Kupala Night, also known as Kupalle (in Belarus), Ivan Kupala (in Russia), and Ivan Kupalo (in Ukraine), is a Slavic holiday traditionally observed on the shortest night of the year. This places its traditional observance on the Gregorian calendar around June 21st through June 24th in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia.
In Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, this holiday was traditionally observed on the Julian calendar around July 6th or 7th. This is a day on which several different Slavic rituals are held, including young women weaving wreaths to predict their future marriage, setting these wreaths afloat in a symbolic bid for fortune and happiness, and couples jumping over bonfires.
