What does a wreath on your head mean? Meaning of the word wreath

WREATH - HISTORY AND TRADITIONS

A wreath is a traditional decoration among the Slavs, but few people know where the tradition of weaving wreaths came from and what such an unusual headdress symbolizes.
The word “Wreath” itself comes from the Old Slavonic veno “gift”.
Wreathmaker - a woman who weaves and sells wreaths. A wreath is a ring woven from herbs, branches, flowers, which is worn on the head as a decoration. The wreath is a traditional decoration not only for Slavic, but also for many other peoples, and has a very ancient history. Wreaths existed in ancient Greece, where they were awarded to winners of various competitions, heroes, warriors, rulers, in Rome, China, and India.
Wreaths were hung above doors and at entrances to ward off evil spirits or destroy the evil thoughts of an evil person or a person with a “bad eye.”
Wreaths were placed under the first sheaf of the new harvest to prevent rodents. They placed it under the pillow of a woman in labor to ward off the evil eye and help in future childbirth. They also fumigated the sick with a set fire to a wreath made from special herbs.
The herbs that were woven into the wreath were used to judge the girl’s disposition, mood, condition, and position.

For example, a wreath of mint in Poland meant virginity, and a wreath of pea shoots with full pods meant a girl’s reluctance to marry someone she didn’t love. In Rome, a wreath made of laurel leaves was considered a sign of military glory and imperial power, and a wreath made of oak leaves was awarded to warriors who showed particular courage in battle or saved their comrade. The Romans considered myrtle wreaths to relieve intoxication, so feasts were often held in such wreaths. But a wreath made of thorns was intended for those sentenced to death. The Arabs intended a wreath of orange flowers for the bride as a symbol of fertility. The Chinese awarded the olive wreath to writers, poets, and writers.

Making a wreath

Making a wreath is a whole ritual. In various tribes, as well as on various holidays, the weaving of wreaths was accompanied by numerous traditional elements. Girls usually did this. The ritual implied a certain time of weaving, the number of wreaths, sizes, shapes, different types of weaving and composition.

All this was a sacred-symbolic code that corresponded to a particular event. Particular attention was paid to the composition of the wreaths. If today wreaths are woven for fun or as a tribute to ancient tradition from any herbs that come to hand, then in ancient times each type of wreath consisted of certain plants, for example, on Rusal week and on the holiday of Kupala, wormwood was woven into the wreath as a remedy against evil spirits. strength. In addition, wreaths, which consist of certain herbs and are placed on the head, are real aromatherapy, which can give a beneficial state, set one in the right mood and even help cure some diseases.

Initially, a wreath was a ritual item that was woven for holidays - seasonal, sacred, weddings, funerals and others. A wreath is a real amulet. Since ancient times, objects and things that have a hole have been considered charged with a special power, capable of scaring away entities or negativity that are disgusting to a person. This is connected with the feminine principle, a symbol of feminine nature and magic, a symbol of the birth of life. Similar traditional magical objects were rings, hoops, rolls, stones with a natural hole (Chicken God).

Due to the fact that wreaths were also amulets, they were used to decorate pets and various parts of their home, both outside and inside. Wreaths were decorated not only with people and livestock, but also with houses and buildings, wells, pillars, cemeteries, and thrown onto fruit trees in vegetable gardens and the roofs of houses. In some regions, special wreaths were woven for cows, goats, sheep, and in the villages of Pomerania, the custom of weaving wreaths for geese, turkeys, chickens and other poultry was even preserved.

As for the festive and ritual purpose of the wreath, there are many different traditions associated with the use of this simple object. Livestock was milked through the Kupala wreath or milk was filtered. They climbed through the large wreath themselves, as if symbolizing a new birth, which left illness, negativity and troubles in the past. Also, various things were pulled through the wreath to which they wanted to give new life or new strength. People looked through the wreath during certain ritual games; they drank and washed through it. There are more than enough purposes for the Kupala wreath, and each region of ancient Rus', tribe or settlement had its own characteristics and methods of using it.

