PROJECT
SPADCHYNA
People's life has always been interwoven with songs. People were singing, when they were happy. People were howling when they were close to death. The song was helping , when the whole village was working in the field. Neither party was left without music. People did not talk about the high. They sang songs about life, what they saw around them. Each song is a chronicle of human's life. We learn from them how our ancestors lived, what they thought, what they dreamt about, what holidays celebrated.
One of these songs is just given above.
Ivan Kupala, or as they say in Belarus, Midsummer, the ancient celebration of the summer solstice, which is traditionally celebrated on the 7th of July. The word "Kupala" has several interpretations. The widest is from the old Slavic "Kupets" (to burn). There is also an Indo-European root, "kup" ("boil", "to be eager "), which in its significance is close to the Latin cupido (seek, boil). The name of Cupid comes from it. But the name can be derived from a "kup" which means "group of people".
According to a popular belief, this night rivers have a special glow light. Animals, birds, even trees get a gift of speech. At the same time Kupalle is a time when dark forces of nature binge. It is supposed that witches and wizards want to take away the cows' milk, make the creases in the rye, etc. They turn into frogs, snakes, enter the shed, make harm to animals. But the most magical phenomenon of this night is the fern flower. It is a magical plant that blooms only once a year and It gives magical properties to people. They begin to understand the language of animals and trees, to see the treasures through the earth , to cure people from various diseases, to know the future.
If you want to find this flower in the Kupalle night you should go to the wood alone, without a torch, without lights. You should go to a dense forest where you can't hear the roosters and dogs from the nearest village. They say that fern-flower shines in the dark. You have to injure your hand, squeeze flower in this palm of your hand and go home. The devilry will frighten you, but you shouldn't look back. After receiving the fern flower, you will acquire the ability to see what is invisible for others.
There were other rites too. So, in the day time the girls were collecting Kupala's (svatayanskia) , herbs. It was believed that they had special medicinal powers. The Kupalle bonfire was a central place for the ceremonies and games. People were jumping through it, burned the wheel-the sun, clothes of the sick, the old stuff in it.
Also there were other rites. For example, people performed various rituals to protect homes and fields from evil spirits; asked rich harvest and prosperity; sang songs and danced, played noisy games, did ritual cleaning with water at sunrise, washed with dew. A long time Kupalle was attended by all the villagers, young and old, because only the general performance of ritual acts ensured the welfare of families. Girls were wondering in the future, floating on water Kupala wreaths.
In Mogilev region Kupalle was presented by a female character who was called "Kupala-Girl". Her role was played by the most beautiful girl of the village. Other girls undressed her and wrapped around with leaves and branches and put a wreath on her head. Then she was led into the forest. There were some wreaths in it. The girl was blindfolded. She gave the wreaths to other girls. If a girl got a fresh wreath it meant she would live happily. If it was a withered one the girl "wouldn't see any happiness."
Kupalle wreaths, made from different flowers, were considered magical. People believed that the power of these flowers would increase if they were consecrated in the Church. In the morning after Kupalle night girls and boys waited for the sunrise, watched the sun playing , bathed in the water, rolled over the grass with dew to gain power.
Every year when the longest summer days and the shortest nights come to Belarus people celebrate Kupalle on the banks of rivers and lakes. Nowadays these festivities combine the ancient traditions and rituals, theatrical concerts and fun games.
Kupalle
Come on, girls, on Kupalle,
Come on, sisters, make fire .
... Guard rye and wheat
From that witch.
Not to allow her to go over the boundaries,
Not to allow her to shake early dew
and collecte the harvest from the rye.
But the greatest interest is the eve of Ivan Kupala. This night is traditionally filled with rituals associated with water, fire, herbs. It is believed that Kupalle is best preserved in its primitive form in Belarus.