Midsummer Night was a time when young people would pair up. Admittedly, during that period, parents or professional matchmakers handled the matchmaking. However, on that one night, all those who were not yet promised could avoid the traditional methods of choosing a life partner. It was a sort of gateway for those who preferred relationships based on love or other feelings, rather than business arrangements. To take part in this ancient custom, girls wove wreaths. They used all available materials for this purpose. Usually, these were flowers, ribbons, and magical herbs, which had been recommended to them earlier by older women. Finally, a candle or torch was inserted into the wreath, and they would send it afloat on the river or stream.
It was important that the candle didn't go out, as this could mean old maidhood for the girl. Also, if the wreath got stuck in the bushes and no boy retrieved it, it indicated that its owner would wait a long time for a husband. Conversely, boys would hide in the river's shallows and try to fish out the wreath floating downstream. Whoever's wreath fell into their hands would return to the village and look for its owner. Of course, this wasn't always purely accidental.
Young people who were interested in each other would agree on the details before the fun began. After a happy outcome, the young couple could start showing interest in each other without becoming the subject of gossip or malice. An additional reward was that such a pair was allowed to take a solitary, nighttime walk through the forest.
Midsummer Night was a time when young people would pair up. Admittedly, during that period, parents or professional matchmakers handled the matchmaking. However, on that one night, all those who were not yet promised could avoid the traditional methods of choosing a life partner. It was a sort of gateway for those who preferred relationships based on love or other feelings, rather than business arrangements. To take part in this ancient custom, girls wove wreaths. They used all available materials for this purpose. Usually, these were flowers, ribbons, and magical herbs, which had been recommended to them earlier by older women. Finally, a candle or torch was inserted into the wreath, and they would send it afloat on the river or stream.
It was important that the candle didn't go out, as this could mean old maidhood for the girl. Also, if the wreath got stuck in the bushes and no boy retrieved it, it indicated that its owner would wait a long time for a husband. Conversely, boys would hide in the river's shallows and try to fish out the wreath floating downstream. Whoever's wreath fell into their hands would return to the village and look for its owner. Of course, this wasn't always purely accidental.
Young people who were interested in each other would agree on the details before the fun began. After a happy outcome, the young couple could start showing interest in each other without becoming the subject of gossip or malice. An additional reward was that such a pair was allowed to take a solitary, nighttime walk through the forest.