At the end of a holiday or event, wreaths were used either for further protective actions, for example, decorating a house, placing them in gardens to protect against pests, worms and hail, placing them under a hen, using them for fortune telling, or burning them in a fire. There were many fortune tellings using wreaths. For example, fortune-telling is known for the Slavic summer solstice holiday Kupala, when woven wreaths are thrown into the river and the future fate of its owner is determined by their behavior. This fortune-telling has many interpretations: a sinking wreath means death, a floating wreath means long life, or a sinking wreath means a year without marriage; by a wreath floating or stuck to the shore, they determined in which direction the betrothed’s house was located. In addition to fortune telling with the help of wreaths thrown into the river, wreaths were thrown onto a tree to find out who was promised a quick marriage (whose wreath would catch on a branch), they were left in the yard and watched whose wreath would wither faster (misfortune threatens), they were placed under the pillow to see prophetic dreams and so on.

Wedding wreath

Due to the fact that a wreath (a circle with a hole) is considered a symbol of birth and new life, it was an indispensable attribute of weddings. Along with the wreath, traditional wedding attributes also included rings, rolls, and loaves with a hole in the middle. All these are symbols of new life, love, happiness. The custom of the Slavs also included the tradition of giving a wreath to a girl as a sign of a matchmaking proposal. The bride's wreath symbolizes rebirth as a wife. Renewal of a person, shedding the old life and entering a new life. This is, in a way, a symbol of the dying of the old, girlish life, the renewal of soul and body and the birth of a new life as a married woman. Marriage wreaths, unlike holiday ones, were usually preserved for a long time or even for life. Wedding wreaths were kept in chests, they were placed in a red kut, where they, safely drying, stood for many years, were sewn into a pillow for the newlyweds, and placed under the cradle of a newborn. It is possible that it was the ancient tradition of decorating with wreaths at weddings, the exchange of wreaths between the bride and groom, that served as the prototype of the rings, which then began to be made in forges especially for weddings, and today in jewelry workshops.

There was a custom to weave a wreath at the last harvest. At the end of the harvest, the last sheaf was left, which is also known as “Veles on the beard.” This sheaf was left in the field or brought into the house, where it was stored until the next year, as a talisman that would attract a good harvest the following year. In addition to the last sheaf, a wreath was also woven from the last mown ears. Such a wreath was placed on the head of the most beautiful girl, who was a symbol of good luck, good fertility, a symbol of the goddess of fertility, who gave people a good harvest.
Wearing this wreath, the girl came to the settlement where the holiday was being held and where she, of course, was the main character of the celebration, who was praised and thanked for the bountiful harvest.

Wreaths have long been an indispensable attribute of funeral ceremonies. Wreaths are laid on graves or left at the place of death, or floated on water in the event of a shipwreck. In modern funeral ceremonies, wreaths are a tribute to the memory of the deceased. A wreath as a ritual object at a funeral symbolizes the same birth and eternal life. A circle with a hole in the middle symbolizes the transition of the souls of the deceased to another world and his birth in a new body, in a new quality, renewal of the soul, purification that the death of the physical body brought to the soul.

A wreath can also be understood as the end of a life’s journey, the beginning of a new path, whether in the physical world or in the world of Navi. Due to the fact that wreaths were an indispensable attribute of weddings, there is an assumption that in ancient times wreaths took part in funeral rites only at the funerals of children, teenagers or young people who did not manage to get married. Thus, a symbolic wedding was arranged. Along with the funeral and wedding wreath, there was also a custom of burying unmarried girls in a traditional wedding dress (outfit), which is still known today. There is also an assumption that wreaths are the oldest concepts about bird souls who make nests (wreaths) near their graves and wait for their new incarnation, but this is just a theory.

Subsequently, wreaths made of leaves, branches and flowers began to be replaced with artificial materials that could last longer. It is believed that after wreaths began to be made of metal, royal crowns appeared, which became a distinctive element of the ruler’s clothing...

A wreath (from Old Slavic vno “gift”) is a woven ring-shaped decoration made of flowers, leaves, branches, sometimes also from materials imitating natural ones. In folk traditions - a ritual object, an element of decoration for ritual performers, a talisman.

A symbol of reward, honor, as well as completeness, perfection, immortality and greatness. The image of a wreath correlates with the symbolism of the head as the focus of spiritual power and the circle as an image of eternity, as well as with the symbolism of vegetation as the personification of vital forces. In many traditions, the crown was an attribute of the gods.

