n Transcarpathia there is an interesting ancient custom associated with fire. On July 12, on the feast of Peter and Paul, in mountain villages of Vyshka, Lyuta and Tykhiy in Velyky Berezny district, every year the large fires are laid out in forest clearings and in remote tracts. They call these campfires Subitkas. Their ignition, by belief, symbolizes the purification of human and also drives away evil spirits from the village.

However it is not just a fire, but a whole construction that is prepared in advance by local guys. At first they look for beautiful places on the top of mountain – meadow that is well seen from the village. In particular, in Vyshka village these are the highest tops in tracts of Magerka, Zagordy, Plyshka, Gorbky and Chertizh. From tall young beeches they make poles at least 5 m high, burying them to the ground by one meter; the top is connected with a thick wire, with 2-3 meter long cross-bars, onto which dry birch branches are put on. At the end it is a conical or trapezoidal construction, ready for a solemn firing.

Previously Subitkas were prepared for a week. The first who were building them were shepherds who not only grazed their cattle, but also cleared their pastures to increase its area from old trees and bushes. Nowadays not every yard has cattle and also the need for its group grazing has gone, but the tradition to fire Subitkas is alive.