Kalyna from Valga shares Kupala traditions at the Midsummer bonfire in Lüllemäe

In June 2026 the Kalyna Ukrainian society and Saturday school from Valga, a member organisation of the Association, took part in the Midsummer bonfire (Jaanituli) at the Lüllemäe culture house in Valga County.

Among the groups from towns and villages across the county, Kalyna's performance stood out for the audience: adults and children presented Ukrainian folk costumes, short sketches and old customs associated with the feast of Ivan Kupala. Girls wove wreaths of wild flowers and, as tradition has it, floated them on the water.

The Kalyna community treated guests to Ukrainian food, including Cossack kulish, shpundra, cherry varenyky, salo sandwiches and uzvar. The society thanks the organisers for the invitation, guests for the warm welcome, and its own craftswomen Nataliia Pashkevych, Yevheniia Matveieva, Liubov Beida, Olena Kalyna and Hanna Maslianikova for the workshop and the food.

More photos are on the Kalyna society's Facebook page.