Legends about fern
Legend one
Here is one very beautiful one associated with a fern flower. It says that the sun god Yarilo gave fire to the people he loved very much. And every year, on the night of June 23-24, he sends it to earth, and this magical fire flares up in a fern flower.
In Rus', a fern was often called a gap - a grass; legends said that if you just touch any lock with a flower, it will immediately open, and this amazing plant It was capable, according to our ancestors, of breaking any bonds and shackles. It helps to overcome any obstacles that evil spirits place in a person’s path. It is the gap - the witches are looking for the grass, and this magical grass grows where the turtles live. And if you fence their eggs with iron nails, digging them into the ground, then the turtle will certainly bring you some herbs to free its offspring.
Legend two
The legend about the fern is well known, in which a magical flower blooms once a year on the night of Ivan Kupala (summer solstice). In the ancient Slavic tradition, the fern became known as magical plant. According to legend, it was at Kupala midnight that the fern bloomed briefly and the earth opened up, making visible the treasures and treasures hidden in it. After midnight, those who were lucky enough to find a fern flower ran in their mother's clothes through the dewy grass and bathed in the river to receive fertility from the earth.
British beliefs
Myths and legends about ferns were born not only in Rus', among the inhabitants
In Great Britain, there are many beliefs associated with ferns. Here are some of them:
If you carry a fern, you will go astray, and all the vipers will follow you. (Wales)
Fern growing on a tree trunk relieves stomach pain.
Bringing a maidehair fern into the house means bringing trouble into the house. (Norfolk).
Cut the fern root at an angle and you will see the image of an oak tree. The clearer this image, the better luck you should expect. (Surrey).
The one who climbs the mountain holding fern seeds in his hand on the night before summer solstice, will find a gold mine or treasure, because he will see a bluish glow in this place. 
Fern (4)
According to the legend of the fern, at midnight before Midsummer, the fern blooms for a few moments as a bright fiery flower with magical properties. Around midnight, a bud suddenly appears from the leaves of the fern, which, rising higher and higher, then sways, then stops - and suddenly staggers, turns over and jumps. Exactly at midnight, a ripened bud bursts with a crash, and a bright fiery flower is presented to the eyes, so bright that it is impossible to look at it; an invisible hand tears it off, and a person almost never manages to do this. Whoever finds a blossoming fern and manages to take possession of it acquires the power to command everyone. 
Fern (5)
In Russia there was such a legend about the fern. "The shepherd was grazing bulls not far from the forest and fell asleep. Waking up at night and seeing that there were no bulls near him, he ran into the forest to look for them. Running through the forest, he accidentally ran into some growth that had just blossomed. The shepherd, not noticing this grass, ran straight across through it. At this time, he accidentally knocked down a flower with his foot, which fell into his shoe. Then he became happy and immediately found the bulls, not knowing what was in his shoe and not taking off his shoes for several days. short time saved money and learned about the future. Meanwhile, earth was poured into the shoe during this time. The shepherd, taking off his shoes, began to shake the earth out of his shoe and, along with the earth, shook out the flower of the fern. From that time on, he lost his happiness, lost his money and did not recognize the future."
It is not surprising that beautiful legends are associated with this plant. 
Legend six
According to one legend, in the place where a beautiful girl fell from a cliff, a clean spring arose, and her hair turned into fern. Other legends connect its origin with the goddess of love and beauty Venus: a wonderful plant grew from a hair she dropped. One of its types is called adiantum - Venus hair. 
Fern (7)
There is an ancient legend among the people about the flowering of ferns every year on the night of Ivan Kupala. And if a person finds a blooming fern, he will gain many useful properties: will begin to understand the language of flowers and birds, trees and animals, may become invisible, and most importantly, will begin to see through the ground and, of course, will find all the treasures hidden in the ground. 
Legend eight (how to get a flower)
The legend about the magical fern flower that blooms on the night of Ivan Kupala is well known. Once a year there comes a night when everything you wish for comes true. You can become grass, water, beast or air spirit. Once a year we are allowed to return to paganism, worship long-forgotten gods, fight evil spirits, and be purified by fire. On the day of Ivan Kupala, the calendar does not work and the clocks stop.
