Ivana Kupala: Ukrainian Midsummer Traditions and Flower Wreaths

Ivana Kupala is one of the brightest summer festivals in Ukraine: wreaths floating on the water, bonfires, songs until dawn and the hunt for the fabled fern flower. It blends an ancient midsummer rite with the Christian feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Here is when Kupala is celebrated, which traditions survive and which flowers go into a Kupala wreath.

For a summer wreath or bouquet: spray roses and chrysanthemums.

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When it is celebrated

The festival is tied to the summer solstice. For a long time it was held on the night of 6–7 July, the eve of the Nativity of John the Baptist in the Julian calendar. Since the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church moved to the Revised Julian calendar in 2023, the feast falls on 24 June, and more and more communities celebrate Kupala on the night before 24 June. Both dates are in use.

Where the festival comes from

Kupala night is a legacy of ancient midsummer festivals celebrated across Europe. The shortest night of the year was linked with the sun, water, fire and herbs. Later the folk rites merged with the church feast, hence the name: Ivan for John the Baptist, while Kupala is associated with bathing and cleansing in water.

Kupala rites

• Wreaths on the water. Girls weave wreaths and float them down the river; tradition says the direction the wreath drifts shows where a future husband will come from. Today it is more of a charming game.
• The Kupala bonfire. People jump over the fire alone or in pairs holding hands. Be careful: only jump over a low fire, well away from dry grass.
• The Kupala tree and Marena. A small tree decorated with ribbons and flowers, or a straw doll, stood at the centre of the celebration and was burned or sunk in water at the end.
• Gathering herbs. Herbs picked on Kupala night were believed to be especially “strong” and were dried and kept at home. Today it is above all a lovely tradition; ask a doctor about any medicinal use of plants.

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The fern flower: legend and reality

Legend says that on Kupala night a fern flower blooms for a single moment, and whoever finds it gains treasure and the gift of understanding animals and plants. It is a beautiful tale, but botanically ferns never flower at all: they reproduce by spores that ripen in sporangia on the underside of the fronds. So the search for the flower is really an excuse for a night-time walk in the woods.

Which flowers to use in a Kupala wreath

• Wildflowers: daisies, cornflowers, clover, bellflowers, picked from meadows rather than protected areas. Which plants you must not pick is covered in “Wildflowers”.
• Fragrant herbs: mint, thyme, wormwood, lovage.
• Greenery for the base: periwinkle, birch or willow twigs, ears of grain.
• Garden flowers: with no meadow nearby, spray roses, chrysanthemums and alstroemerias work well.

To make the wreath hold, build a base of flexible stems or a wire ring and attach small bunches of flowers around it, each one covering the stems of the last. For bridal wreaths made of fresh flowers see “Bridal flower crown”.

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How it is celebrated today

Kupala festivals take place in open-air museums, on riverbanks and in city parks, with wreath-weaving workshops, folk songs and round dances. If you plan a night swim, choose an official beach and never go into the water alone.

FAQ

What is the date of Ivana Kupala?

Traditionally the night before 7 July; under the new church calendar many people celebrate on the night before 24 June.

Does the fern really flower?

No. Ferns are spore-bearing plants and have no flowers.

What happened to the wreath after the festival?

It was floated on the water or sometimes dried and kept at home as a charm. More folk beliefs about flowers: “Flower superstitions”.

Ready-made texts for the holiday: Ivana Kupala wishes.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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