Ukrainian revellers jump over fire to celebrate ancient pagan festival

7 July 2017 11:07 AM IST

The age old pagan Slav festival is still celebrated in Ukraine. (Photo: AP)
People wait for their turn to get a free cotton candy at the Midsummer night celebration, an age-old pagan Slav festival, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, July 6, 2017. (Photo: AP)
Many people believe that jumping over the fire will cleanse them of evil spirits. (Photo: Instagram / dityazemli)
Ukrainian young people jump over a fire at a traditional Midsummer Night celebration in the capital Kiev late Thursday, July 6, 2017. (Photo: AP)
A couple dance during the Midsummer Night celebration in Kiev, Ukraine, late Thursday, July 6, 2017. (Photo: AP)
Ukrainian girls believe that ages-old ceremony would help them to find fiancees, as the pagan Slav festival is still celebrated in Ukraine late Thursday, July 6, 2017. (Photo: AP)
Wearing the traditional embroidered clothing known as vyshyvanka, women float wreathes on Ivana Kupala Day. (Photo: Twitter /John J Brumerâ€)
A girl with a ritual garland on her head smile during a traditional Midsummer Night celebration, in the capital Kiev, Ukraine, late Thursday, July 6, 2017. (Photo: AP)

The age old pagan Slav festival is still celebrated in Ukraine. (Photo: AP)