Midsummer Night

There are a number of hypotheses on the origin of the word kupała. One of them derives the name from the Vistula Venetis who were most probably absorbed by the neighbouring Slavs. Their language was said to exhibit a certain similarity to Latin (compare the word Kupała and the Roman word Cupido). Another theory refers to the Indo-European kump, which denoted a community or group (that is where contemporary Polish words like kupa (heap) or skupić (to converge) come from). It was to stress the community or social nature of these rituals. Another hypothesis is connected with the alleged Slavonic deity of love and fertility — Kupała. Finally, the last refers to the Russian word form of kąpać (to bathe). The association of Midsummer Night rituals with bathing is most probably quite late; in the Middle Ages church officials decided to assimilate immoral pagan customs, having failed to suppress them.

Kupalnocka has been most popular for its long-held tradition of laying garlands on water. Telling one’s fortune from a garland, the symbol of maidenhood, was probably a separate tradition, not really connected with Midsummer Night; it was meant only for bachelors and bachelorettes as it concerned marriage and anticipated love. On that magic night marriageable girls wove garlands and lay them on river waters; thus their fortune was told: whether they were to be married soon or become spinsters.

Paproć w każdym lesie tylko jedna zakwita, a to w takim zakątku, tak ukryta, że nadzwyczajnego trzeba szczęścia, aby na nią trafić (There is only one fern to blossom in a single forest; it is hidden in such a nook that you need to be exceptionally lucky to find it), as was written by Józef Ignacy Kraszewski in his novel Kwiat paproci (The Fern Blossom). Midsummer Night, the shortest night of the whole year, is full of secrets and magic. No wonder that the magic fern blossom, according to legend, blooms on that very night. It is to show the way to great treasure, attract good luck, wealth and the ability to influence the feelings of others. Only a young, truthful, hard-working, virtuous and courageous person can find this magic plant.

Water and fire, the two opposing forces governing nature, were worshiped during Midsummer Night. On that night the two opposites joined together: fire with water, light with dark, man with woman and the thunder in the sky with the land. The most important rituals were connected on the one hand with the setting of fire (the ritual of spark striking, burning bonfires, burning candles), on the other hand with immersion in water (the ever-present symbol of bath and the scene the river bank).

Various spells were broken on Midsummer Night: houses were protected with sharp tools (they say witches hate that); women tied mugwort around their waists to protect them from black magic, spells and all evil. Mugwort was also hung on house, shed and barn doors; it was worn sewn into clothes or thrown into Midsummer bonfires.

No norms or limitations were observed in ancient times during pagan rituals. It was believed that the ghosts of the dead and demons possess the bodies of young people and increase their readiness to love, breed and give birth. Kupalnocka could easily become a time of orgies: when dancing, singing and heavy-drinking young men often kidnapped the girls they had chosen before and took them into the forest; traditionally the custom allowed for free lovemaking.

In Krakow and its vicinity Midsummer Night was celebrated as in other regions of Poland; the custom of bonfire burning was more connected with Pentecost, most probably because church officials wanted to adapt the customs of that magic night to the Christian tradition.