Also known as: Kupalo
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Goddess of summer fertility associated with the midsummer festival. On Kupala Night, people jump over bonfires and search for the magical fern flower. She represents the peak of summer's power.
Kupala is the deity (or spirit) of midsummer, associated with the summer solstice celebration called Kupala Night—the most magical night of the Slavic year. The name may derive from a word meaning "to bathe" or "to gather," and the festival involves both water rituals and gathering of magical herbs.
On Kupala Night (around June 23-24), the boundary between worlds grows thin. Young people stay awake all night, building bonfires and leaping over them—couples who jump holding hands and don't let go will marry. They float wreaths with candles on rivers, watching to see if they reach their beloved's wreath. They wade into waters at dawn to purify themselves.
The most sought-after prize of Kupala Night is the fern flower—a magical bloom that ferns are believed to produce only at midnight on this one night. Whoever finds it gains the ability to understand animal speech, find buried treasure, and unlock any door. But the flower is guarded by spirits, and the search is dangerous.
Herbs gathered on Kupala Night have extraordinary power. Women collect them before dawn while the dew still clings, singing special songs. These herbs, gathered at summer's peak, will heal the sick all year, protect against evil spirits, and ensure fertility. The magic of midsummer is stored in these plants.
Kupala Night celebrates the union of opposites—fire (the bonfires) and water (the rivers), male and female (couples leaping together), earth and sky. It is the peak of the year's light, after which days grow shorter. The festival acknowledges this turning point, honoring summer's fullness even as it begins to wane.
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