| |
| |
|
Alternative Information |
|
|
|
Save This Page 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.
CURE Auto Insurance Announces the Launch of a Revolutionary ... MarketWatch - PHILADELPHIA, Dec 02, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Representatives of CURE Auto Insurance announced the availability of a revolutionary new alternative in auto ... |
Time For A Holiday Alternative Tampa Tribune, FL - By JAMIE PILARCZYK A three-year tradition at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, the Alternative Christmas Market is a way for people to find gifts that ... |
TAKE 2: An alternative look at the day in sports Columbia Daily Tribune, MO - By MATT NESTOR Sounds to me like Plaxico Burress was looking for a fight. The New York Giants receiver shot himself in the thigh Friday night when the gun ... |
 Computerworld | Image gallery: 6 alternative browsers Computerworld, MA - Camino, an open-source browser based on Mozilla's Gecko rendering engine, is clearly designed to be a simple, easy-to-use, yet fully functional browser. ... Too Good To Ignore — 6 Alternative Browsers Too good to ignore: 6 alternative browsers |
EIN News Launches Alternative Energy News Site 'Solar Energy ... MarketWatch - While environmental problems pile up around us, the world's politicians and business leaders alike realize that switching to alternative energy presents not ... |
 Earthtimes (press release) | First CNG Alternative-Fuel Trucks Arrive at Southern California ... MarketWatch - LOS ANGELES, CA, Dec 02, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- To help reduce air pollution at the busiest container seaports in the United States, ... First CNG Alternative-Fuel Trucks Arrive at Southern California ... On the Waterfront: Port cargo fee to be cut amid slump |
Integrated Asset Management Corp. Announces Results for Fiscal ... MarketWatch - However, Retail Alternative Investments was significantly affected by the crisis in the global equity markets and AUM declined approximately $180 million in ... |
Alternative energy firms to get aid MLive.com, MI - by Tina Reed | The Ann Arbor News Two local companies working on alternative energy for vehicles are getting an extra boost from the state. ... |
Alternative Construction Technologies, Inc., Files Suit Against ... MarketWatch - Alternative Construction Technologies, Inc. (ACT) possesses a unique and patented construction technology called the ACTech(R) Panel System that is used in ... |
UPDATE 1-Alternative Networks cautiously optimistic on outlook Reuters - Alternative Networks proposed a final dividend of 3.1 pence, making a total dividend of 4.6 pence for the full year, up from last year's 3.3 pence. ... Alternative Networks bumps up divi after strong year |
