Ivan Kupala, or the Kupala Night, the old pre-Christian Slavic holiday honoring summer solstice on July 6, is widely celebrated in Ukraine. The Christian Church converted this holiday into John the Baptist Day long time ago, but it is still celebrated by many in a pagan way. Thousands participate in the night rituals to gain wealth, health and love – but most of all, to have fun. Here are some of the places in Kyiv where one can experience the Ivan Kupala celebrations.
Cossack village Mamayeva Sloboda
Kupala
celebration in the folk park Mamayeva Sloboda will be held near the Lybid River
on July 6 at noon. The park’s employees will be wearing traditional clothing
and will reproduce the ancient celebration traditions. Folk music bands will go
into the forest singing and dancing to find a maple tree and make wishes. Later
the treewill be decorated with flowers and beads and will symbolize Marena,
Slavic goddess of death and misfortune. After the sunset the Marena tree will
be burned, so that everybody participating in the ritual will have a chance to
get rid of their diseases, nightmares and bad luck.
When: July 6, from noontill 10 p.m.
Where: Themuseumis located on 2 MykhaylaDontsya
St. To get there one can take a trolleybus from Petrivka metro station or
minibus number 201 or 232 from Shulyavska metro station to Mykhayla Dontsya Street
bus stop.
Dress code: a vyshyvanka, traditional Ukrainian
embroidered shirt, or any element of Ukrainian national attire
Price: Hr 50.
Pyrohovo
National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life
The
traditional Ivan Kupala celebrations will start in the evening of July 6 here.
Pyrohovo guests will be introduced to the ancient Slavic magic rituals
connected with water, fire and herbs. The bravest participants will have a
possibility to participate in searching for a fern flower, lighting a fire and
jumping through it and making wreaths to attract good luck in the future. A folk
music band will perform traditional songs dedicated to the Ivan Kupala holiday.
When: July 6, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: The museum is located in Pyrohovo
village. To get there from Kyiv one can take a trolleybus No. 11 from Lybidska
metro station, a minibus No. 172 from Druzhby Narodiv metro station, a minibus No.
496 from Lukyanivska metro station or a minibus No. 576 from Akademmistechko
metro station.
Price: Hr 30
Kyivan Rus Park
Besides jumping over the fire, making wreaths and amulets, Kyivan Rus
park visitors will be able to watch horse races and performances. Those
fascinated with the Medieval Times may wear a medieval outfit and try archery
or horseback-riding, play old-time games and round-dance. A local restaurant serves
Ukrainian and European cuisine.
When: July 4-7, from 10 a.m. till midnight.
Where: The Kyivan Rus Park is located in Kopachiv village. To get there
you can take a minibus from the Vydubychi metro station to Kopachiv village.
The bus departs there three times a day – at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Price: Hr 100 for adults, Hr 50 for pensioners and Hr 10 for
schoolchildren.
Liubimiy Diadia
restaurant
Kyiv restaurant Liubimiy Diadia organizes an Ivan Kupala picnic on July
5 in its cozy yard close to the city center. The guests will be offered
Ukrainian varenyky with bilberry and tarragon, roast veal stewed in cream and
lots of Mediterranean snacks. Children will be entertained by an actress
dressed as Mary Poppins on the lawn near the restaurant throughout the day.
When: July 5, starts a
tnoon
Kyiv Post staff writer NataliyaTrach can be reached at [email protected]