Not a single Ivan Kupala holiday is complete without the magical fern flower. In Slavic mythology, the fern flower is considered a magic potion. According to legends, it is believed that the fern blooms only for one moment, on the night of Ivan Kupala, it is very difficult to pick the flower, especially since the evil spirits interfere and intimidate in every possible way.
Once upon a time, on July 7, on the day of the solstice, the Slavs glorified Dazhdbog. Much later Orthodox Church turned a pagan holiday into a Christian one, dedicating it to John the Baptist - Ivan Kupala.
Traditionally, Ivan Kupala is celebrated outdoors. On this night, you need to make a fire and jump over the fire, weave a wreath of flowers and set it on the water, telling fortunes about your loved one, sing songs, find a blooming fern. If everyone has done this, then the holiday is considered successful.
It is believed that an evil spirit rages in the forest that night, guarding the magical fern flower. It blooms for a minute, blazing with bright red fire and as if endowing its owner with magical powers. If you manage to pick it, then the treasures themselves will go into your hands. In addition, you will learn to understand the language of animals and birds, you will be able to bewitch anyone, you will gain the gift of invisibility and you will learn all the secrets. But the fern flower must be obtained very carefully.
In the very depths of the forest, you need to draw a circle around you, light a candle lit for Easter, take wormwood in your hands and read a prayer. If everything is done correctly, at exactly midnight a thunderstorm will break out, the fern flower will bloom and you must withstand the invasion evil spirits. Ignoring them, you need to walk around the fern backwards three times, pick the flower, hiding it in your bosom and run out of the circle without looking back. And you can’t stop or look around and not respond to the entreaties of the evil spirits, otherwise you can lose the magical fern flower and perish yourself.
Having taken possession of a flower, it’s time to go in search of your loved one. It is believed that true love at first sight begins on this night. Well, if you jump over a fire with your chosen one, then for the rest of your life you will be connected with him by bonds as hot as fire and beautiful as a magical fern flower.
Not a single girl can do without a wreath on the night of Ivan Kupala. This is not just a summer decoration, but also powerful amulet from evil spirits and the evil eye, symbolizing the cycle of natural forces and infinity.
After running through the forest all night wearing a wreath, don’t forget to burn it in the morning or throw it on a tree so that no one can cause damage. And if you want to know the future, then you need to throw a wreath along the river: if it floats to the middle - a year will pass without problems, washes to the shore - your fate will meet in that direction, and if it drowns, expect trouble.
The main motive of the holiday is the destruction of evil spirits. The witch can be symbolized by a wheel, worn-out shoes or a doll. All this can be mercilessly burned, drowned, torn into pieces or thrown onto a tree. Together with the witch, they burn doors, shoes, brooms - not their own, of course, but their neighbors'. Just don’t forget to warn the owners, let them take away things you don’t mind. But you yourself may turn out to be a witch - if you refuse to jump over the fire. So, if you don’t want to jump over the fire for whatever reason, then it’s better to mysteriously leave to collect herbs for a wreath.
It is not surprising that beautiful legends, fairy tales and beliefs are associated with this plant. The amazing features of these plants are one of the main reasons for the emergence of legends. The fern plant surprised with its appearance and in an unusual way reproduction. People have always been attracted by the mystery of these plants, the mystery of their reproduction in the absence of flowers. All sorts of legends began to arise around the fern. Magical properties were attributed to him. “This unprecedented flower of the fern is revered as the key of witchcraft and magical power, especially for finding treasures: where the fern blooms at midnight with red fire, there lies a treasure; and whoever plucks the flower of a fern has obtained the key for lifting any treasure, which is rare without this to whom it is given." 
Fern (9)
In the story “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” N.V. Gogol talked about an old folk legend, according to which once a year a fern flower blooms, and whoever picks it will get a treasure and get rich.
