pfant "bore, Iscge^/, an3. Isijric/. 537 



John's Day falls on the summer solstice, the 24th day of June, the 

 last of the three days which mark the culminating point of the 

 solar ascension — the day when, in some latitudes, the sun never 

 sets, and the heavens are illuminated and radiant with its glory 

 through the night. The bright yellow blossom of the Hypericum 

 peyfonitum, with its glittering golden stamens, was not inappro- 

 priately called Sol Terrestris, as symbolising the sun (which, by its 

 effulgence, disperses all evil spirits), and St. John the Baptist, of 

 whom the Scriptures say he was "a light to them which sit in dark- 

 ness." At the present time this plant is almost everywhere known 



by the name connecting it with the saint. The peasantry of France 

 and Germany still gather it on St. John's Day to hang over their 

 cottage doors or in the windows, in the belief that its sanctity will 

 drive away evil spirits of all kinds, and will also propitiate their 



patron saint. in Switzerland, young girls on the Eve of St. John 



make nosegays composed of nine different flowers, of which the 

 principal one is the Hypericum, or St. John's Wort. These nine 

 flowers are plucked from nine different places. The posy is placed 

 beneath the maiden's pillow before she retires to bed, and she then 

 endeavours to sleep and dream : should she, in her dream, see a 

 young man, he will not fail soon to arrive and to make her his wife. 



Somewhat similar customs to this, in connection with the Rose, 



the Moss-Rose, and the Sage, exist in England, one of which is, 

 perhaps, referred to by Harte, who, when alluding to certain 

 flowers, adds : — 



" And that which on the Baptist's vigil sends 



To nymphs and swains the vision of their friends." 



In Lower Saxony, the peasant girls on the Eve of St. John hang 

 sprigs of Hypericum against the head of their bed or the walls of 

 their chambers ; if it remains fresh on the following morning, they 

 are persuaded they will be married within a year ; but if, on the 

 contrary, it droops and fades, they have no hope of marriage within 

 that time. 



*' The young maid stole through the cottage-door, 

 And blush'd as she sought the plant of power ; 

 ' Thou silver glow-worm, O lend me thy light ! 

 I must gather the mystic St. John's Wort to-night, 

 The wonderful herb whose leaf will decide 

 If the coming year will make me a bride." 



In Italy, the Hypericum is called both St. John's Wort and the 

 Devil-chaser. On the Night of St. John it is worn about the 

 person, as a preservative from witchcraft and sorcery, and it is 



suspended over doorways and windows with the same objeift. 



In Scotland, it is carried about as a charm against witchcraft and 

 enchantment, and the peasantry fancy it cures ropy milk, which 

 they suppose to be under some malignant influence. According 

 to Pennant, it is customary in Wales to stick sprigs of St. John's 

 Wort over every door on the Eve of St. John's ; and Stowe, in his 

 ' Survey of London,' tells us that, " on the Vigil of St. John the 



