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 AFP photo / Artyom KorotayevSinging and dancing in the rain: Russians revel in ancient holiday
Part of Moscow has been set on fire for one day. A festival dedicated to a Russian folk holiday, Ivan Kupala Day, has been organised in the capital. It celebrates the elements of fire and water. This year the weather’s contributed to the event.
The Ivan Kupala Day is an old Slavic holiday, celebrated in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine for more than a thousand years.
Combining pagan and Christian traditions, it was one of the main holidays of the year in Russia up to the 20th century. Even the name Ivan Kupala is made up of two parts: John the Baptist (Ivan in Russian), and the pagan idol Kupala.
The holiday traditionally features many forms of entertainment, mainly connected with water and fire. Jumping over a bonfire is also one of the day's highlights.
The day used to mark the beginning of the bathing season in Russia.
This time, the revellers were also wet through, though not because of swimming.
"The rain can't spoil the holiday. People shouldn't mind the rain, as the day of Ivan Kupala is closely connected with water. When it wasn't raining, young village men would pour water over every girl. In fact, Ivan Kupala is sometimes even referred to as an old Russian equivalent of Valentine's day," says Oleg Nazarov, the festival's host.
To learn more about this year's celebrations of the Ivan Kupala Day, please click on the VIDEO button on the right...
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