Kupala Night

Kupala Night incense — a herbal, spicy scent of St John’s wort, oregano and yarrow. A modern revival of the ancient Ukrainian custom of cleansing the home with the smoke of herbs.

Kupala Night is the time when herbs reach the peak of their power. People set out to gather them at dawn, before the dew had lifted — in meadows, forests and mountain pastures, in places «where no rooster’s cry is heard».

The gathered herbs were not only dried for medicine — they were also burned. The smoke of Kupala herbs cleansed the home and drove away sickness and the evil eye. People fumigated the sick, and women in difficult labour. In the Hutsul region they smoked cattle to protect them from spells; in Polissia and Nadsiannia, cows were fumigated with the previous year’s herbs on the eve of the feast. The herbs were kept for the whole year — until the next St John’s Day.

St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Known in Ukraine as «Ivan’s herb». Blooms bright yellow from June. One of the chief protective charms of Kupala night — it warded off evil spirits and the evil eye.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare). Blooms pink-lilac from July. On Kupala it protected young women from impure forces. A symbol of a mother’s love and a child’s health.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Known as «the blood herb» — long used to staunch bleeding. Blooms in small white flowers from June. Woven into the Kupala wreath.

Burning time ~45 min per stick