Part 27 (1/2)

[443] J. Grimm, _Deutsche Mythologie_,*[4] i. 519.

[444] H. von Wlislocki, _Volksglaube und religioser Brauch der Magyar_ (Munster i. W., 1893), pp. 40-44.

[445] A. von Ipolyi, ”Beitrage zur deutschen Mythologie aus Ungarn,”

_Zeitschrift fur deutsche Mythologie und Sittenkunde_, i. (1853) pp. 270 _sq._

[446] J.G. Kohl, _Die deutsch-russischen Ostseeprovinzen_, ii. 268 _sq._; F.J. Wiedemann, _Aus dem inneren und ausseren Leben der Ehsten_ (St. Petersburg, 1876), p. 362. The word which I have translated ”weeds”

is in Esthonian _kaste-heinad_, in German _Thaugras_. Apparently it is the name of a special kind of weed.

[447] Fr. Kreutzwald und H. Neus, _Mythische und Magische Lieder der Ehsten_ (St. Petersburg, 1854), p. 62.

[448] J.B. Holzmayer, ”Osiliana,” _Verhandlungen der gelehrten Estnischen Gesellschaft zu Dorpat_, vii. (1872) pp. 62 _sq._ Wiedemann also observes that the sports in which young couples engage in the woods on this evening are not always decorous (_Aus dem inneren und ausseren Leben der Ehsten_, p. 362).

[449] J.G. Kohl, _Die deutsch-russischen Ostseeprovinzen_, ii. 447 _sq._

[450] J.G. Georgi, _Beschreibung aller Nationen des russischen Reichs_ (St. Petersburg, 1776), p. 36; August Freiherr von Haxthausen, _Studien uber die innere Zustande das Volksleben und insbesondere die landlichen Einrichtungen Russlands_ (Hanover, 1847), i. 446 _sqq._

[451] Alfred de Nore, _Coutumes, Mythes et Traditions des Provinces de France_ (Paris and Lyons, 1846), p. 19.

[452] It is notable that St. John is the only saint whose birthday the Church celebrates with honours like those which she accords to the nativity of Christ. Compare Edmond Doutte, _Magie et Religion dans l'Afrique du Nord_ (Algiers, 1908), p. 571 note I.

[453] Bossuet, _Oeuvres_ (Versailles, 1815-1819), vi. 276 (”Catechisme du diocese de Meaux”). His description of the superst.i.tions is, in his own words, as follows: ”_Danser a l'entour du feu, jouer, faire des festins, chanter des chansons deshonnetes, jeter des herbes par-dessus le feu, en cueillir avant midi ou a jeun, en porter sur soi, les conserver le long de l'annee, garder des tisons ou des charbons du feu, et autres semblables._” This and other evidence of the custom of kindling Midsummer bonfires in France is cited by Ch. Cuissard in his tract _Les Feux de la Saint-Jean_ (Orleans, 1884).

[454] Ch. Cuissard, _Les Feux de la Saint-Jean_ (Orleans, 1884), pp. 40 _sq._

[455] A. Le Braz, _La Legende de la Mort en Ba.s.se-Bretagne_ (Paris, 1893), p. 279. For an explanation of the custom of throwing a pebble into the fire, see below, p. 240.

[456] M. Quellien, quoted by Alexandre Bertrand, _La Religion des Gaulois_ (Paris, 1897), pp. 116 _sq._

[457] Collin de Plancy, _Dictionnaire Infernal_ (Paris, 1825-1826), iii.

40; J.W. Wolf, _Beitrage zur deutschen Mythologie_ (Gottingen, 1852-1857), i. p. 217, -- 185; A. Breuil, ”Du Culte de St. Jean Baptiste,” _Memoires de la Societe des Antiquaires de Picardie_, viii.

(Amiens, 1845) pp. 189 _sq._

[458] Eugene Cortet, _Essai sur les Fetes Religieuses_ (Paris, 1867), p.

216; Ch. Cuissard, _Les Feux de la Saint-Jean_ (Orleans, 1884), p. 24.

[459] Paul Sebillot, _Coutumes populaires de la Haute-Bretagne_ (Paris, 1886), pp. 192-195. In Upper Brittany these bonfires are called _rieux_ or _raviers_.

[460] A. de Nore, _Coutumes, Mythes et Traditions des Provinces de France_ (Paris and Lyons, 1846), p. 219; E. Cortet, _Essai sur les Fetes Religieuses_, p. 216.

[461] A. de Nore, _Coutumes, Mythes et Traditions des Provinces de France_, pp. 219, 228, 231; E. Cortet, _op. cit._ pp. 215 _sq._

[462] J. Lecoeur, _Esquisses du Bocage Normand_ (Conde-sur-Noireau, 1883-1887), ii. 219-224.

[463] This description is quoted by Madame Clement (_Histoire des fetes civites et religieuses_, etc., _de la Belgique Meridionale_, Avesnes, 1846, pp. 394-396); F. Liebrecht (_Des Gervasius von Tilbury Otia Imperialia_, Hanover, 1856, pp. 209 _sq._); and W. Mannhardt (_Antike Wald und Feldkulte_, Berlin, 1877, pp. 323 _sqq._) from the _Magazin pittoresque_, Paris, viii. (1840) pp. 287 _sqq._ A slightly condensed account is given, from the same source, by E. Cortet (_Essai sur les Fetes Religieuses_, pp. 221 _sq._).

[464] Bazin, quoted by Breuil, in _Memoires de la Societe d' Antiquaires de Picardie_, viii. (1845) p. 191 note.

[465] Correspondents quoted by A. Bertrand, _La Religion des Gaulois_ (Paris, 1897), pp. 118, 406.