Kupalle

 Kupalle is the most loved and celebrated pagan holiday in today’s Belarus.

 Its celebration offers a whole complex of traditional rituals, beliefs, love and magic.

Like in ancient times, Kupalle is celebrated in the night from 6 July to 7 July.

Years ago young girls went into the meadows to collect plants and herbs – cornflowers, ferns. 

 It was believed that the plants gathered at that time had special magic and could protect people and their homes from illnesses and evil spirits. 

The central part in Kupalle celebration was a fire, which symbolised life and Yaryla and drove away death. 

 People would stay up till early morning hours.

They followed a lot of customs on that night, including purification

rituals  during the celebration – jumping over the fire, bathing in the river, rolling in the grass dew. They would join hands and dance in karagods, compete in strength, tell fortunes and look for a blossoming fern flower – “Paparats-kvetka”. 

It was thought lucky if a couple could find it: they would live happily ever after.