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The leek was harvested at this time and carried over people’s faces in Portugal. Mugwort was harvested at this time and a person would singe it upon the hearth fire and its smoke can be inhaled as a remedy. Mugwort, Yarrow, Foxglove, and Figwort were known to be gathered up for the Season in Ireland and all across Europe. Several other herbs were gathered at this time, probably whole classes of medicinal herbs could be at their most potent right at the sun’s crest in the sky. In Scandinavian areas, Sunnawort is used to see the spirits and to ward against them in midsummer(Gundarsson, 2007, 23). It is also harvested on the same day and regarded the same way in Wales where it could frighten the devil away(Clancy & Nicholson, 2006, 149). John’s Day which had varying dates, the latter of which is the Fourth of July (Danaher, 1972, 148). It must be picked from this day to the date of the Old St. John’s wort is gathered during this period. Here we may have the golden sun sickle being victorious over the esoteric dark which produces the herbs. Many herbs tend to grow in shade and darkness, with light overtaking them after St. This theme is reflected in the herb harvesting customs of the time and the use of non-iron, preferably golden blades to harvest them in folklore. Just as Midwinter is the time that the Cailleach(the winter hag) and forces of Giamos(Winter forces) are victorious and Bride(Scottish Brighid) is imprisoned.
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However, Midsummer is the time of the year that the Light and Samos(Summer forces) win over darkness. The kindling of two fires, one of them friction and kindled by the other is usually a May 1st custom as is running cows and people through those fires for blessing and purification. When the bonfires died down, the embers were scattered on the fields and haggards in the belief that this would bring about growth – a further illustration of the supernatural power often attributed to fire(Ó hÓgáin, 2013, 1141).” It was customary in some parts of the country to drive the cattle between two bonfires, in the expectation that this would protect them from disease, and for young men and women to jump over the corners of the fires in order to guarantee marriage and fertility. In Ireland, as elsewhere in Europe, people assembled around these fires and danced, sang and made merry. “With regard to agricultural luck and prosperity, mention should also be made of the bonfires of midsummer, or St. What’s even more confusing is that much of such evidence still points back to Bealtaine/Beltane, though not all. Midsummer is often nominatively conflated with Bealtaine proper(May 1st), but other evidence has it standing alone. A week and a half after the solstice begins the month of July, which was called ‘Hungry July’. John’s Feast, prn CHINuh FAIL OWEN) (Danaher, 1972, 134). John’s Eve, Bonfire Night, Oíche na Teine Chnáimh(possibly Night of Sacred Fire, prn EEha na CHINuh K’NEV), or Teine Féil’ Eóin(Fire of St.