgment from adults. A smile caused the innumerable pranks and some liberties. Probably why the people for many centuries so tenderly kept and guarded this vital and magical holiday, its traditions and rites.