Not so long ago we knew practically nothing about how and why celebrations of ancient Slavs were celebrated, but gradually life returns us to its historical roots, studying which we can touch ancient rituals and holidays. Among such magical events - Ivanov day, or the day of Ivan Kupala (7 July), which in the church calendar bears the name of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
This day was really unusual - it was originally associated with the period of the summer solstice and only later was fixed for a specific day of July. With him directly correlate and the signs on Ivan Kupala about the weather.
What did the signs tell us about?
On this day, weather forecasts made forecasts for the second half of the year and for the future harvest. This was important, as it promised either a comfortable, well-fed winter, or hunger, illness and problems for the whole family.
- Abundant dew this morning foreshadowed good harvests of nuts and cucumbers.
- Placers of stars on a clear clear sky in Ivanovo night promised a fruitful mushroom time.
- Rainbow: to see her on this day was considered a great happiness for a person.
- Signs on the day of Ivan Kupala and the weather were closely interrelated. Our ancestors believed that after the appearance of the rainbow in the sky had to expect weather changes: it foreshadowed the beginning of protracted rains.
- It was believed that from this day onwards the summer gathers its strength, and the forest and water spleen hides and does not appear until Ilin day (August 2). It was this period that was considered the most favorable and safe for swimming in water bodies.
- If the day the sky was clear and the sun "played" with rays, the approach of autumn in this year was to be late.
Folk wisdom - about summer weather and harvest
People's signs on Ivan Kupala were always associated with the expectation of a harvest of grain.
- Rainy Ivanov foreshadowed another day a whole week of rains and a poor harvest of bread.
- They noted: if rye is not riched by this day, then there will not be a good harvest of rye.
- This day determined not only the harvest of grain. In the bathing holiday it was decided to sow a turnip - a delay even for one or two days did not promise much turnips.
Signs on Ivan Kupala determined how the weather will affect the growth of vegetables, which were widely used in nutrition. It was believed that a calm starry night and a dewy morning foreshadowed their rich harvest.
People's signs of this day reflected the beliefs and representations of our ancestors about the state of the world around us and determined the ways of interaction with it.