The customs of the holiday of Ivan Kupala and the signs connected with this day have reached our days. He survived the coming of Christianity, endured the times of total denial of religion in the country and continues to worry the imagination of many people. His mysteriousness at the same time attracts and frightens, like a fern flower, which became his symbol.
Folk features on Ivan Kupala
In the holiday Ivan Kupala, signs and customs were observed very strictly, because he is dedicated to the god of fertility Kupala. Initially celebrated it on the longest day of the solstice on June 21-22, the code summer comes into full force and the sun has a special power. After the adoption of the Slavs Christianity, the feast did not disappear, but it was tied to the birthday of John the Baptist (John the Baptist) and began to celebrate on June 24. Another change in the date of celebration occurred during the transition from Julian to Gregorian. And now it is celebrated on July 6-7.
The holiday is enveloped in a multitude of mystical and mysterious phenomena. He connects the forces of fire and water. These days people with the help of these elements are striving for purification, for which on the eve of the holiday they visit a bath with special brooms made of medicinal herbs. And during the celebration, cleansing takes place during the ritual leaping through the fire. But it is believed that this night is particularly active evil spirits, and therefore bathing can be dangerous because of the mermaids, and the witches gather for their sabbath on Bald Mountain. Especially strong were the signs for Ivan Kupala, so they were paid close attention.
Signs on Ivan Kupala - weather
At all times, for farmers, the weather in the summer was the most important factor of survival, and the signs of it were viewed primarily at:
- The rain on Ivan Kupala is a sign that there will be a meager harvest of bread;
- A clear day with a glowing sun foreshadowed late autumn;
- many stars in the clear sky - you can wait for a rich harvest;
- rainbow in the sky - wait for happiness.
Signs on Ivan Kupala for money
Signs of Ivan Kupala were associated with the acquisition of money and wealth. The main of these signs was the mystical flower of the fern. For those who were lucky to find and tear this flower, all the treasures hidden in the earth at any depth were opened. This man was able to understand birds and animals, gained power and witchcraft.
There were other signs for money on Ivan Kupala:
- if you collect all the money in the house, put them in one place next to the bed, and in the morning they are counted carefully and carefully, until the next day in Ivanovo the money will not be transferred;
- the arrival of guests on the feast promised wealth to the hosts, such guests were always treated with pies;
- sleep in Ivanovo night can not be, otherwise the house is penetrated by evil spirits and bears woes and poverty.
Signs on Ivan Kupala for unmarried people
Unmarried girls always for this day built the most daring plans. They diligently observed all the signs and ceremonies of Ivan Kupala:
- the girls wove wreaths from a special set of herbs, attached a candle and let on the river. The drowned wreath meant that the narrowed one fell out of love. If the wreath swam far and the candle did not extinguish, then be a wedding and a long happy life. The extinguished candle threatened with illness.
- if after a bathhouse bath a broom from the herbs is thrown behind his back, his top will indicate in which direction the girl will marry;
- to learn about the marriage this year, you need to collect the grass at night and hide under the pillow. In the morning to revise the grass, if there are 12 different herbs, then you can prepare for the wedding;
- if, when jumping through a fire, a couple does not open their hands, they will certainly marry.
Signs on Ivan Kupala for married people
Married women were also very important to know what signs for the day of Ivan Kupala are more important to them:
- very strong was the morning dew collected on Ivanov's day. Women had to collect it uncombed, not washed. With such dew washed, to find health, lost beauty and youth. With this dew we sprinkled the house so that it could live happily, well and without trouble;
- if the children are sick, then it is necessary to burn the clothes of the sick child on the fire at this festival, the illness will pass;
- to return the husband who looks aside, we must cook a special mess and in the morning with her husband to eat from one plate, while we must feed her husband with a silver spoon and pronounce a plot.
Signs on Ivan Kupala for conception
The deity Ivan Kupala from the Slavs was the patron of love and marriage, and therefore on this holiday liberties were allowed, which at the usual time for girls and women were impossible. Women who wanted to have children, especially those who could not do it, tried to conceive this night.
- signs for the day of Ivan Kupala convinced that the child, conceived on this day, will be beautiful, rich and happy;
- women who were preparing to become mothers, collected herbs, then to bathe their children in them for health and good luck. The composition of the Kupala grasses included chamomile, nettle, lovage, wormwood, willow, thyme;
- To recover from infertility, you must jump through the bonfire.
Born on the day of Ivan Kupala - signs
Not only conception, but also birth in Ivanov, the day was recognized as a great happiness. Signs and superstitions on Kupala claimed that the child born on this day will not only grow rich and happy, but will have supernatural abilities, will be able to conjure and communicate with spirits.
Philosophers grow up born to Kupala, they are loving and affable. But there is a danger that they can get carried away with the material component of life and become skopidomas. Signs and customs of Ivan Kupala live for many centuries, they can vary for different terrains, but all these signs are united by one common goal: to go through cleansing so that life will be reborn from year to year