A very hot hop! Ukranian revellers leap over campfire to celebrate pagan holiday

  • Ukrainians gathered in fields for Ivan Kupala Day which has pagan origins
  • Now traditional solstice festival is celebration of St John the Baptist

By
Rosie Taylor


PUBLISHED:

18:57 GMT, 7 July 2013


|

UPDATED:

18:57 GMT, 7 July 2013

In a field outside Kyiv, Ukrainians have spent the evening leaping over campfires as they celebrate a traditional Slavic holiday.

People of all ages wore wreaths made from flowers and herbs as they leapt over the fire as part of an ancient rite which is supposed to help cleanse away evil spirits.

Ivan Kupala Day was originally a pagan festival held on the summer solstice, but since the spread of Christianity it has officially become a celebration of John the Baptist – although it still involves pagan activities linked to water, fire and herbs.

Revellers leap over the campfire in a field outside Kyiv, Ukraine

Revellers leap over the campfire in a field outside Kyiv, Ukraine

A man holding his son takes a leap of faith over the fire - an action which is traditionally thought to cleanse away evil spirits

A man holding his son takes a leap of faith over the fire – an action which is traditionally thought to cleanse away evil spirits

Ivan Kupala Day was a pagan solstice holiday but has since become a celebration of John the Baptist

Ivan Kupala Day was a pagan solstice holiday but has since become a celebration of John the Baptist

The holiday is celebrated in Ukraine and other Slavic countries including Russia and Belarus (pictured)

The holiday is celebrated in Ukraine and other Slavic countries including Russia and Belarus (pictured)

Ukrainians celebrate the day by
wearing flowers, swimming in open water and dancing around the fire,
with girls making wreaths from herbs and floating them on rivers – a
traditional way of telling their fortunes.

The name of the holiday is made up of
Ivan, the Slavic name for John the Baptist, and Kupala, which is
derived from the word for bathing.

It is believed water is cleansed of evil and those who swim in it on this day will have good health for a year.

There is also an ancient belief that
the day is the only time ferns grow flowers and it is traditional to
hunt for a fern flower, which is thought to bring knowledge, luck and
wealth.

It is traditional for girls to wear wreaths made of herbs and flowers and to dance by the fire

It is traditional for girls to wear wreaths made of herbs and flowers and to dance by the fire

Some plants take on a special meaning during the holiday, particularly the fern which is supposed to bloom for a few moments during the night

Some plants take on a special meaning during the holiday, particularly the fern which is supposed to bloom for a few moments during the night

Those celebrating the festival spend time searching for the fern flower which is meant to bring limitless knowledge, luck and wealth

Those celebrating the festival spend time searching for the fern flower which is meant to bring limitless knowledge, luck and wealth

Hundreds of people gather together in fields to celebrate the holiday which falls on July 7 each year

Hundreds of people gather together in fields to celebrate the holiday which falls on July 7 each year

Ivan Kupala Day is celebrated in Russia, Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Finland.

Initially, before the spread of Christianity the holiday was associated with the summer solstice around June 21.

But after the adoption of Christianity
it was moved to the birthday of John the Baptist, which is June 24 in
the Old Style calendar still used by some Orthodox churches, but is July
7 on the widely-used Gregorian calendar.

Although the date has removed the
holiday from its solstice origins people continue to carry out pagan
rituals associated with water and fire on the day.

Children watch nervously as a man leaps through the flames in an ancient pagan ritual

Children watch nervously as a man leaps through the flames in an ancient pagan ritual

It is tradition for girls to weave wreaths and float them in the river in order to tell their fortunes

It is tradition for girls to weave wreaths and float them in the river in order to tell their fortunes

Some brave revellers even attempted to jump over the fire barefoot

Some brave revellers even attempted to jump over the fire barefoot

People come together to dance in the open during the pagan-based festival

People come together to dance in the open during the pagan-based festival

As well as leaping over the fire many swim in open water on Ivan Kupala Day as it is thought to bring good health

As well as leaping over the fire many swim in open water on Ivan Kupala Day as it is thought to bring good health

The holiday was moved from the summer solstice to John the Baptist's birthday with the rise of Christianity

The holiday was moved from the summer solstice to John the Baptist’s birthday with the rise of Christianity

 

The comments below have not been moderated.



  • Newest


  • Oldest


  • Best rated


  • Worst rated

I think it would be a nice idea to go back to pagan religions (without the human sacrifices obviously although not all pagans had these practises i should point out). they look a lot more fun.

Nick
,

London,
08/7/2013 13:56

Report abuse

FYI DM, John the Baptist is a Christian Saint – no matter what day he is celebrated on or how the celebration works.

Rex
,

Ontario, Canada,
08/7/2013 12:57

Report abuse

How much fun, communities coming together to celebrate a tradition with danger as a possibility but overall a fun experience. In the UK – Involves fire must have a fence keeping people at least 10 metres away. UK Gov – people are laughing and enjoying themselves! better ban it.

LetsBeHonest
,

Engerrrland, United Kingdom,
08/7/2013 12:41

Report abuse

Also Scandinavian countries hold Midsommer celebrations – bonfire, hex burning, etc. Great fun.

Christine
,

Cannondale,
08/7/2013 11:24

Report abuse

The same in Latvia, Lithuania and other ex pagan countries…it’s a bank holiday over there- Carla, Reading, 8/7/2013 9:41———————–Great Britain is an ex pagan country too, as well as all the European countries;)

Violet
,

Gdansk, Poland,
08/7/2013 11:04

Report abuse

“Jimbo; there’s nothing to stop you jumping over a bonfire if you want to, don’t blame someone else.” – SKoM, Cully, United Kingdom, 7/7/2013 21:57 ============ Until someone trips and falls into the fire or burns their expensive clothes, then the lawyers will strike…..

Feddup
,

Yorkshire, United Kingdom,
08/7/2013 09:10

Report abuse

The same in Latvia, Lithuania and other ex pagan countries…it’s a bank holiday over there

Carla
,

Reading,
08/7/2013 08:41

Report abuse

How to make Ukranian women even hotter than they already are!

T Rex
,

Jurassic Park, United Kingdom,
08/7/2013 07:48

Report abuse

I grew up in the USSR, and although I don’t miss the country I’m from, I do miss the cultural festivals!

This is as much a tradition as Alya Parusa for students, and Artek (where both my daughters will be off to, when school year finishes) for children.

Cllr Cabbie
,

To the right, United Kingdom,
08/7/2013 06:00

Report abuse

A small part of our european culture unchanged by left wing haters “yet “.

DR ROCK
,

LONDON,
08/7/2013 02:46

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.