N.V. Gogol in “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” describes the flowering of a fern this way: “Look, a small flower bud turns red and, as if alive, moves. Really wonderful! It moves and gets bigger and bigger and turns red like a hot coal. A star flashed, something quietly crackled, and the flower unfolded before his eyes like a flame, illuminating others around it.”
"Now it's time!" - Petro thought and extended his hand... Closing his eyes, he pulled the stem, and the flower remained in his hands. Everything calmed down... Having picked a fern flower, our hero threw it up, adding special slander. The flower floated in the air and landed just above the place where the fabulous treasure was kept.
In Rus', fern was called gap-grass. It was believed that one touch of a fern flower was enough to open any lock. According to legend, picking a fern flower is very difficult and dangerous. It was believed that a fern flower, immediately after blooming, is plucked by the hand of an invisible spirit. And if someone dares to go pick a fern flower, the spirits will bring horrors and fears upon him, and may take him away with them. 
Fern (10)
The most famous legend, which absolutely everyone knows, young and old, says that on Ivan Kupala, on the shortest night of the year, in the deepest forest, under a birch tree with three trunks from a single root, a magical fern flower blooms. This flower burns like fire, and whoever finds it will have great success in everything, whether digging a treasure or planting a garden. But few people know that the Slavs firmly believed that the magical fern flower is guarded by the Firebird, and that this guard is surprisingly reliable, because in order to pick the flower, you need to drive away the wonderful bird, whose plumage can easily get burned.
The ancient Slavs believed that the fern (Perun's flower) has a powerful ancient power: the one who owns it is not afraid of storms, thunder, water, or fire, he is not subject to the influence of evil spells, and all his desires are immediately fulfilled. 
Another way to get a fern flower (11)
There is another way to get this grass: to do this, at midnight on the eve of St. John's Day, you had to go out into the wild wasteland where the grass grows and mow until the iron scythe breaks, this fracture will be a sign that the scythe has found grass to break . Then you should collect all the grass under the place where the spit broke and throw it into a stream or river, because ordinary grass floats downstream, but a break floats upstream. 
Fern (12)
It was also believed that if you throw a bunch of grass into the smithy, the blacksmith will no longer be able to work, everything will fall out of his hands. Since rupture grass breaks not only iron, but also all other metals, ancient thieves loved to use it. They cut their finger, inserted grass inside the cut, and then the finger healed. So, such a miracle - the finger became universal tool to unlock all doors and chests. 
Fern (English superstition)(13)
According to English beliefs magical power possesses only the flower obtained in a special way. Among other things, the gap-grass obtained in such a secret way made its owner invisible, and neither a bullet nor lead could hurt him.
Ferns and snakes (14)
In the popular consciousness, ferns were also associated with snakes. And some types of ferns, such as “viper’s tongue,” even cured the bite of such a poisonous snake as a viper. Although, according to Welsh superstition, carrying it is extremely dangerous, since this plant can attract snakes.
Fern (15)
In some places there are beliefs according to which you should never pull out a fern, as this will cause a storm, and a person, even if he accidentally steps on it, will definitely get confused in his head, and he will most likely get lost. 
Fern (16)
The Slavs also believed that if you cut and burn a fern, it will certainly rain. Therefore, this method was widely used during droughts as an excellent means of causing rain.
In 1636, when King Charles I was going to visit the county of Staffordshire, his chamberlain, Lord Pembroke, wrote to the chief justice of this county that during the royal visit, ferns should not be burned under any circumstances, so as not to spoil the wonderful, sunny weather, and not to disrupt the monarch’s visit. It was also widely believed that the spores of this plant make the one who possesses them invisible and give him many other magical properties. 
Fern flower - myth, legend, legend or truth? One of the mystical artifacts that people have been trying to find for centuries. A story that is intertwined with many stories, retellings and warnings.
According to legend, this color reveals the knowledge of the universe. You can: hear the voices of plants and animals, see what is hidden from the ordinary human gaze, penetrate into other worlds, learn all the secrets of the universe, master real magic.
