ComputerHunter.org

 

St Johns Wort: The Magickal Herb


It was customary in Britain and Europe on St John's Eve (June 23), to gather certain herbs, such as St John's wort, vervain, trefoil and rue, all of which were believed to have magical properties. St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) does, in fact, have scientifically proven anti-depressant qualities. Drinks were brewed from it to cure madness, sciatica, epilepsy and paralysis. The salve made from the herb cured wounds from spears and swords - or, so it is said.

Flowers of St John's wort used to be collected in Britain and Europe on St John's Eve (tonight) and worn on the body or hung over doorways as protection against witches. It was also placed near windows as witches can look in to cast a spell. Even in recent times the people of the Landes district of France would make crosses of wort on their doors.

In Britain, one old custom was for a maiden to pick a sprig of St John's wort and wear it in her bosom until Christmas, by which time the man who was to be her husband, and he alone, would see it and take it from her.

In ancient Latvia, Jani on June 23 was the year's most important festival and it, too, was a celebration of the Summer Solstice. In preparation, everything in the town, including buildings and livestock, was decorated with garlands of papardi (ferns) and janu zali (John's grass). Children traditionally went into the woods on Jani, searching for the fern blossom (like a 'snipe hunt' in North America, since the fern blossom does not exist, or else this was St John's wort) which supposedly bloomed only at night on Jani. Searching for, and theoretically finding, the fern blossom brought good luck.

Pip Wilson is the editor of "Wilson's Almanac" http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com which has more than 3,000 fully searchable pages on the folklore of the calendar and many other topics. It is the home of the free daily ezine of the same name.







Google News - Top Stories

Seattle Post Intelligencer

As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating
Washington Post - 1 hour ago
By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ...
Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress
Campaigns Shift to Attack Mode on Eve of Debate New York Times
Financial Times - Los Angeles Times - Chicago Tribune - Tampabay.com
all 4,920 news articles


Wall Street Journal Blogs

Citigroup and Wells Fargo seek compromise on Wachovia
International Herald Tribune - 40 minutes ago
By Eric Dash Prodded by the Federal Reserve, Citigroup and Wells Fargo agreed to a cease-fire until Wednesday in the legal warfare over their competing bids for the Wachovia Corporation.
Wachovia: A Split May Boost the Banking Industry BusinessWeek
IRS Change Helpful To Wells Fargo's Wachovia Bid Questioned CNNMoney.com
Bizjournals.com - Reuters - Forbes - Bloomberg
all 7,227 news articles


Radio Australia

Tear gas fired at mass Thai rally
BBC News - 1 hour ago
Police in Thailand have fired tear gas to disperse a demonstration by thousands of anti-government protesters in Bangkok. Dozens of people were injured as police intervened in the dawn protest in front of parliament.
UPDATE 3-Thai police fire tear gas at parliament protesters Reuters
Thai Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Protesters, Several Hurt Bloomberg
The Associated Press - AFP - Bernama - ABC Online
all 384 news articles


ABC News

Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk
New York Times - 58 minutes ago
By NEIL A. LEWIS WASHINGTON - The day after the FBI confronted Bill Allen, an Alaska oil services millionaire, with evidence that he had tried to bribe state lawmakers, he reached out to Senator Ted Stevens by telephone to discuss how their ...
Sen. Stevens on tape: "might serve time in jail" Reuters
Stevens, contractor on tapes made public at trial The Associated Press
San Jose Mercury News - ABC News - CNN - The Miami Herald
all 161 news articles


CBS News

LA man kills family, himself over financial woes
Reuters - 2 hours ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A 45-year-old Los Angeles man who was apparently distraught over money troubles shot and killed his wife, three sons and mother-in-law before taking his own life, police said on Monday.
Police: Jobless father kills family, self CNN
6 Bodies Found in California Gated Community FOXNews
The Associated Press - Sony Insider - USA Today - Monsters and Critics.com
all 316 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base