Modern researchers tend to argue that the very name of the summer solstice holiday, Ivan Kupala, appeared in later times, after the Christianization of the Slavic lands. Several facts serve as the basis for such a statement, of which only two deserve attention. Firstly, the date of the celebration of Ivan Kupala, July 7 (June 24) coincides with the Christian day of John the Baptist, and the name could appear due to the similarity of the names of the main characters of the celebration. Secondly, no documentary sources were found containing information about how this day was called in pre-Christian Russia. In my opinion, there can be no doubt that the tradition of celebrating such a significant event as the solstice dates back to ancient times.
Most of the information about the traditions and rituals held on the day of the summer solstice has survived to this day in a relatively reliable form, and now the Ivan Kupala holiday can be called one of the most popular folk celebrations. Nowadays, it is also known as Ivanov's Day, Ivan the herbalist and under other names, depending on the area, and is dedicated, as in the old days, to the flowering of nature and the abundance associated with it.
It should be noted that the main ritual actions take place at night on the eve of the holiday. Since ancient times, the elements of fire and water have been associated with the name of Kupala; it was also believed that on this night herbs have a special power and can be used by people who are versed in magic. Before dark, a person must necessarily bathe; for this purpose, baths were heated in the northern regions, and in warmer regions they were immersed in natural reservoirs, rivers and lakes. In some areas, these actions were massive, which caused disapproval of Orthodox priests, who saw in them manifestations of "demonic lust" and "satanic fun." With the coming of night, fires were made on the banks; this action symbolizes the fusion of two elements, fiery and water. Round dances were performed around the fires, accompanied by songs glorifying Kupala and the onset of the summer period. On the territory of Belarus, in the center of the fire, a high pillar with a wheel on top was installed. Often the skull of a horse was placed on the wheel, knocked into the fire and, after it had burned out, they began festive dances.
By tradition, all the women and girls of the settlement were to gather around the fire; the fair sex, who did not appear at the fire, could be suspected of witchcraft. At the same time, in some areas there was a custom to burn household items that became unnecessary in the Kupala fire. Guys and girls, holding hands in pairs, jumped over the fire, thus symbolically “clearing” of possible negativity. In addition, it is believed that if a couple was able to overcome the fire without opening their hands, then soon their mutual affection will end in a wedding.
On the night before Kupala, water, according to legends, has a special power, is capable of curing diseases and prolonging life. Also, the power of spells and fortune-telling is significantly increased, therefore the predictions made on this night were considered indisputable. In this regard, divination for marriage is widespread among girls who have reached the appropriate age for marriage. In order to find out whether a meeting with her future spouse will take place soon, the girl must lower her wreath (a symbol of girlhood) into the water. If the wreath floats away from the shore, then this is considered a sure sign of an imminent marriage. This is perhaps the most famous of the Kupala rituals that have survived to this day.
In addition to those described, there are many more rituals, fortune-telling and beliefs associated with the magic of this night. In addition to some general rituals dedicated to the holiday of Ivan Kupala, each area has its own original traditions, which are simply impossible to talk about within the framework of one article. In conclusion, I will add that, despite the condemnation of the Orthodox Church, Midsummer remains one of the few ancient holidays that have retained their, albeit relative, authenticity and mass character.