When to look for a flower
According to legends, the flower can be found on Kupala night - July 7, the day of the summer equinox (solstice). But, since before the revolution the country lived according to a different time, the night of Kupala is not on July 7, but from June 21 to 22 (the calendar is shifted by 13 days).
When going in search of a flower, a traveler must take several things.
1. A bottle of living fire (holy oil).
2. Mirror.
These items should protect and help you find the legendary color.
But few people know that the fern does not bloom every year. The Slavs went to look for him only on the night when it was shining full moon- the so-called Strong Solstice. According to the legends of the Slavic people, the fern blooms only on such a night and does not bloom without the moon. The light of the moon is, as it were, a magical color that helps to reveal a flower.
Flower search process
Walking through the forest and coming across a fern clearing, you need to take out a mirror and look back into it to look for the color. The time for searching is also certain. Sunset has passed, the moon has come out, but the first star in the sky has not yet descended. If you manage to see a flower, you need to reach it while looking in the mirror so as not to lose sight and pour it with holy oil, then set fire to the oil and the holy fire will show the color of the incredible flower. According to another legend, a fern is a flower of another (alien) world. Only a worthy person with a pure heart and thoughts can pluck it, spilling blood on the color.
By different legends, many people went looking for a unique flower. Many did not return, and those who did return came out of the forest completely gray-haired and old; overnight the young guys turned into old men.
According to the stories of the Old Believers, having picked the flower, you need to go and not look back. Because the fern is protected higher powers, and the one who looks back is dragged into the unknown or driven crazy. That’s why the seekers either weren’t found, or they came out gray-haired and out of their minds.
When going to look for a fern flower, you need to remember that perhaps legends keep the truth. And you can become either wise and omniscient, or crazy. Although you may not find the color, since there is no evidence of the existence of the magic fern.
What do we know about the holiday and the legend about the fern flower? What is the legend based on and can it be true? A little research: what should this flower look like, when and where exactly to look for it, what to watch out for and what to remember? What should a person take with him when he goes in search of a magic flower?
There is a belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala a fern flower blooms and the person who finds this flower is guaranteed happiness and wealth. But it does not bloom for long, it is difficult to find and in general it is a dangerous activity. What’s more confusing is the well-known truth that ferns don’t have any flowers at all.
First the facts. Ferns are a department of very ancient plants, rich in their diversity (more than 10 thousand species). Ferns reproduce by spores and vegetative means (shoots). The spores are located on the back of the leaf and are quite inconspicuous. Some types of ferns produce an arrow with spores, which resembles an inflorescence, but not a single flower. Where then did the legends about the miracle flower come from?
There is a legend according to which on the day of the summer solstice two children were born, Kupala and Kostroma, the fruit of the forbidden love of the god Semargl and the goddess of the night Bathing, and in honor of this event Perun, Semargl’s brother, gave them a fiery fern flower. That’s why this flower is also called Perun’s color.
Some explain the origin of the legend this way. During this period, nature abounds with fireflies. It was the light of these insects in the thickets of ferns that people took for a miracle flower. This also explains why not everyone can see it, and not everyone who sees it can pick it. Of course, if you scare a firefly, it will stop glowing and hide in the thick of the foliage.
Ferns are also poisonous. In hot summer weather, the air in the forest is saturated with vapors. Perhaps they cause various auditory and visual hallucinations.
In general, ferns don’t bloom and that’s it. But why then do legends about the fern flower exist among many peoples? The Slavs, the Baltic peoples, and the residents of Great Britain, Germany, Syria, and Ethiopia have them. What if they still bloom? Maybe not all ferns, but only a specific species that reproduces by both spores and seeds, under certain conditions. Or maybe it’s a false flower and no seeds can be produced from it. Or, like some plants, it blooms once every 100 years, or even less often.
Let's say that a fern flower does exist. Where and how to look for it, what to do with it later, and why is it even needed?
Who will search? Anyone can search, but not everyone can find it, much less preserve it. This person must have courage, self-control, a pure heart, good thoughts, high morality and beneficence.
