Summary page for Kupala, the Slavic god of sun, summer and summer solstice, fertility, and harvest.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Sun, Summer, Fertility, Abundance, Harvest
Archetype:
Love Deity: Associated with love, fertility, and marriage rites.
Harvest Deity: Celebrated for bringing abundance and the successful harvest.
Sun God: Represented the sun’s power during the summer solstice.
Fire Deity: Linked to fire rituals symbolizing purification and fertility.
Death and Rebirth Deity: Effigy burning symbolized the cycle of life and death.
Protector Deity: Protected crops from bad weather.
Group:
Kupala is one of the many sun gods in Slavic culture. His sun was the sun of the summer solstice.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Kupala (Купала), Kupalo (Купало)
Slav: Kupala, Kupala, Kupalo
Ukrainian: Kupalo (Купало), Kupaylo (Купайло), Kupayla (Купайла)
Other Pantheons:
Roman and Greek: Apollo the god of the sun and the solar cycle.
Sun God: Kupala was known as a god of the sun and light.
God of Harvest: Revered for ensuring a bountiful harvest and prosperity.
Fertility Deity: Kupala facilitated fertility in both crops and human unions.
Fire and Water Rituals: Central to Kupala’s festival, symbolizing purification and life.
Protector of Agriculture: He protected crops from bad weather and ensured their growth.
Summer Solstice Figure: Celebrated during the summer solstice for invoking abundance and fertility.
Promoter of Love and Marriage: His rituals encouraged unions and marriage through fire-jumping traditions.
Parents:
The parentage is not commonly agreed on by the scholars.
Semargl: god of Vegetation, Agriculture, Fire, Moon, Hearth
Kupalnitsa : goddess of lakes, rivers
Siblings:
Kostroma: goddess of Fertility, Spring, Love
Consorts:
Kostroma: goddess of Fertility, Spring, Love
Some attribute Morana to be his consort as goddess of death Slavs burned both of their effigies during the summer solstice festival. Others list Marzanna to be his consort. Some believe Marzanna and Morana to be the same deity.
Morana: goddess of Nightmares,Disease, Death
Marzanna : goddess of Fruit
Children:
None Known
Kupala was depicted as a joyful and beautiful god.
He wore light, flowing clothing, holding flowers and field fruits.
Kupala often wore a floral wreath made of kupalnitsy (bathing flowers).
The wreath symbolized summer, fertility, and the harvest.
Effigies of Kupala were made of straw and shaped like a human figure.
The effigies were burned or thrown into water during rituals.
Fire and water were key elements in Kupala’s artistic depictions.
Burning wheels symbolized the sun and were rolled down hills in his honor.
The festival took place during the summer’s peak, emphasizing abundance and nature’s lushness.
Weapons:
No weapons are associated with Kupala in any sources.
Kupala was depicted as a peaceful deity, focused on fertility and nature.
Sacred Animals:
No sacred animals, birds, or creatures were associated with Kupala.
Kupala was more closely tied to elements like fire, water, and plants.
Symbolism:
Fire and Water: Fire represented purification, and water symbolized fertility and life.
Union of Fire and Water: Represented the procreative force of nature.
Burning Wheel: A blazing wheel symbolized the sun and its life-giving power.
Flowers and Plants: The bloom of plants and herbs symbolized fertility and healing.
Flower Wreaths: Kupala was often symbolized by flowers and floral wreaths. Fresh flower wreaths were used to predict fertility and marriage fortune.
Celestial Associations:
Sun God: Kupala was associated with the sun and light.
Blazing Wheel Symbol: His rituals featured a burning wheel symbolizing the sun’s cycle.
Summer Solstice: He represented the sun’s peak power during the summer solstice.
Longest Day of the Year: Kupala was celebrated during the summer solstice, the longest day.
Realms:
Elemental Realms: He represented the balance of fire (purification) and water (fertility).
Earthly Realm: Kupala was tied to fields, crops, and agricultural land.
Protection of Crops: He protected crops and ensured their successful growth and ripening.
Realm of Plants and Herbs: He was connected to nature’s peak bloom during summer. Herbs gathered during his festival were considered to have special properties.
Worship Places:
Natural Settings: Rituals took place in natural settings, not temples, near water and fields.
Worship Near Water: Kupala was worshiped near lakes, rivers, and ponds, especially during the summer solstice.
Water Offerings: Sacrifices were made near water to ensure a bountiful harvest.
Rituals & Divinations:
Union of Fire and Water: Fire (purification) and water (fertility) symbolized the union of heavenly and earthly forces.
Purification with Fire and Water: Fire and water rituals were used to purify fields, livestock, and crops.
Effigy Burning or Water Rituals: A straw effigy of Kupala was burned or thrown into water for purification.
Fire Jumping Rituals: Young people jumped over fires, symbolizing good fortune and potential marriage.
Fire Divination: Sparks from fires foretold couples’ future together if they jumped the fire while holding hands.
Divination with Wreaths: Girls used fresh flower wreaths for divination, predicting romantic fortunes based on how the wreaths floated.
Blindfolded Wreath Ritual: Blindfolded girls distributed wreaths to determine marriage fortune based on their freshness.
Festivals:
Summer Solstice Festival: Kupala was celebrated during the longest days of the year.
Festival Dates: Celebrations were held on July 23–24 (Old Calendar) and June 23–24 (New Calendar).
Start of Harvest: The festival marked the beginning of the harvest, with sacrifices made for crop protection.
Continued Slavic Traditions: Despite Christian influence, Kupala’s fire and water rituals persisted in some Slavic villages.
Ivan Kupala Day: The festival merged with St. John the Baptist’s feast day after Christianity’s adoption.
Kupala and Marena: The burning or drowning of their effigies symbolized the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
* Some believe these are effigies of Marena, while others believe that these are effigies of Kostroma who was later renamed into Marya.
Summer Solstice Festival: Kupala’s rituals during the solstice celebrated love, fertility, and the sun’s life-giving power.
Procreative Deity: Kupala’s mythology included the union of fire (sun) and water, symbolizing life creation.
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
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- A. N. Nikolayeva, Slavic Myths (Russian) Славянские мифы Мифы мира. Самые сказочные истории человечества (Bombora Izdatelstvo, 2023) Pages 65-66, 89
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- Editors of Spadok.Org.UA, Pantheon of Slavic Gods (Ukraine) Пантеон язичницьких богів слов’ян (Spadok (Ukrainian), August 17, 2020)