The Yakut people of the Sakha Republic
celebrate a solstitial ceremony, Yhyakh,
involving tethering a horse to a pole and
circle dancing around it. Betting on
reindeer or horse racing would often take
place afterwards. The traditions are
derived from Tengriism, the ancient sun
religion of the region which has since been
driven out by the Russian Empire, Russian
Orthodox Church, and finally the
Communist Party. Nowadays, old
traditions have been encouraged, they
have re-emerged and been revived,
adding to them some modern
connotations.
Although Midsummer Day was originally
celebrated throughout European
countries, its observance also extended to
the Americas in the post-colonial era, and
now it’s a worldwide event, becoming part
of our rich and ever-expanding global
cultural heritage.
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