When to look for a fern flower?
Everything looks simple here. It blooms on the night of Ivan Kupala. This means you should look for it on the night of July 6-7. Not so! Some argue that Kupala is celebrated on July 7, and you need to look for it on the night of the holiday, therefore, the right night is from July 7 to 8. In addition, according to the old style, this holiday fell on June 23-24, which corresponds to the legend about Perun’s color. Around this period, from June 20 to June 26, the summer solstice falls, and it is on these days that Ivan Kupala is celebrated in other countries. With the transition to new style the holiday shifted by 2 weeks, and apparently they forgot to warn the sun, so June 22 is considered the summer solstice. Moreover, it must be taken into account that the holiday of Ivan Kupala arose as a result of the combination of the pagan holiday of Kupala and the Christian celebration of the birthday of John the Baptist (July 22). So you have to decide for yourself when to look.
Where to look?
This is understandable. Where the fern grows. But it is unlikely that a fern in a flowerpot from your windowsill or from summer cottage. Need a wild fern. Appearance it has enough character that you are unlikely to confuse it with any other plant. Ferns are quite unpretentious; they just need to be warm and damp. That's why they grow in forests, swamps, and near rivers. But you still have to go into the forest, and into the most remote part of it.
How to look for a fern flower?
The answer suggests itself - carefully. Although some versions of the legend claim that you need to draw a magic circle near the fern with a knife, which will protect you from evil spirits, sit in it and patiently wait for the flower to appear. It will bloom exactly at midnight and will bloom... for some time. By different sources- from one moment to the whole night. It is not clear what this flower looks like. Some say that it is a large red, “fiery” flower, others say it is silver, and others say it is a small white flower. Everyone agrees on only one thing - this flower glows. This is where its other names came from: luminous color, adonis, heat-color, color-light. This means that it will not be so difficult to see it at night. They just say it will be scary. The evil spirits will try in every possible way to scare you with visions, various sounds, and may even call you by name. Our ancestors’ ideas about this are described by Gogol in “ May night" They also claim that this flower has some kind of special guardian, whose purpose is to prevent you from picking the treasured flower.
What to do next?
The flower must be picked quickly. Suddenly it still blooms only for an instant. Then, by various sources, hide and run, or carefully carry in your palms. The main thing is not to look back. Or, according to other sources, sit in a outlined circle, waiting for the morning. It’s unclear what to do with him next. Apparently, dry it and store it in a home herbarium. One of the legends says that you need to throw a flower into the river and make a wish.
Why is it even needed?
The owner of a fern flower gains a lot of superpowers. He will be able to do virtually everything: understand the language of animals, see treasures through the thickness of the earth, become invisible, instantly be transported from place to place (teleport), be invulnerable, command spirits, in addition, all his desires will come true. All this will last as long as the fern flower is in your hands. And there will be enough people willing to take this flower from you, both among people and among representatives of evil spirits.
To do this, you need to clearly understand where and why you are going. You go alone into the forest at night. It's summer outside and the night is unlikely to be particularly cool. But there are ticks in the forest, and it’s easy to get hurt in the dark, so it’s better to wear comfortable sneakers, pants, a long-sleeve sweater and a baseball cap. You may need:
- 1. Compass, map. It’s easy to get lost in the forest during the day, let alone at night.
- 2. Knife. They will need to draw a magic circle. In addition, the flower stem may be quite strong, and you will have little time to pick it. Better to cut it. Although, some legends say that the flower itself should fall onto the spread tablecloth and until then you cannot touch it. And a knife can also be useful for self-defense: you never know what kind of maniacs roam the forest at night.
- 3. Flashlight, matches, lighter. It’s dark at night in the forest, and even attacks from evil spirits are expected, so, as they know from scary movies, the flashlight can act up. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and take a lighter, matches, or some kind of torch with you.
- 4. Water. It’s scary to be alone in the forest, your throat will be dry, you’ll definitely want to drink. Well, it's worth grabbing a couple of sandwiches. Who knows how long you will stay there.
