Chernihiv Region Charity
“Aratta”

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August 18, 2017.
Ivan Kupala on the Blue Lakes.

The members of the Rehabilitation Theatre "Dyvosad", parents and volunteers decided not to lag behind their traditions and spend the best time on the Blue lakes and celebrate Ivan Kupala's folk holiday. We decided to set up tents, with a compulsory big fireplace, over which the girls and boys would jump alone or in pairs. The Kupala fire, according to the legend, has a great magic power. Everyone jumps over it, thus passing a peculiar ritual of purification. In addition, unmarried girls dreamed how to let the wreaths on water and lit candles. It is known to folk beliefs, if the wreath floats well and the candle is brightly lit, the girl will marry, and if it spins on the spot - then she will still be alone, and if it drowns, she will not marry at all. If the wreath sailed far and came to a shore, then it means that, the girl will marry in that place...

As planned, the camp "Fern’s Blossom" began on July 1. It based in a very picturesque place of the Ripky district (the so-called "Polissya Maldives"). Life in tents and cooking on fire, participation in the ceremony of Kupala Festival, interesting communication, as well as various master classes, flash mobs, quests and entertainment - such was this year's patriotic camp for special members of Rehabilitation Theatre "Dyvosad", their parents , volunteers of Chernihiv region charitable organization "Aratta". Part of the expenses of the organization were covered in the frame of the project ‘’Productive Life!" supported by the European Union in partnership with the Ukrainian Independent Centre for Political Research and the Union of Working Samaritans - Georgia (organization of the transportation), part of the mini-grant of the Department of Children, Family and Youth of Chernihiv City Council (materials for creative workshops). The culmination of the summer camp was at the sixth International Festival of the Author's song "On the Blue Lakes", which began on July 7 with a magnificent performance "On Ivana Kupala" of the Chernihiv Rehabilitation Theatre “Dyvosad” from the charity organization "Aratta" (artistic director Iryna Pisnya).

There is a belief in the blossom of the fern, which magically appears on the Kupala’s night. Anyone who finds a magic plant will have all the desires; he or she will be happy, healthy and rich.

We did not succeed in finding the flowers, but together we felt happy even stronger than before and richer in a new loyal friends.

We are grateful to Philip Edmonds, Director of the British Humanitarian Aid for the assistance with the camp equipment and the President of the Charitable Foundation “Sofia Rusova” Ivan Chaus for providing a comfortable place for our camp.