As a national holiday , Midsummer Day occurs with many peculiar rites and songs. Since ancient times people have survived in these Kupala Ukrainian customs.
Earlier
that day coincided with the date of the summer solstice (usually June
21-22 ) - the longest day of the year , and this holiday was a strong
solar symbolism. At
this time a day has the greatest length and the shortest night because
Kupala songs sung by " Midsummer nichka small" , "small nichka on
Kupalochka ." Backlog church calendar holiday pushed up to half a month from the day of the summer solstice - 6-7 July.
Kupalski
fun place in the evening, at night ( in Kupalsku night, or as they say ,
HOUR - kupalochku ) and on the day of Midsummer . Most likely the name of the holiday comes from the word " bathe " because during midsummer fun is mandatory ritual bathing. In Western Ukraine celebration entitled " sobitka " and a song called " sobitkovymy ." It is derived from the word " sobyty ", ie to produce a friction fire for ceremonial bonfire.
In terms of annual festivals Kupalo is one of the most important and celebrated solemnly and magnificently . This contributes to the high time of the meeting : The sun at this time of the strongest , most herbs and medicinal flowers . According
to legends , midnight vohnystym flower blooming fern , heralding him
who taketh it, treasure , wealth, prosperity and health.