Belsat photojournalist visited the celebration in the Rasony district near Polatsk.
Authentic celebration of Kupala in the Belarusian village has not been preserved, but the youth club “Knyazhych” was able to restore the tradition of Kupala.
Midsummer is considered to be the time when the sun, water, land and other spirits of nature reach their highest power and merge into a harmonious union that later translates into natural and human fertility.
In pre-Christian times, midsummer night had a sexual context. There was the concept of “Kupala kids’ who were conceived at Midsummer.
The “Knyazhych” Midsummer celebration is very lively and has retained all the main traditions of the Kupala night in Polatsk. It includes collecting of herbs, which acquire a magical and medicinal powers of Ivan Kupala, decorating of the Kupala wheel, traditional production of the fire, singing of Kupala songs, dances and round dances.
Despite a fairly difficult “northern” nature of the Drysa river, every year almost all the participants of the event bathe there. The girls let their wish wreaths flow on the river and jump with the guys across the purifying flames.
The “Knyazhych” Midsummer celebration has been held for the 22nd time.
More photos here
Vyachaslau Radzimich, belsat.eu
