Pro Slavic, Polish Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is not the only time Poles celebrate love. At the summer solstice. Poles reach out to the very old pro-Slavic and one of the most enchanting and ancient traditions – Kupala Night takes place. The original Polish Valentine’s Day. Kupala Night and Midsummer Night These wreaths were common in many Slavic festivals and even weddings, but during Noc Kupały, girls would place their wreaths in the river like Kostroma. The boys would jump into the river downstream. If they retrieved a girl’s wreath, it was believed they were destined for love. And this starts the idea of Noc Kupały as a Slavic Valentine Throughout the country and beyond its borders the Poles celebrate the summer solstice as "Wianki". The spirited celebations embody their Slavic souls and pagan origins. This is what the midsummer looked like more than a thousand years ago in the area now referred to as Poland! Every year around 21 st and 22 nd of June, when the nights were extra short and the June solstice arrived, pagan people celebrated fire, water, fertility, love and joy - quite a pagan alternative to modern-day Valentine’s! Slavic Pagan Holidays. Paganism as a term refers to the practice of polytheism and is first used by early Christians in the fourth century. During and after the Middle Ages, the church saw paganism as worshiping false gods . The term undeservingly implies inferiority owing to its association with unfamiliar, non-Christian religions. The holiday’s origins likely predate the venerated saint. The date of St. Valentine’s execution, the day after the February full moon, might be the real connection with affection. As fans of Shakespeare know, the Idus or “Ides” of each month on the ancient Roman calendar was the day of the full moon. The Slavic calendar, with its festivals and myths, continues to hold cultural significance in contemporary Slavic societies. These celebrations not only preserve ancient traditions but also foster a sense of community and identity among people. As society evolves, the importance of preserving Slavic myths and traditions becomes even more critical. Ivan Kupala Day The term kupala is most likely derived from kupati which is the Slavic word for bathing or “to get wet”. In Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, the name of this holiday is a combination of “Ivan” (John the Baptist) and “getting wet”, as the ritual is associated with water. The Pagan Meaning Behind Valentine’s Day, Previously Known As Lupercalia Mid-February marked the beginning of the bird mating season in most of Europe in the Middle Ages. The cults of some old pagan Slavic gods and deities were often combined with the worship of new Christian saints (and the old rituals blended with new Christian holidays). This understanding of Slavic paganism has led folklorists and historians to observe Slavic paganism through two standpoints in regard to folklore. Like in many other European countries, the arrival of summer is celebrated on St. John’s Eve in Poland. While part of the Polish custom ‒ bonfires, singing and dancing ‒ resembles other celebrations all over the world, the traditional wild flower crowns and fortune-telling rituals date back to Slavic paganism. The cults of some old pagan Slavic gods and deities were often combined with the worship of new Christian saints (and the old rituals blended with new Christian holidays). This understanding of Slavic paganism has led folklorists and historians to observe Slavic paganism through two standpoints in regard to folklore. Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of this festival of candy and cupids are actually dark, bloody — and a bit muddled. Historical Crossroads: Valentine’s Day and Lupercalia. While Valentine’s Day is widely recognized as a celebration of love in modern times, its historical roots are far more intricate and, believe it or not, a bit wilder. The mid-February timing of Valentine’s Day intriguingly aligns with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia Download this Veles Slavic Pagan God An Analogue Of Hermes Mercury Odin vector illustration now. And search more of iStock's library of royalty-free vector art that features Slavic Culture graphics available for quick and easy download. Find and save ideas about lupercalia pagan on Pinterest. Search from Slavic Paganism stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. For the first time, get 1 free month of iStock exclusive photos, illustrations, and more. According to the Rodnover questions–answers compendium Izvednik (Изведник), almost all Russian Rodnovers rely upon the Gregorian calendar and celebrate the "sunny holidays" (highlighted in yellow in the table herebelow), with the addition of holidays dedicated to Perun, Mokosh and Veles (green herebelow), the Red Hill ancestral holiday (orange herebelow), and five further holidays This is what the midsummer looked like more than a thousand years ago in the area now referred to as Poland! Every year around 21 st and 22 nd of June, when the nights were extra short and the June solstice arrived, pagan people celebrated fire, water, fertility, love and joy - quite a pagan alternative to modern-day Valentine’s! Check out our slavic pagan clothes selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our dresses shops.
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