The wreath is a ring woven from herbs, branches, flowers. The wreath is a traditional decoration not only for Slavic, but also for many other peoples, and has a very ancient history. Wreaths existed in ancient Greece, where they were awarded to winners of various competitions, heroes, warriors, rulers in Rome, China, and India.

In the worldview of the ancient Slavs, the wreath was a solar (solar) symbol. Its very form has a magical meaning; it was perceived as a fusion of perfection and unity in the image of a circle, a ring. There is still a belief that the wreaths woven by girls with their own hands contained a great and mystical amulet power.

Initially, a wreath was a ritual item that was woven for holidays - seasonal, sacred, weddings, and others. A wreath is a real amulet. Since ancient times, objects and things that have a hole have been considered charged with a special power, capable of scaring away entities or negativity that are disgusting to a person. This is connected with the feminine principle, a symbol of feminine nature and magic, a symbol of the birth of life. Similar traditional magical objects were rings, hoops, rolls, stones with a natural hole...
The wreath protected from the “evil eye”, from “evil spirits”, it was called the “witch doctor of the soul” - such was the power in it that it protected from physical and mental wounds. It had to be taken care of; losing the wreath meant great shame and misfortune. This is stated in an old legend. A girl was walking along the viburnum. A guy met her and said: “Take off the wreath - you’ll be mine.” Mom didn’t order me to take off the whisk, but the guy was so good, he spoke so beautifully, and his gentle gaze warmed my heart. The girl took off her crown, and the guy turned into a terrible devil and took her to him.

Wreaths were hung above doors and at entrances to ward off evil spirits or destroy the evil thoughts of an evil person or a person with a “bad eye.” Wreaths were placed under the first sheaf of the new harvest to prevent rodents. They placed it under the pillow of a woman in labor to ward off the evil eye and help in future childbirth. They also fumigated the sick with a set fire to a wreath made from special herbs.

In Ancient Rome, the symbol of the year was a circle or oval. This is where the tradition of festive New Year's wreaths came to us, with which the Romans decorated the doors of their houses. On January 1 of each year, the Romans held a holiday in honor of the god Janus: they hung oval-shaped wreaths decorated with ribbons and pine cones on the gates and doors of their houses. Janus is one of the deities who knows both the past and the future; he is the god of the sun and any beginning. He was revered and respected, they asked him for protection and blessings for the upcoming works. Hence the first month of the year was named January (Januarius) in honor of this god.

A later tradition of decorating a house with a circle of fir branches with candles came to us from Western countries, where the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on a large scale. And it originated among Lutherans, who, like Catholics and Protestants, celebrate Christmas on December 25th.

The first Advent wreath for his little pupils was made by a Lutheran theologian from Hamburg, Johann Wichern. The children were so looking forward to the holiday that they constantly asked if Christmas had already come. It was then that the symbol denoting Advent (the period of fasting, waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Christ) was born - the Advent wreath. Wichern's wreath was a circle of spruce branches mounted on a wooden wheel, with 24 small and 4 large candles inserted into them. Every day the children lit one candle (large candles were lit on Sundays) and thus could count how many days were left until the holiday.
The idea of ​​decorating a house with a Christmas wreath was so popular among Western Christians that it quickly spread and took root.

The Christmas wreath also has a spiritual meaning. The circle symbolizes eternal life, greenery is the color of life, candles are the divine light that illuminates the world on the day of the great Christmas.

CROWN (Greek stepha poe, lat. corona) - a ring-shaped wreath of leaves and flowers, related to the crown, but more changeable and indicating not so much power as temporary difference. Crowns are not always worn as a head decoration; they can also serve as gifts that have the meaning of circle (durability) during celebrations and ceremonial funerals. In this regard, in antiquity the symbol of the ring was associated with the symbol of plant vitality. The winners of competitions, triumphants, and also, for example, sacrificial animals were crowned.

In Christian symbolism, a crown is often a symbol of victory over darkness and sin, an example is the maiden's crown or the aureole worn by girls at their first Catholic communion; The bride's crown, which was often given the appearance of a small crown, has a similar meaning. In the Bible (Isaiah 28:5), the reassembled remnant of a lost people is reconciled with a “splendid crown.” Flower wreaths are often seen as symbols of this-worldly joys and a sybaritic lifestyle, for example, an ivy wreath, which, according to ancient folk beliefs, was supposed to protect against intoxication.

