The ethnographer spoke about the connection of Ivan Kupala with the summer solstice

The connection between Ivan Kupala and the day of the summer solstice lies in their chronological proximity — the holiday falls on the dates following the solstice. This led to the perception of Ivan Kupala in the folk tradition as a calendar milestone, marking the shortening of daylight hours and the "turn of summer into winter." Sofia Didkovskaya, a researcher at the Department of Ethnography of the Russian People at the Russian Ethnographic Museum, told Izvestia about this.

Ivan Kupala was originally a pagan holiday associated with the summer calendar cycle and the solstice. After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, pagan rituals were replaced by the church holiday of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which was celebrated on June 24 in the old style. After the transition to the Gregorian calendar, the date of the holiday shifted to July 7.

Due to the chronological proximity to the summer solstice in the folk tradition, Ivan Kupala began to be perceived as a kind of calendar milestone, and the ritual actions dedicated to this day turned out to be closely related to the idea of shortening daylight hours ("turning summer into winter," as the peasants said), the ethnographer explained to Izvestia.

"Usually, the solar component is seen in the largest and most expressive rituals of this day: lighting bonfires, rolling burning wheels down the mountain or launching burning torches on the water, as well as in the tradition of collecting flowers and herbs. However, the real interpretation of ritual Kupala actions turns out to be much more complicated and interesting. A bonfire, for example, was not always interpreted solely as a symbol of the sun: in a number of local traditions, it was understood primarily as a purifying element capable of driving away evil spirits, removing spoilage, literally "burning out" harmful influences," Didkovskaya noted.

The expert pointed out that old trash was brought from houses for the Kupala bonfire: unnecessary harrows, brooms, wheel rims, etc. According to her, it also highlights the symbolism of purification and renewal in these actions. In the eyes of the peasants, the material "old" became the bearer of all that had become obsolete, and its destruction in the sacred fire opened the way to a new stage of the annual cycle.

"The symbolism of the burning wheel deserves special attention. It also cannot be reduced to a single meaning, contrary to popular stereotypes. Firstly, the round shape of the wheel was associated with the circle of life and the calendar cycle. A wheel rolling downhill could become a universal way of transition, symbolizing the completion of one stage and the beginning of another. Secondly, the emphasis could shift to the very movement of the wheel.: It was understood as a magical act aimed at maintaining a continuous cycle of life in nature. Finally, we can look at this action as another way of protection: the burning wheel symbolically "burned out" evil spirits, diseases, spoilage and evil spirits," Didkovskaya drew attention.

The ethnographer emphasized that the Kupala cycle cannot be considered as a "solar holiday" in the narrow sense. This day combined a variety of beliefs. And all the rituals of Kupala night, at least at the turn of the XIX – XX centuries, had a practical meaning — they protected people and helped them in the household.