Hey Guys, My name is Pavel. For a little more than a month, I'm with you in steemit. A little about myself, I'm from Ukraine, I study English, timid attempts in this matter you can see in my posts.

Also I study guitar playing, a very cool thing helps me to raise my mood and energy in + when it's necessary. I advise everyone to buy themselves a guitar, learn a little and play, even if at the first stages it awakens badly, in the future everything will turn out and the cool mood is guaranteed to you)

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In my posts there will be a lot of different topics from crypto currency and fitness to psychology and cooking, in the future we will see what and how will be more in demand and interesting for you.

Last years I am a health enthusiast with a passion for sports, fitness, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. In my posts, I will share with you the knowledge and experience of healthy eating and proper exercise to provide people with the right tools to improve their lives.

In addition, I believe that helping people to achieve a healthy lifestyle will provide them with a great incentive to motivation, confidence and self-esteem in order to be able to achieve any other goals that they have in life.

And now I want to tell a little and show how we celebrated the holiday of Ivan Kupala.

First a little about the holiday itself

Traditions and customs of the holiday

One of the most mysterious and magical holidays that we inherited from our ancestors. We tell you what is interesting about Ivan Kupala

Bathing, jumping over a fire, fortune telling and finding a blooming fern. The main attributes of Ivan Kupal, celebrated on the night of July 6 to July 7, are probably known to everyone, but the holiday itself is far from being limited to this.

Ivan Kupala can easily be called an ancient holiday. After many years it remains all the same popular and one of the most extraordinary days, moreover, famous for its original traditions and rituals. About them, as well as in general about the holiday, we will tell in more detail.

When is Ivan Kupala celebrated?

We do not start with this issue for nothing, because it remains one of the most frequent, and confusion in the future should be avoided.

There are two dates for Ivan Kupala. According to the old style, it was celebrated (and, by the way, many still continue to celebrate) during the summer solstice (June 20-22). This period was a time of celebration for the Gentiles as well.

Since the appearance in Ukraine and other countries celebrating Ivan Kupala, Christianity has changed. According to the new style, this is now the night of July 6-7. Thus, Ivan Kupala coincides with one of the most famous Orthodox holidays - the Nativity of John the Baptist.

Presumably, Ivan Kupala originated from pagan rituals of purification, washing, which took place in rivers and lakes on the day of the summer solstice.

Where did the name of Ivan Kupala come from?

It is necessary to specify at once: the pre-Christian name of the holiday is still unknown. The very name Ivan Kupala is of national-Christian origin and is a Slavic variant of the name John the Baptist (in translation from Greek - a submerger, a swimmer).

Other names: Ivanov's Day, Kupala, Kolosok, Yarilin's Day, Kokui, Ivan the Herbalist, Soncekres, Kupailo, Kupalle, Ivan Kaldunsky.

What can not be done on Ivan Kupala?

It is believed that Ivan Kupala awakens all sorts of evil spirits - witches, snakes, water, mermaids, werewolves. Therefore, this night you can not sleep.

In addition, during this period it is not accepted to give anything away, sell and borrow, otherwise the family may become impoverished.

What rites and beliefs are associated with Ivan Kupala?

The key symbols of Ivan Kupala are water, fire and grass.

Required attribute number one is bathing at sunrise. It is believed that in this way a person undergoes a peculiar purification procedure - flushes the disease and strengthens the immune system. Bathing took place in various places: someone was cleaning in the rivers, someone was preparing a bath for this.

Then came the turn of fire. Fires were lit on the hills or rivers. Sometimes fire was extracted by an ancient method - friction of a tree against a tree. The fires were lit late in the evening and often burned until the morning.

Interestingly, in the villages to the fire all the women of the village were to leave. The one that did not appear was under suspicion of witchcraft.

Round the fires drove rounds, but the most famous of its purpose in the other.

Through the fire jumped: as alone guys and girls, and couples who held hands. It was believed that if young people crossed the fire, not letting go of each other's hands, then they are destined to be together. If the arms opened, then it means that the pair will soon part.

When the youth ended their festivities with bonfires, the older generation spent their domestic cattle between the campfire bonfires, so that they would not be overtaken by death and disease.

Another important attribute of the holiday was and remains fortune telling.

The girls were guessing at the betrothed - they wove wreaths from 12 different kinds of plants, after which they were let on the water.

If the wreath drowns, the girl will not marry this year, if she sailed from the shore - the wedding is already close.

In addition, on this day it is customary to collect flowers for divination - the rich. Finding the flower, the girl put it under the pillow. If the bud has blossomed - marriage soon, if wilted, then you will have to wait.

On the night of Ivan Kupala, the girls went to the forest to collect medicinal herbs and flowers, which, according to the beliefs, were saturated with special strength during this period.

For example, a flower torn to a bathing night Ivan-da-marya was necessary to invest in all corners of his hut. It was believed that the thief would never climb, as he would hear voices in the house.

And, of course, the fern hunt officially started.

Find it if you can

There is a belief that only one time a year, on the night of Ivan Kupala, a fern blooms.

A mythical, non-existent flower in nature will supposedly give to someone who finds and tears it up, special strengths and possibilities.

In particular, the owner of the flower becomes perspicacious, has the opportunity to understand the language of animals, see all the treasures, become invisible, take any shape, and also open the treasure chests by attaching a flower to them.

In general, this is the holiday of Ivan Kupala. Special and original.