Ivan Kupala’s  feast

The PROGRAMME

 17.00

Teaching the participants of Kupala’s songs, weaving Kupala’s wreaths,etc.Distribution of the participants into 4 teams(4 teams according to the elements: Water,Land,Air,Fire).

19.00

Land Element

Wreaths’ weaving with forest flowers by folk songs. Kupala’s doll creation and decoration of a tree symbolizing Kupala’s bride – Morena.

 20.30 

Fire Element

Fire burning with wooden sticks, lighting up the bonfire-Kupaltse. Common folk ring-dancing, songs, Oira-Oira dance. Passing through a big wreath ritual symbolizing getting strong health for the whole year. Burning thorns to eradicate all troubles and misfortunes.

Marriage of Kupala and Morena.Ring-dance “Tsareshin korolek”. “Beer marriage” ritual with with a bucket of beer passing around with washings’ saying.

Weaving around with hay an old wheel (Kolo),its lighting up and pushing down from the top of a hill – a symbol of fire and water elements’ union (a wheel is a male origin, water is a female origin). Small bark boats’ floating in water with candles and wreaths’ floating.

Torches lighting up and Kupala’s farewell. A game “ Buy off a Bear(Veles)”: the teams solve puzzles. Burning out Kupala’s doll. Jumping over the fire: the one who jumps higher & better will be the happiest .

0.00

Everyone to a fern seeking! 4 teams receive a coded scheme of a fern . The team who finds  & brings it first to the eldest, gets a map for treasure hunting Flower gathering for fortune-telling.

Water Element

Washing with dew ritual. Fortune-telling by herbs. Sun meeting at dawn.