- 5. First aid kit. While wandering around in search of a fern flower or running away from its guardian, you can run into a branch or smash your forehead against a tree. We must be prepared.
- 6. MP3 player with peppy music. This is to distract yourself, not to lose heart, and through headphones you are unlikely to hear the terrible forest sounds that devils and devils will make. Here, of course, a fellow optimist would be more suitable. But how can you then share the flower with him?
- 7. A deck of cards or whatever you usually use to tell fortunes. After all, there are many unexplained moments left, what to do is unknown. And so they spread the cards - and everything became clear.
- 8. Cross, holy water, amulets, spells. This is all for unclean spirits, or rather from them. In addition, it won’t hurt to brush up on a couple of prayers. Well, you will probably need to say some magic words when you pick the flower.
- 9. Backpack. Well, where else to put all these belongings?
That's all. Good luck to you!
Ferns have always attracted interest and even caused some fear among people. It was considered a special, mysterious and hidden plant, unlike all the others. He was always hiding something, grew up in dim, damp, scary places and, apparently, kept some kind of secret knowledge within himself.
People were attracted by the mystery of the fern and the absence of flowers. All plants bloom, but this one does not - that means it is special, marked by mystery. So legends about ferns, tales, and fairy tales begin to arise around. In them - a modest inhabitant of forests and endows with those properties that a person has not observed in reality - the fern blooms, but not simply, but magically.
There is a well-known legend about a fern, in which a magical flower blooms once a year on the night of Ivan Kupala. In the ancient Slavic tradition, fern became known as a magical plant. According to legend, it was at Kupala midnight that the fern bloomed for a short time, and the earth opened up, making visible the treasures and treasures hidden in it.
After midnight, those who were lucky enough to find a fern flower ran in their mother's clothes through the dewy grass and bathed in the river to receive fertility from the earth.
According to the legend of the fern, at midnight before Midsummer, the fern blooms for a few moments as a bright fiery flower with magical properties. Around midnight, a bud suddenly appears from the leaves of the fern, which, rising higher and higher, then sways, then stops - and suddenly staggers, turns over and jumps. Exactly at midnight, a ripened bud bursts with a bang, and a bright fiery flower is presented to the eyes, so bright that it is impossible to look at it; an invisible hand tears it off, and a person almost never manages to do this. Whoever finds a blossoming fern and manages to take possession of it acquires the power to command everyone.
In the story “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” N.V. Gogol talked about an old folk legend, according to which once a year a fern flower blooms, and whoever picks it will get a treasure and get rich. N.V. Gogol in “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” describes the flowering of fern as follows: “Look, a small flower bud turns red and, as if alive, moves. It’s truly wonderful! It moves and becomes bigger, bigger and redder, like a hot coal. A star flashed, something quietly crackled, and the flower unfolded before his eyes, like a flame, illuminating others around you." "Now it's time!" - Petro thought and extended his hand... Closing his eyes, he pulled the stem, and the flower remained in his hands. Everything has calmed down...Having picked a fern flower, he threw it up, adding special incantations. The flower floated in the air and landed just above the place where the fabulous treasure was kept.”
In Rus', fern was called gap-grass. It was believed that one touch of a fern flower was enough to open any lock. According to legend, picking a fern flower is very difficult and dangerous. It was believed that a fern flower, immediately after blooming, is plucked by the hand of an invisible spirit. And if someone dares to go pick a fern flower, the spirits will bring horrors and fears upon him, and may take him away with them.
In Russia there was such a legend about fern: “The shepherd was grazing the bulls not far from the forest and fell asleep. Waking up at night and seeing that there were no bulls near him, he ran into the forest to look for them. Running through the forest, he accidentally ran into some growth that had just blossomed. The shepherd, not noticing this grass, ran straight across through it. At this time, he accidentally knocked down a flower with his foot, which fell into his shoe. Then he became happy and immediately found the bulls, not knowing what was in his shoe and without taking off his shoes for several days, the shepherd in that short time saved money and found out. the future. Meanwhile, during this time, earth was poured into the shoe. The shepherd, taking off his shoes, began to shake the earth out of the shoe, and along with the earth he shook out the color of the fern. From that time on, he lost his happiness, lost his money and did not recognize the future.”.
