Kupala Summer Solstice Floating Ritual Candle Kit

The celebration of the summer solstice when nights are the shortest. It was believed to be the only time of the year when the earth revealed its secrets. Ferns bloomed to mark places where its treasures were buried, the trees spoke and moved, and the wild witches gathered.

Many of the rites related to this holiday are connected with the role of water in fertility and ritual purification. Young people jump over the flames of bonfires in a ritual test of bravery and faith. The failure of a couple in love to complete the jump, while holding hands, is a sign of their destined separation. The fires were also used to burn herbs gathered in the previous year and various items of no further use, particularly those that had been blessed with holy water and could therefore not be discarded by normal means. The fires were never extinguished, but were always allowed to smoulder out.

Girls may float wreaths of flowers (often lit with candles) on rivers, and attempt to gain foresight into their romantic relationship fortune from the flow patterns of the flowers on the river. Men may attempt to capture the wreaths, in the hope of capturing the interest of the woman who floated it. There was also an ancient belief that on the eve of Ivan Kupala it would be the only time of year when ferns bloom. Prosperity, luck, discernment, and power befall whom ever finds a fern flower. Therefore, on that night, village folk roam through the forests in search of magical herbs, & especially, the elusive fern flower.

This mini floating wreath (if you will) kit can be put together with it’s offerings, and then jumped over it to prove your love, bravery, to bring sacrifice & acknowledgment to the upcoming end of the summer solstice & the upcoming harvest. May your families crops be plentiful and your world full of prosperity. This kit comes with almost everything you need to construct this candle, all you need to supply is the water!

Since the vintage floats are from the 60’s, we decided to go with fake flowers to keep with the “inflatable foot stool vibes” this also makes the whole kit reusable.

Please make sure to cover your candle with the lid when not in use to keep dust out of the top.

Each kit includes:

• Jar with screw lid

• Vintage Floating Candle Tray

• 10 vintage wicks (100 hrs of total burn time)

• Flowers

• Full size Kupala Ritual Oil

• 3 oz Holy Virgin Olive Oil from Jerusalem that has been double blessed in 2019 by a Slavic Priest from when I went to Blessing of the graves in Lac La Biche
• 8 ml dropper bottle of Holy Water that blessed in 2019 by a Slavic Priest from when I went to Blessing of the graves in Lac La Biche

• 3 dyes if you so wish to colour your water

• instructions

• matches

Since the vintage floats are from the 60’s, we decided to to continue on with that whole “inflatable foot stool vibe” & use plastic flowers. You will be able to use this candle again and again.

Only 15 were made & only 14 are for sale. When they are gone they are gone! Pairs beautifully with our Kupala Incense & Rushnyk Altar Cloths