Christmas,
New Year's Day,
Midsummer, and
All Hallowe'en.According to the mode of procedure practised in the northern
counties, the anxious maiden, before retiring to rest, places three pails
full of water in her bedroom, and then pins to her night-dress three
leaves of green holly opposite to her heart, after which she goes to sleep.
Believing in the efficacy of the charm, she persuades herself that she will
be roused from her first slumber by three yells, as if from the throats of
three bears, succeeded by as many hoarse laughs. When these have died
away, the form of her future husband will appear, who will show his
attachment to her by changing the position of the water-pails, whereas if
he have no particular affection he will disappear without even touching
them.
Then, of course, from time immemorial all kinds of charms have been
observed on St. Valentine's Day to produce prophetic dreams. A popular
charm consisted of placing two bay leaves, after sprinkling them with
rose-water, across the pillow, repeating this formula:--"Good Valentine, be kind to me,
In dream let me my true love see."St. Luke's Day was in years gone by a season for love-divination, and
among some of the many directions given we may quote the subjoined,
which is somewhat elaborate:--"Take marigold flowers, a sprig of
marjoram, thyme, and a little wormwood; dry them before a fire, rub
them
to powder, then sift it through a fine piece of lawn; simmer these with
a small quantity of virgin honey, in white vinegar, over a slow fire;
with this anoint your stomach, breasts, and lips, lying down, and repeat
these words thrice:--
'St Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me,
In dream let me my true love see!'This said, hasten to sleep, and in the soft slumbers of night's repose,
the very man whom you shall marry shall appear before you."