Write the answers
Read the text and match the questions 1–7 with the paragraphs A–F. Type the numbers 1–7. There is one extra question.
- Why is Kupala Night a combination of traditions?
- Why do people go into forests at night?
- How do girls predict the future?
- What was the origin of the festival?
- What are traditional Kupala dishes?
- What items do people burn on Kupala Night?
- Why do people jump over bonfires?
A. Kupala Night is a traditional Slavic holiday. The festival originated as a pagan holiday. It was originally a summer solstice celebration. The summer solstice is the day with the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is usually on the 21st or the 22nd of June. — Question [ ].
B. This festival was later adopted into Christian tradition and related to John the Baptist. The Russian name of this holiday combines the name Ivan which stands for John and the Slavic word "kupala" that was a Slavic word for bathing. So this festival combines the Christian and pagan traditions. It is now celebrated on the 7th of July. — Question [ ].
C. Many of the rituals are connected with water. Girls wear flower wreaths on their heads. In the evening, they decorate the wreaths with burning candles and float them on rivers. That is a kind of divination to predict the future. The farther the wreath floats, the happier the girl will be. And the longer the candle burns, the longer will the girl live. — Question [ ].
D. Bonfires are typical for traditional festivals, and Kupala Night has its bonfire traditions, too. Young people light bonfires and jump over them for good luck. Young couples must jump holding hands to test their love. If they fail to jump, it's a sign of separation. — Question [ ].
E. The story goes that on the eve of Ivan Kupala one can find a fern flower. This flower brings luck and treasure to its owner. So on that night, people go into forests in search of this magical flower. This is the time when many young people find a partner for marriage. — Question [ ].
F. There are other Kupala traditions, too. People sing and do round dancing. At night they burn a straw dummy, or a scarecrow, which represents the sun. It is also important to burn a special Kupala tree or to sink it into a body of water. — Question [ ].