8 Kolobrzeska, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Kupała Night, an Old Slavic holiday associated with the solstice, falling on the shortest night of the year, is the oldest of the cyclical events organized by the Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica. On that shortest night - the night of the victorious sun, the Slavs burned piles on the hills and held games and games in large numbers. Fire and water play a great role in these customs. Herbs were thrown into the fire, and then, believing in its cleansing power, one jumped through it. Water had a similar meaning as fire that night. A bath on a breakthrough night cleared of evil powers, gave new strength, health, and ensured happiness. The open-air event Night Kupały - is the oldest of the museum events. Its history is connected with the beginnings of the museum. The first event took place in 1969 on the Ostrów Lednicki island. In 1973, the area in the Small Open-Air Museum, in front of the ferry crossing to the island, where the events take place until today, became the new venue for the event.