Beautiful legends are associated with this plant. According to one of them, in the place where a beautiful girl fell from a cliff, a clean spring arose, and her hair turned into fern. Other legends about the fern connect its origin with the goddess of love and beauty Venus: a wonderful plant grew from a hair she dropped. One of its types is called adiantum - Venus hair.
Widespread legend about fire flower The fern that had to be found on the night of Ivan Kupala is associated with the male shield fern, but the female stump fern also received its share in this ancient ritual. Since tribal primitive times, female nomad was considered a “reliable” and powerful “witch’s root”.
The peasants of the Vologda region have long had a belief that if on the night of Ivan Kupala you find a large female fern, sit patiently near it, without moving and covered with a thick cloth, then you can learn all the secrets of forest herbs and medicinal plants. Allegedly, after some time, one will be able to see in the twilight of a not very dark northern night how all of them will run past the female fern one after another medicinal herbs, each person will identify herself and say what disease she helps with.
The fern has always attracted interest and even caused some fear in people. It was considered a special, mysterious plant, unlike all the others. He was always hiding something, grew up in dim, damp places and, apparently, kept some kind of secret Knowledge within himself. According to the legend of the fern, at midnight before Midsummer, the fern blooms for a few moments with a flower with magical properties. Around midnight, a bud suddenly appears from the leaves of the fern, which, rising higher and higher, then sways, then stops - and suddenly staggers, turns over and jumps. Exactly at midnight, a ripened bud bursts with a bang, and a bright fiery flower is presented to the eyes, so bright that it is impossible to look at it; an invisible hand tears it off, and a person almost never manages to do this. Whoever finds a blossoming fern and manages to take possession of it acquires the power to command everyone. In the story “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” N.V. Gogol talked about an old folk legend, according to which once a year a fern flower blooms, and whoever picks it will get a treasure and get rich. N.V. Gogol in “Evenings on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” describes the flowering of a fern this way: “Look, a small flower bud turns red and, as if alive, moves. It’s truly wonderful! It moves and becomes bigger, bigger and redder, like a hot coal “A star flashed, something quietly crackled, and the flower unfolded before his eyes like a flame, illuminating others around it.” "Now it's time!" - Petro thought and extended his hand... Closing his eyes, he pulled the stem, and the flower remained in his hands. Everything has calmed down..." According to legends, picking a fern flower is very difficult and dangerous. It was believed that a fern flower, immediately after blooming, is plucked by the hand of an invisible Spirit. And if someone dares to go pick a fern flower, then the Spirits will bring horrors and fears upon him , and they can take him away with them. In Russia there was such a legend about the fern: “A shepherd was grazing bulls not far from the forest and fell asleep. Waking up at night and seeing that there were no bulls near him, he ran into the forest to look for them. While running through the forest, I accidentally ran into some growth that had just blossomed. The shepherd, not noticing this grass, ran straight across it. At this time, he accidentally knocked down a flower with his foot, which fell into his shoe. Then he became happy and immediately found the bulls. Not knowing what was in his shoe and without taking off his shoes for several days, the shepherd in this short time saved money and learned about the Future. Meanwhile, Earth was poured into the shoe during this time. The shepherd, taking off his shoes, began to shake the Earth out of his shoe and, along with the Earth, shook out the color of the fern. From that time on, he lost his happiness, lost his money and did not know the Future." Beautiful legends are associated with this plant. According to one of them, in the place where a beautiful girl fell from a cliff, a clean spring arose, and her hair turned into a fern Other legends about the fern connect its origin with the Goddess of love and beauty, Venus: a wonderful plant grew from a hair dropped by her and is called adiantum - Venus hair. Ivan Kupala, the male shield fern is associated with the fern, but the female kochedyzhnik also received its share in this ancient ritual. Since tribal primitive times, the female kochedyzhnik has been considered a “reliable” and powerful “witch root”. The peasants of the Vologda region have long had such a belief. that if on the night of Ivan Kupala you find a