Ivana Kupala, 7 July 2007
A midsummer greeting, and the part of the night that happens before the fire is lit.
A good Kupala night to everyone marking it.
The part I did not know about until I saw it properly is the afternoon. Before any fire is lit, there is several hours of quite serious work: herbs gathered, wreaths woven, and a long argument about which flowers go in.
The wreath is not decoration. It is made to be floated, watched and interpreted, and the person making it takes the construction seriously because it is going to be examined by everybody.
A holiday where the preparation occupies more hours than the event is a holiday people actually like, whatever they say about the superstitions attached to it.
A good night to you.
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