Witch’s Tears

“Witch’s Tears” — 30×40 in, oil, mixed media.

This painting, “Witch’s Tears,” deeply references the Ivan Kupala Festival, which Slavic tribes celebrated on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. During this short summer night, ancient customs and beliefs prevailed where ritual among the wild tribes of the Black Sea coast was a custom where a firstborn maiden was chosen, believed to be endowed with the gift of prophecy by the devil himself. A similar custom was practiced in Polesia, where the most beautiful maiden was adorned with flowers and compelled to prophesy. Slavs also believed that on Kupala, one could identify a witch, especially among those who refused to celebrate. There’s even mention of sacrificing girls to water lizards. Furthermore, it was believed that on this night, ferns would bloom with a marvelous red-pink glow, and whoever found this flower was considered lucky.