On July 6, the Culture and Education Center KROK and the Ukrainian Initiative in the Czech Republic in conjunction with Czech organizations held an event in Prague to mark Ivanа Kupala, a traditional Slavic holiday going back to pre-Christian times. The event’s objective was to support defenders of Ukraine.
The festivities included singing, wreath twining, a charitable craft fair, contests for kids, and other activities.
The holiday – pagan fertility rite – was initially called “Kupala” and celebrated on the shortest night of the year. It was adapted into the Orthodox Christian (Julian) calendar by connecting it with St. John’s Day, June 24, which falls on July 7 in the modern Gregorian calendar.
The Culture and Education Center KROK was established in 2017. The center’s activities focus on the education and training of school-age children. Qualified Ukrainian instructors teach children to read and write in Ukrainian, and instill love and respect for Ukrainian culture and traditions.
The Ukrainian Initiative in the Czech Republic is a non-profit organization that aims to support and develop Ukrainian culture within the European and Czech contexts. It was founded in 1993. It is a member of the European Congress of Ukrainians and the Ukrainian World Congress.
