Thursday, July 7, 2016

Kupala Night in Ukraine

A picture made available on July 7, 2016 shows Ukrainians jumping over a fire during the traditional Slavic celebrations of Ivana Kupala in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 6, 2016. Ivana Kupala is celebrated, during the Summer Solstice, on the shortest night of the year, marking the beginning of summer and is celebrated in Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Russia on the night of July 6. People sing and dance around bonfires, playing games and performing traditional rituals. Young people jump over bonfires in order to test their bravery and couples holding hands jump over the flames to test their love for each other, if the couple does not successfully manage the jump over the fire, it is predicted that the couple will split up. Traditionally children and young unmarried women wear wreaths of wild flowers around their heads to symbolize purity. EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY

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