Kupala Night, Midsummer's Eve, Midsummer's Night - the magic of the shortest night of the year
- Damian Brzeski
- May 15
- 6 min read
What is Kupala Night really? The solstice, magic, love and… witches – all intertwined into one extraordinary night that has fired up the imagination for centuries.
Find out why fire and water have extraordinary power then, what St. John the Baptist has to do with this holiday and where the legend of the fern flower comes from.
In this article, you will dive into the most beautiful traditions of the shortest night of the year – and maybe you will want to experience it all over again.
When is Midsummer's Night 2025? Date and length of the shortest night of the year
Wondering when exactly Midsummer's Eve is in 2025? We've got the facts for you - and a handful of interesting facts that might surprise you.
Summer Solstice 2025 – When is it?
In 2025, the summer solstice , the moment when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the day lasts the longest, falls on Saturday, June 21. That's when the Sun stays with us for almost 17 hours before slowly giving way to twilight.
Interestingly, the summer solstice does not have a single, fixed date – this is because the solar year (the time it takes the Earth to orbit the Sun) lasts a little longer than 365 days.
That's exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds. That's why we add February 29 every four years - so the calendar can catch up with reality.
Midsummer’s Night 2025 – when do we celebrate it?
Traditionally, St. John's Night falls on the night of June 23-24 – then it is celebrated on the eve of St. John the Baptist. However, the pagan Kupala Night , associated with the summer solstice, was celebrated exactly on the shortest night of the year.
Therefore, in 2025 it will be the night of June 21-22 (i.e. Saturday to Sunday) – the perfect moment to combine old magic with weekend freedom.
How long will this magical night last?
In 2025, Kupala Night will last about 6 hours and 30 minutes – shorter than many a movie marathon. June 21, on the other hand, will be exceptionally long – the Sun will remain in the sky for almost 16 hours and 47 minutes .
Of course, the exact length of day and night will vary slightly depending on the location in Poland – the further north we go, the longer we will enjoy the light.
It's just a few hours, but full of dances, bonfires, songs, fortune telling and... maybe the first loving glances. A short night - great magic.
Pagan Roots – Nature Worship and the Solstice
This special holiday falls on the summer solstice – the shortest night of the year, when the days are the longest and the sun seems reluctant to set.
In the past, it was called differently: in Silesia it was called Sobótka, in Mazovia – Noc Kupały, and in Mazury – Palinocka. Regardless of the name, it was a night of miracles , during which fire and water had special power.
Kupala Night is a holiday with pagan roots. The Slavs worshiped the sun, water and the forces of nature. It was a night of purification and rebirth - a joyful welcome to summer, a celebration of love, fertility and unity with nature.
Christian Interpretation – St. John the Baptist
Later, the Church tried to give this night a new meaning by assigning it to the eve of St. John the Baptist (June 23–24), which gave rise to the name Midsummer Night . Thus, magic and religion joined forces – and people continued to celebrate, mixing old beliefs with new symbolism.
Fire, Water and… Witches
The most important were fire and water. Huge bonfires were lit, people danced around them, sang, and the brave jumped over the flames. Jumping over the fire was supposed to bring health and happiness, and for couples - a successful relationship.
The heat from the fires drove away evil spirits and... witches, of whom there were supposedly especially many on this night. Some villages even organized symbolic "witch hunts" - with torches, noise and laughter.
Water Rituals – Baths, Dew and Purification
Water also had its place – people bathed at dawn, collected dew from the meadows and washed their faces in it. There was more to it than just folk fun – it was believed that water from this night healed, rejuvenated, brought luck. Even animals were washed with dew – all in order to survive another year in health.
Plants and herbs full of magic - Mugwort, St. John's wort and their secret power
There was no shortage of magical herbs either. Mugwort and St. John's wort were the queens of the night - they were supposed to protect against spells, diseases and... witches. Women girded themselves with wreaths of mugwort, and the collected herbs were dried and stored - they were later useful as medicine or protective incense.
Ritual of throwing wreaths - fortune telling from the river current
The most romantic moment? Throwing wreaths on the water . The girls would braid them from flowers and herbs, add a candle or a torch, and let them float downstream.
And bachelors... lurked in hiding to catch the most beautiful one. If a boy caught the wreath of a girl he liked - it could be a sign of a future together.
Night walks and youthful infatuations
Couples who found each other would often disappear for a "night walk" - and that's how love was born. It was one of the few occasions in the year when young people could get to know each other without the supervision of the elders. Tradition gave them permission for a moment of intimacy.
What about this fern flower? - Legend and symbolism of happiness
Legend has it that the fern blooms only once a year – on Kupala Night . Whoever finds its flower will gain wealth, happiness and secret knowledge. Although no one has ever seen it (because it's a legend!), young people flocked to the forest in search of it. Sometimes it was an excuse to... spend a romantic moment with their chosen one.
Traditional entertainment and staying up until dawn
It was impossible to sleep! Whoever fell asleep was to be met with a series of misfortunes. So they kept watch – they sang songs, told fortunes, threw a shoe behind themselves (to find out where their future husband would come from), counted the sparks from the bonfire. There was joy, community, laughter. And a bit of competition – who would make the most beautiful wreath, who would jump higher over the fire?
Kupala Night today
Even though times have changed, the magic of this night still attracts . In Krakow, Warsaw and Wroclaw, large events take place - festivals, concerts, wreath shows and joint bonfires. The most famous are Krakow's Wianki - on the Vistula River, at the foot of Wawel, they have been attracting thousands of people for years.
There are also lanterns that float into the sky, and fireworks. A bit of modernity, a bit of tradition – but the spirit of Sobótka is still alive.
Village Midsummer's Eve and Nationalist celebrations
In many villages and towns, small-scale Saturday parties are still organized. Sometimes, community centers invite folk groups, there are handicraft fairs, and bonfires.
And Slavic Native Americans celebrate Kupala Night in a way that is as close as possible to the ancient rituals – with offerings to the deities, songs and dances by the fire.
European equivalents of Midsummer's Night
Similar holidays are celebrated by Lithuanians ( Joninės ), Latvians ( Jāņi ), Scandinavians ( Midsommar , Juhannus ) and even Spaniards ( Noche de San Juan ).
Bonfires, jumping over flames, throwing wreaths, and fortune telling are everywhere. It is a common European tradition of celebrating the beginning of summer – joy, love, and the forces of nature.
Kupala Night is not just about folklore and old beliefs. It is a story about our culture, about the need to be together, about dreams and hope.
It’s a time when we allow ourselves to believe in magic, even if only for one night a year. And maybe that’s why this tradition has survived for so many centuries – because deep down we all need a little magic.
And you? Will you be floating a wreath this year or looking for a fern flower?
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