Tryzub hosts Midsummer celebration
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/07/2022 (1324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon-based Canadian Ukrainian Association group Tryzub hosted a Midsummer celebration Saturday at Dinsdale Park.
The day is also known as the “Ivan Kupala” holiday, or “The Evening of Midsummer.”
The holiday is a pagan celebration of the union of the summer sun and water. During the celebrations, the effigies of Kupalo, the pagan god of fertility, love and harvest, and Maryna, the goddess of water, are honoured. The ceremony culminates in the purification of the effigies with fire and water in the hopes of a good harvest.
The ritual begins with girls decorating a deciduous tree representing Maryna and a straw effigy of Kupalo.
Women then use wild field flowers to create wreaths. The symbols are worn as crowns on their head before being released into the river. Girls will watch which way the water takes the wreath to see the direction it flows because it will point them in the direction of their future husband.
The wreaths cannot be dropped in the water before receiving permission from the Waterman — a diety with a golden crown and flowing white beard. A guest dressed as Waterman escorted guests to the Assiniboine River for the release of the flower crowns as part of the Midsummer celebrations.
Once the flower crowns are released into the water, the Kypala fire is lit by an actor dressed as Fireman and the effigies of Jupalo and Maryna are burned with the hope those in attendance will leave in good spirits, health, happiness and their well-being.
The evening featured a fairy tale performance sharing the story of The Evening of Midsummer along with Ukrainian souvenirs for sale.
» The Brandon Sun
