Noc Świetojańska
St. John's the Baptist Night
by Adam Kilian

Noc Świętojańska, or Sobótka, is an old pagan celebration of fire and water, as well as of love, fertility, and the happiness associated with creating new life. It is celebrated on the shortest night of the year, the night of June 23 rd. Before Catholicism, the magical night was called Kupała’s Night to honor Kupała, a Slavic goddess of love and fertility.

The celebrations started with making a bonfire on a hill or in a meadow. Young adults from the surrounding neighborhoods would gather around the fire. To impress and amuse the girls and others, the boys would jump over the fire while the girls – maidens – danced around it wearing white dresses and flower wreaths upon their heads. There were always villagers playing instruments and singing.

After the fire celebration, the girls set their wreaths on little boards, put a lit candle in the middle, and then placed their crafts in a river. If a girl’s candle stopped burning or her wreath drowned, it meant that that girl would not find a boyfriend or get married in the coming year. A wreath that remained afloat with its candle burning, alternatively, would bring the girl good fortune and love. It was considered of best luck, however, if the boy who the girl had secretly loved fished-out the wreath from the water.

Later during Noc Świętojańska, the bravest individuals would venture into the forest to seek out a special fern flower that blooms only once a year, on Noc Świętojańska. It was believed that the flower had magical powers, and anyone who found it would obtain immense happiness, wisdom, love, and abilities to find buried treasures.

With the Church’s acknowledgement of Catholicism in the 10th century, this pagan celebration was converted into St. John’s Night from Kupała’s Night. For centuries thereafter, the Church tried to stamp out the traditions associated with the pagan holiday, although failed; it is difficult to erase a part of a nation’s culture. The day after Noc Świętojańska – the 24 th of June – is St. John’s Feast, celebrated in church as the Day of the Holy Water.

Today, in many parts of Poland, young people still celebrate Sobótka with fireworks and fun celebrations to welcome summer (and desired vacation!).

Works Consulted:
Hryń-Kuśmierek, Renata, and Zuzanna Śliwa. Encyklopedia tradycji polskich. Poznań, Poland: Podsiedlik-Raniowski i Spółka, 1990;
Ogrodowska Barbara, Polish Rituals of the Annual Cycle, Warsaw , State Ethnographic Museum, 2001.