Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kupala (in the Orthodox Ivan Kupala, St. John's Day) is one of the ancient Slavic pagan holidays, the members of which worship the sun, fire, water and trees. This is a celebration of spiritual and physical cleansing, maturity of the summer, the festival of Slavic Sun God Kupala.
Participants of the holiday gather on large open meadow. It starts with the collection of herbs and flowers, weaving wreaths, greenery decoration of buildings, dancing in khorovod, kindling fires, destruction of stuffed animals, jumping over the fire or through bouquets of greens, pouring water, divination, hunting down witches, nocturnal party. Midsummer's Day falls on a day of summer solstice, marking the beginning of the ancient Indo-European "Night of the Gods.".
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
The fire, through which young people jumping it's not just a means of cleansing of a sin, but also a defender for evil spirits.
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Burning wheel is a symbol of the sun.
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007
Kaluga region, Russia, 2007