Crown: “He crowns victory with peace.” J. Boschius, 1702

Today, during church holidays, churches are often decorated with bunches of branches and flowers decorated in the form of wreaths, symbols of eternal life, resurrection and joy. The crown of thorns of Jesus can be seen as a parody of the crown of roses of the Roman Caesars, and as a result it is regarded as an attribute of such saints as Mary Magdalene, Veronica and Catherine of Siena, while the crown of roses adorns St. Caecilius and Flavius.

Real crowns were often given the same appearance as metal crowns; in their symbolic meaning they transform into each other (Latin “corona” and English “crown” mean both crown and crown), although with the crown the sign of greatness does not come to the fore. Laurel wreaths were symbols of Apollo; parsley wreaths were used in the Nemean games of Zeus (along with wreaths made from olive branches); Wreaths of grain ears were dedicated to Demeter (lat. Ceres), pine wreaths to Poseidon, fennel wreaths to the Phrygian god of agriculture Sabazius. Wreaths of oak leaves decorated saviors from mortal danger.

Made in a traditional manner, the Christmas wreath with four woven candles is a symbol of the globe and the four cardinal directions. The shape of the circle symbolizes eternal life given to us by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the branches of the evergreen spruce are the color of life, and the flame of the candle is the light of truth that illuminates the whole world at Christmas.

History of the Advent wreath and early traditions

A wreath woven from branches of coniferous trees, ears of corn or evergreen shrubs is an ancient symbol. The Romans used it as a sign of power and noble birth. Among the Greeks, the wreath served as the embodiment of victory and outstanding achievements. In early Germanic culture, a wreath was used as a traditional table decoration as a symbol of home comfort and warmth of the family hearth. Our ancestors wove wreaths of ears filled with gold, exalting the generosity and wealth of their native land and bringing gratitude to it at the end of the farming season.

Candles began to be woven into the traditional Christmas wreath of evergreen branches much later: they became a symbol of hope and rebirth in the endless circle of life. This decoration, usually used during the cold days of winter, was a reminder that spring would soon come, and the earth would once again be covered with fresh lush grass and dotted with bright colorful bursts of flowers.

Wreath in Christianity

On the first Sunday of Advent - as the Catholic faith calls the pre-Christmas period, the time of anticipation during which Christians prepare for the Christmas holiday - in many homes one of four candles is lit in a special wreath woven from fir branches. There are four candles in the wreath, in the classic version - three purple and one pink, which corresponds to the number of Sundays during the Advent period, each of which is lit the following week.

This tradition dates back to the 19th century: Hamburg theologian Johann Wichern, who raised children from poor families, came up with a way to teach kids to count the days of Advent in anticipation of the holiday. He made a wreath from a wooden wheel, placing 24 small red candles and four large white ones on it. Small red candles were lit every morning, and large white ones on Sundays. And so - until the Nativity of Christ.

Meaning of symbols

All elements used in a traditional Advent wreath are symbolic and have special meaning according to the Christian belief system.

Form

Traditional wreaths are always made in the shape of a circle. This figure has many meanings both in the Christian religion and in others - but almost always it is associated with the concepts of infinity or cyclicity. So, the meanings of the circle in the Christmas wreath:

• The Continuous Presence of God, Without Beginning and Without End
• The cyclical nature of the seasons: from spring, when nature comes to life, to winter and again to spring
• Hope for renewed life
• Hope for eternal life in Christ the Savior
• Infinite love for God and boundless faith

Materials

The most ancient Christmas wreaths known to historians were woven from the branches of evergreen plants, which have always been associated with the concepts of special resilience and the ability to withstand difficult challenges. But each of the plants has its own meaning:

• Holly is considered the embodiment of the crown of thorns, which, according to the Gospel, was placed on the head of Jesus Christ by Roman soldiers before the Crucifixion
• Pine, spruce, yew and other conifers symbolize eternal life
• Cedar means healing
• A wreath woven from laurel branches is a symbol of overcoming pain and suffering
• Pine cones, seeds, fruits and nuts in a wreath represent birth and rebirth

Colors

The traditional Christmas colors of the wreath - red and green - also have a symbolic meaning. Green color is the embodiment of life itself, its flow, changes and development, and for Christians - also the eternity of the soul and the growth of spirituality. The red color, accordingly, symbolizes the blood of Christ shed on the Cross.

