Note 2 — PAGAN SONGS[1]

Kupalo is the dragon-frost—Muroze, or Koschey; he died, and as snow-water floated down the streams. Symbolically, the Ukrainians, on the day of Ivan-Kupalo, throw his image into the water, and maidens fling garlands on the river and judge of their fortunes by the progress of the wreaths.

The priests, being unable to rid the peasants’ minds of “Kupalo’s Day,” adopted the simple expedient of bracketing him with the Christian St. John (Ivan). The 24th of June (July 7) is the latter’s feast day, but the country folk call it still “The Day of the Bathing of John.” In the Ukraine on that day maidens sing special songs, and most engagements are or were celebrated on this feast.