Despite war-time restrictions, Ukrainians marked midsummer with festivals that featured frenetic folk dancing, flower decoration and jumping over bonfires.
Ukrainian young women dressed in traditional clothing dance under heavy rain at a traditional Midsummer Night celebration near capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, June 23, 2024. The age-old pagan festival is still celebrated in Ukraine amid the third year of Russia-Ukraine war. KHOTIV, Ukraine —
Twisting soft twigs around leaves and flowers, Kateryna Harnik made floral crowns for herself and friends.“People always like to get together. And in times like this, with this terrible war going on, we still need the opportunity to come together, to bond together,” she said, as a group of women in traditional costumes took the nearby stage to sing in harmony.
“So it’s important to remember our traditions, to make sure that we remember our heritage and that we won’t let anyone take it away from us,” she said. The festival of Ivana Kupala is similar to celebrations for St John’s Eve or San Juan in many Western countries — a fusion of fire, water and nature that ties pagan traditions to the Christian calendar.
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