Noc Swietojanska or St John's Night
St John's Night celebrations date back to pre-Christian times, when they bore the name of Kupala. The night of 21 June, the shortest night of the year has always been considered a special one, a night of fire, which represents the masculine element and of water, standing for the female. It's a magical night when love can bind people forever.Nowadays it is more often celebrated on 23 June, on the eve of St John's day or on the Saturday which is closest to that date.On that night bonfires are lit on river banks and people gather around them to celebrate the coming of the summer. Young girls weave wreathes from wild flowers and love herbs, with ribbons and a candle in the middle. The wreathes are then let off with the river current. If they are carried away, the girl will get married in the coming year but if a wreath gets entangled in the weeds or stopped in some other way its author will...
