Ivanov Day in Finland
Description:
Anyone who has ever visited Finland knows that the people of this country do not differ in their special temperament. Finns are never in a hurry, but it is not their style to be late. For them, punctuality is the key to success, and the absence of emotions is a sign of good tone. But there are days when the Finns, forgetting all decency, start, as they say, in all seriousness. This happens on December 6 - Independence Day and June 22 - on Ivanov Day. However, the winter fun clearly loses on the background of the summer holiday. And that's not surprising. After all, the day of Ivan Kupala is the beginning of summer, and there is no better time for the northern country.
For Ivanovo day Finns prepare in advance. In about a week. These days, the streets of cities literally drown in birch foliage. Birch wreaths or branches can be found everywhere: in churches, shops and in private homes. Traditionally, birch symbolizes hospitality. And if the owner decorated the door of his dwelling with a branch of this tree, then every traveler will be received here with cordiality.
Today, birch is considered a symbol of Finland. But there were times when three trees claimed the place of the leader: mountain ash, mountain ash and birch. And the most serious rival was the ash. She, as well as birch, was attributed special properties. It was believed to protect the house and its inhabitants from dangers, evil spirits and diseases. But the victory in the dispute was won by birch, crushing competitors by mass. After all, most Finnish forests are birch groves.
In the XIX century, thanks to Zachary Tapelius, birch, in addition to protective, acquired romantic properties. In his fairy tale “Birch and the Star”, the writer told about two lost boys who found their way home thanks to birch trees that grew up in their garden. The fate of the tree was even more successful. It became a symbol of loyalty in lovers. Passionate Finnish guys, confessing their love, put a ring of birch bark on the finger of the chosen one. This tradition is still preserved as a game or a joke. Modern Finns with the help of a birch ring make a lover offer. As a sign of consent, the girl also gives a ring. Most often, the exchange of birch jewelry is made on the eve of Ivan Kupala. This is considered a good omen, and even better, to play a wedding on Ivanov day.
However, single girls have something to do on holiday. Unhappy in love, in order to bewitch the chosen one, it is recommended at midnight on Ivan Kupala three times to pledge around the rye field. Preferably naked. While the naked beauty is running around in circles, the lover will see her in a dream, and in the morning will understand that she is the only and unique one he has been looking for all his life. Inexperienced and timid girls should limit themselves to collecting flowers. Tradition says that if a young woman in Ivanov day picks nine different flowers and puts them under the pillow, then at night she will dream of a future spouse.
But these are all lyrical digressions, back to the queen of the holiday - birch. Her triumph comes in the evening of Ivanovo day.
By this time, all the inhabitants of the city, if it is small, gather near the river, where there is already a huge cross, folded of birch branches and decorated with red ribbons. According to tradition, the citizens should jointly raise it and thereby announce the opening of the holiday. Then the turn of the most fun part of the holiday - the dancer.
The main part of the festival is the raising of the Finnish flag and the burning of Koki. Koka is called a cone-shaped structure composed of dry birch branches. From time immemorial, even in the time of the Swedes, the inhabitants of villages and cities lit bonfires on the river. It was believed that fire devours evil, and water carries his ashes away.
Today, the burning of Coke is just one of the most beautiful elements of the holiday. As soon as the fire burns out, the Finns sit down at tables and fry sausages or bake pancakes. On the day of Ivan Kupala, everyone has the chance to try the most delicious pancake in the world, that is, a pancake of their own preparation. The attraction with pancakes is usually successful only with visitors who first suffer with a heavy pan, and then choke on a burnt pancake. The Finns themselves prefer to fry sausages. Simpler and more satisfying. The festive dinner is abundantly washed down with everything that has a degree. From a little intoxicated cider to heavily drunken vodka. The walk on Ivan Kupala continues throughout the night. And in the morning, the tired country celebrates the next holiday - the day of the Finnish flag. Full of national consciousness, but very tired citizens spend this day quietly, in Finnish, without fuss, without haste, without emotions.