Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24

SNS BIRTH" and throughout
medieval Europe his day was especially joyful
Falling on June "a the old Pagan rites Of mid
summer are sometimes curiously entwined with
ceremonies ordained by the church. giving rise
to peculiarly interesting superstitions and GUS
toms.
In old heather worship, at the midsummer
solstice, great fires formed permanent feature,
while their counterpart is found IN the bon
fires that blazed on st. Johns eve from the
north Of Scotland to the south Of Spain and far
into interior Europe.
ST. JOHNS DAY FIRES.
These fires we're not individual. but belonged
to each township, while every citizen felt Q
pride in contributing fuel for their burning.
From these boons or kindly gifts most writer's
think bon is derived; others from bon, good.
One quaint old writer is at some length to
prove his derivation Of bon from bone:
In the worship Of ST. John the people walked
at home and made these manner Of tyres; one
was clene bone and no woode, and that is called
bone tyre; another ia clene woode and no
bones, and that is called q woode tyre for peo-
pie to sit and wake thereby.
Tine thyrde is made Of woode and bones, and
iscalled Saynte Johnanny's Eyre. Wyse men
knoweth that Dragons hateth the stencil OF
burning bones, and therefore they gathered as
many as they might find and burned them. The
second tyre of woode shall be seen far and be-
tokeneth that st. John was q lamp Of light
unto his people,
Lighting the bonfire at sunset st. Johns
eve was an act Of great solemnity and intrusted
to some one high in authority. The fuel was
always blessed by the priest. who was frequently
the chief actor in the scene. The cheerful
blaze served the double purpose of keeping off
evil spirits and keeping up the spirits Of the
watchers. Evil was abroad and the powers Of
enchantment loosened, 80 the Eyre was goode
to wake thereby"
Traces Of eastern fire worship are found in
the practice Of leaping and dancing in circles
around the fire and in carrying off pieces OF
burning brands to kindle the home fire as pro-
lection against evil
publication; he who came through unsinged
was free for another twelve months from
"plague, devil and dragons"
In Pagan ceremonies the fire wheel typified
the suns revolution from the summer to the
winter solstice. declining daily in power.
This wheel was very common on the Rhine
borders, where St. Johns eve was celebrated and
the most popular festivity next TO the bonfire.
WHEEL OF FIRE.
A large wheel wrapped In straw and set on
fire was started down from a high hill and as it
rolled was followed by shouting crowd Of
men, women and children.
II tue Wueel ran DlaZlnS into the river GOOD
vintage was sure to follow, but should it turn
aside from its course the fire die out before
reaching low ground some direful catastrophe
threatened.
The custom Of keeping vigil st. Johns eve
arose partly from the belief that while sleeping
the soul had freedom from the body and power
to visit the scene Of future death.
Those wishing. to know who would die in the
coming year had only to watch on the church
porch at midnight. when a shadowy procession
would file by, each knocking on the church
door. Frequently the curious watcher recog-
variably followed in the twelvemonth. An old
Dutch proverb runs, HE has passed St.
Johns night" whenever one has been particu-
larly wakeful.
Through the power Of St. John many who
are held unrighteouslv in the bond CT enchant-
ment are released for the time between mid
night and sunrise.
In the Alhambra Boabdil holds shadow v
court and Spain is once more under Moorish
sovereignty His faithful Moors leave the
treasure they guard and swarm to pay him
homage; then mines Of riches are open to him
who has this talisman of solomon.
BY judicious use of plants trimmed under
certain charms common mortals can keep
aloof from harm intended by witches and wiz
ards who are evilly disposed.
One old couplet runs:
u .,Xesryain; Grow's,fcot. Johnswort. Dill.
THE MAGIC POWER OF FERN SEED.
Ordinary fern seed is traditional in its power
to render the wearer invisible. MANY fail
simply through neglect OF gathering-if the
word be admissible-the seed correctly The
plant should never be touched by the hand, but
the seed allowed to drop Of its own accord into
dish. while the patient watcher solemnizes
the waiting hours by special charms and
adjurations. The operation is somewhat
tedious. but, If successful has never been
known to fail
Five-eaf clover is likewise magical in bring
ing good luck to the wearer.
All kinds of recipes were known to brew love
potions that would kindle fame In the cold
heart or make the sluggish heart beat faster
Sometimes the fairies invoked were not
kind and played all sorts of pranks upon
d5spairing lovers.
On the Isle of Man it was believed that anv
one trespassing after sunset on enchanted
ground would have nocturnal ride on q
winged horse that rose from the ground.
The same tradition is current in some parts
Of Spain, but the Spanish horse is not winged
and though in each ease the ride results in
fearful bumps and bruises to the unwilling
riders, the steed Of Spain is accompanied by
seven lean hounds that try to bite the unfor-
tunate horseman. Usually tradition points a
moral by proving the total depravity of the
luckless man, no such fate overtaking the pious.
TELLING THE FUTURE.
As on Halloween. there were all sorts of
tricks and devices for determining the future
Two plants stuck in clay on the roof of a
house midsummer bent or blew during
the night in the direction dictated by fate.
Should the one representing the man turn
aside from the other plant then the lover WAS
faithless and the girl must either resign him
utterly die unmarried.
But If the morning sun show the two incln-
ing toward each other happy life was insured.
TO determine your husbands profession pat