A wreath (Greek stephanos, Lat. corona) is a headband made of leaves and flowers, similar to a crown, but much less durable and much more indicative of temporary difference than indicative of power. Wreaths were not always worn as head decorations; they also served as offerings, gifts with the meaning of a circle (durability, strength) when providing honors and at funerals. In ancient times, the symbol of the ring was combined in a wreath with the symbol of the vitality of plants. Wreaths were placed on the heads of competition winners and triumphants, but at the same time they also decorated the heads of sacrificial animals. In Christian symbolism, a wreath is often a symbol of victory over darkness and sin, for example the wreath of a virgin or the wreath carried by a girl at her first communion among Catholics; The bride's wreath, often made in the form of a crown, has the same meaning. In the Bible, Isaiah (28:5) says: “In that day the Lord of hosts will be a magnificent crown and a glorious diadem for the remnant of His people.” Flower wreaths serve as symbols of earthly joys and a luxurious lifestyle. A wreath of ivy leaves, according to an ancient popular belief, supposedly protects against Now during church holidays, God's churches are decorated with wreath-like garlands of branches and flowers, symbols of eternal life, resurrection and joy.

The crown of thorns of Christ should be perceived as a parody of the crown of roses of the Roman emperor Caesar. In this regard, it is considered an attribute of such saints as Mary Magdalene, Veronica and Catherine, while Saints Cecilia and Flavius ​​are decorated with a wreath of roses

. Real crowns were often made in the form of metal wreaths. From the point of view of the science of symbols, the origin of such transitions is quite explainable (Latin “sogopa” and English “crown” simultaneously mean both a wreath and a crown), although, of course, with a wreath the meaning of greatness does not come first. Laurel wreaths were a symbol of Apollo, wreaths of parsley (or olive branches) during the Nemean Games - of Zeus, wreaths of ears of corn were dedicated to Demeter (lat. Ceres), wreaths of pine branches - to Poseidon, wreaths of fennel - to the Phrygian god agriculture Sabazia, wreaths of oak leaves adorned heroes who saved people from mortal danger.

Ukrainian women's wreath is not just a decoration. The wreath is the strongest Slavic amulet. Ukrainian people believe that the wreath contains such power that it relieves pain and protects hair.
What wildflowers are there in the wreath? And what do they symbolize?
Chamomile - gives people health, kindness, tenderness.
Viburnum is beauty. Periwinkle is a symbol of life.
Cherry and apple flowers - mother's love.
Cornflower - Flowers of a soft blue color, like the eyes of a girl, are woven into a wreath as a symbol of beauty, health, and strength.
Poppy - good dream. People's attention has always been attracted by the bright beauty of poppies. People sing: There is no better color from the crown. There is no sweeter kind from the mother. This beautiful flower has become a symbol of girlish beauty. The boys wore poppies in their buttonholes. The red color of the flower symbolized sincere and pure feelings.

But in addition to flowers, multi-colored ribbons are also woven into a wreath.
The light brown ribbon is the earth-nurse.
The yellow ribbon is the sun.
Green ribbon – beauty and youth.
Blue and blue ribbon - water and sky.
Orange ribbon - bread.
The purple ribbon is human wisdom.
Pink ribbon - well-being.
White ribbon - memory of ancestors.

Ukrainian wreaths made of artificial and fresh flowers with ribbons as a girl’s headdress enjoyed worldwide fame.
There is every reason to believe that the Ukrainian wreath with ribbons, which has been an integral element of the Ukrainian national costume since ancient times, is a wish for “clear, peaceful skies” above the head of the one who wears it. This is a kind of amulet against everything bad and unkind.
For a Ukrainian girl, a wreath was a symbol of maiden honor, girlhood; it protected her from the “evil eye,” from “evil spirits.” In summer, a wreath was woven from fresh flowers: cornflowers, poppies, daisies, marigolds. The wreath is also a symbol of eternal love, a symbol of the infinity of your family.

