Summer from Kupala to harvest
Summer has always been a special time in folk culture – a period of full life, abundance, and gratitude for the harvest. Nature reaches its peak then: fields ripple with golden grain, fruits ripen in gardens, and the days are long and bright. It's no wonder that colourful festivals, songs, and rites often accompany summer in many folk traditions.
Poland – Midsummer and harvest songs
In Polish tradition, summer began with the festival of Kupala Night, and later Sobótka. Fires lit by rivers and ponds symbolised the sun and purification. Girls would float wreaths on the water, and boys would jump over the flames, believing in the power of fire and water. It was a time of love, fortune-telling, and joy of life…
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