Since
the medieval period, church and state officials have attempted banning
it. Even Hetman Ivan Skoropadsky issued a decree forbidding it in 1719.
The Soviets tried, unsuccessfully, to make it into a “Day of Soviet Youth”.
Despite all the attempts at eradicating one of their oldest living traditions,
Ukrainians around the world maintain and continue to celebrate the ancient
holiday of Ivan Kupalo.
With
roots spanning to Ukraine’s pre-Christian period, the Kupalo festival,
(called Sobitka west of the Carpathians), was celebrated to mark the summer
solstice and the beginning of the harvest season. In ancient times, Kupalo
was worshipped as the god of love and fertility. Superstition had it that
only on this day would the earth reveal where her treasures lay. Apparently
ferns blooming on Kupalo marked the spot where one should start digging.
The
festival of Ivan Kupalo holds a unique place in the hearts of Ukrainians,
especially for the young and single. In past times, unmarried men and women
would sing songs and play games, many with sexual overtones. Couples would
jump over a bonfire, hoping to find happiness together. Later, girls would
throw garlands made of leaves and flowers into nearby streams or ponds,
hoping to read their fortunes from the way their garlands flowed (or sank).
The
Ukrainian National Federation’s Toronto Branch has been holding its own
Kupalo celebrations every year in early July at the UNF “Sokil” resort
and campground. Situated on the wind-swept western shores of Lake Simcoe,
the “Sokil” grounds offer a picturesque backdrop for the holiday.
After
the singing the Ukrainian national anthem, UNF Toronto president Jerry
Kowal greeted the audience. During his brief welcoming remarks, Kowal thanked
his second-in-command, branch VP Bohdan Terefenko. Kowal noted that Terefenko,
along with a dedicated group of workers, have done much in the past year
to overhaul the camp’s infrastructure, including relocating the old trailer
park to an improved and expanded setting.
Next,
author Petro Hrynchyshyn, who acted as MC for the proceedings, introduced
the bandurists and vocalists of the Dniprovi Khvyli ensemble. The boys’
and girls’ gifted playing and singing is belied by their age, thnks to
their dedicated artistic director Stephania Plotnyk. In a move that befitted
the event, Dniprovi Khvyli opened with the popular Ukrainian folk song
“Ivanku, Ivanku”.
One
of the evening’s highlights was witnessing the deft fingering by accordionist
Valeri Samoilenko. His rousing performance of “Kyiv Waltz” had the dancers
of the Ukraina ensemble pairing up and waltzing backstage. Valeri Movchan,
who together with his wife Lesia directs Ukraina, could be seen suppressing
a smile. If it wasn’t for the sand on the beach that served as a seating
area, many of the audience members tapping their toes in time to Samoilenko’s
playing probably would have been up and dancing too.
However,
many would have felt embarrassed at their own efforts at dancing after
seeing Ukraina, the festival’s next performers. It was just too hard to
keep up with the flowing mass of vibrant colours moving rapidly on stage.
Sensei
Mykola Shyshko, who runs the Shotokan Karate Institute out of the UNF Toronto
Branch, wowed the crowd with his acrobatic skills. By the looks of their
moves, his students will soon be catching up with him.
Though
this writer was unable to stay for the traditional lighting of the bonfire,
it created a beautiful sight from across the small bay that forms “Sokil’s”
beach area. The reflections of the bonfire’s tall flames off Simcoe’s waves
created a magical, shimmering surface, adding to the mystical atmosphere
of Kupalo eve.
–
Report by Petro Lopata