Wreaths were left on trees and attics to protect against lightning, placed under the first sheaf to increase the next harvest, placed in a hen's nest, in a newborn's cradle, hidden under clothes from witches, and hung in fields and vegetable gardens. The girls washed themselves with water from a wet wreath for beauty and health.
The wreath was given to men as a talisman if they went to war.
To make a talisman for love, childbirth, wealth and happiness, garlic, onions, ribbons, ears of bread, sweets, rings, and special magical herbs were woven into the wreath.
A wreath - made of artificial flowers, threads - was often placed on the groom's hat, protecting him from the evil eye

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It was the custom of presenting a wreath to a loved one as a sign of matchmaking that later grew into the exchange of rings - betrothal. Previously, after the wedding, the bride threw her wreath, not a bouquet, into the crowd of bridesmaids. Whoever catches it will get married sooner than others.
Our ancestors realized that it was with their “head” that they understood the world around them and influenced it. Therefore, with the help of hats, they tried to protect themselves from the evil eye and other spells of malicious people. There was a belief that wreaths nailed to doors provided the whole family with health for the whole year.

People started weaving wreaths a long time ago. For example, it is known that the ancient Romans met in myrtle wreaths at feasts, which were then called symposiums. And not without reason: they believed that such a wreath would relieve intoxication!
The Romans also crowned their heroes with wreaths of myrtle for civil valor and a successful quick war. br/>

Oak branches decorated warriors who saved a comrade in battle. By the way, the oak is dedicated to the beloved god of the Romans - Jupiter.
The ancient Romans and Greeks awarded laurel wreaths to their compatriots for military exploits, acting or poetic talent. "Laureatus" in Greek means "crowned with laurel." From here, we note, came the laureates of all subsequent eras and peoples!

In Ancient Greece, those who were going to recite the poems of Aeschylus or Simonides wore a myrtle wreath. This is how they expressed special respect for these poets.

The highest ranks of Athens wore wreaths as a sign of power. The petitioners came to them with a myrtle wreath in their hands as a sign of respect.

A wreath made of terribly prickly thorns was given to those sentenced to death. Christ was crucified in it.

According to the famous myth, in a dispute about beauty, Aphrodite wore a wreath of myrtle. As a result, it was to her that Paris gave the ill-fated apple.

The Greeks also believed that the myrtle wreath was worn by the muse of erotic poetry Erato and the god of marriage Hymen.
Wreaths for real men.
In the Middle Ages, until orders and medals appeared, wreaths were military insignia.

In Western countries, there used to be a custom of presenting a wreath to a loved one as a sign of matchmaking. Later it was transformed into an exchange of rings - betrothal. And after the wedding, the bride threw her wreath, not a bouquet, into the crowd of bridesmaids. Whoever catches it will get married sooner than others.

By the way, in countries with warm climates, a wedding wreath was made from orange flowers. "Orange blossom" literally translates to "orange blossoms." Over time, such a wreath was replaced by the traditional bridal bouquet.

A wreath is a symbol of girlhood.
In Rus', wreaths have their own traditions. A wedding wreath was considered a symbol of girlhood. Married women did not wear wreaths, nor did widows getting married or brides who lost their virginity before marriage. The latter could be “awarded” with half a wreath as a sign of shame. And adulterers were provided with a wreath of sheep's wool.

Orange blossom
The bride kept the wedding wreath for happiness in marriage. They hung them near the images, put them in the cradle so that the child would grow up healthy, and were given as an amulet to adult sons when they left to serve.

In order to increase the magical power of the wreath, the most incomprehensible things were woven into it, for example; garlic, onion, hot pepper, red threads. In addition, bread, oats, coins, sugar,

On Thursday before Trinity, our ancestors “curled their wreaths.” They twisted the branches on a young birch tree in rings without breaking them and tied them. The first wreath is for yourself. The second is for your loved one. Subsequent ones - to relatives. On Trinity Sunday they went to develop wreaths. A withered or independently developed wreath promised death or celibacy.
The dream of a lost wreath foreshadowed seduction.
And on Trinity Day, the girls wore a wreath of herbs and flowers on their heads all day. In the evening, each threw her wreath into the river. Whoever nails the wreath to the shore will get married.
According to popular wisdom, ugly girls and girls with bad skin should wash themselves from a wreath thrown on the water in order to become more beautiful.

Amulet
In Rus' and Europe, a wreath was considered a talisman. So, heading to the forest lake, it was supposed to wear a wreath with wormwood - a sure cure for mermaids.

Wreaths made of oak branches protected fields, vegetable gardens and livestock from harm.

After St. George's Day, wreaths were thrown onto the roofs of houses so that the witches would not harm the livestock.

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