large female fern, sit patiently near it, without moving and covered with a thick cloth, then you can learn all the secrets of forest herbs and medicinal plants. Allegedly, after some time one will be able to see in the twilight of a not very dark northern night how all the medicinal herbs will run past the female fern one after another, each one will identify itself and say what disease it helps against. How to find a fern flower The legend about this flower is quite ancient, it is believed that it blooms only on the night of Ivan Kupala, so on this day after 12 at night the people went into the forest and looked for this flower with all their might. Once upon a time, on the day of the solstice, the Slavs glorified Dazhd-God. Much later, the Orthodox Church turned the pagan holiday into a Christian one, dedicating it to John the Baptist - Ivan Kupala. Traditionally, Ivan Kupala is celebrated in Nature. On this night, you need to make a fire and jump over the fire, weave a wreath of flowers and set it on the water, telling fortunes about your loved one, sing songs, find a blooming fern. If everyone has done this, then the holiday is considered a success. It is believed that an evil spirit rages in the forest that night, guarding the magical fern flower. It blooms for a minute, blazing with bright red fire and as if endowing its owner with magical powers. If you manage to pick it, then the treasures themselves will go into your hands. In addition, you will learn to understand the language of animals and birds, you will be able to bewitch anyone, you will gain the gift of invisibility and you will learn all the secrets. But the fern flower must be obtained very carefully. Having taken possession of a flower, it’s time to go in search of your loved one. It is believed that true love at first sight begins on this night. Well, if you jump over the fire with your chosen one, then for the rest of your life you will be connected with him by bonds as hot as fire and beautiful as a magical fern flower. It is not surprising that beautiful legends, fairy tales and beliefs are associated with this plant. The amazing features of these plants are one of the main reasons for the emergence of legends. The fern plant surprised us with its appearance and unusual method of reproduction. People have always been attracted by the mystery of these plants, the mystery of their reproduction in the absence of flowers. All sorts of legends began to arise around the fern. Magical properties were attributed to him. “This unprecedented flower of the fern is revered as the key of witchcraft and magical power, especially for finding treasures: where the fern blooms at midnight with red fire, there lies a treasure; and whoever plucks the flower of a fern has obtained the key for lifting any treasure, which is rare without this to whom it is given." But no one on Earth has actually seen a fern flower and no one will be able to see it. The fern, as we usually understand it, does not bloom. Deceiver fireflies The fern has so many popular names that it’s impossible to count them all: fern (or fern), snack, cupid, devil’s beard, flea beetle, shield bug and many others... As many names as the fern, there are as many legends, and probably even more . Some legends have very real roots. For example, it was believed that the male shield (one of the widespread varieties of ferns) could, with its magical properties, serve as a real “shield” for a person - make him rich and invisible to others. In many Russian provinces, the fern was called light flower or Perunov fire flower (in honor of the God of thunder and lightning Perun), since it was believed that once a year (on the night before Midsummer's Day) the fern begins to bloom with a beautiful flower that glows brightly in the night. One can guess where this belief came from: closer to mid-summer, all kinds of fireflies appear in the forest (including in the thickets of ferns). And since there are more than enough ferns in the forests, people who find themselves in the thicket at night might well think that the flowers of the plant are burning with this bright but cold light. Thus(?) was born the legend of a fern that blooms once a year, which later grew into many other beliefs. Ferns of all kinds were associated in the popular consciousness with thunder and lightning, and therefore protected the house from thunderstorms. If you have a fern growing near your house, you are not afraid of any damage from lightning and thunderstorms. Lotions and poultices from different types Fern was used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including cuts and wounds, snake bites, bile spills, coughs, inflammation, and conjunctivitis. A well-known remedy for toothache in Western regions is a bitten off piece of the first fern found in the spring. If you manage to do this, then you will be free from this disease for the whole year. Answering the question of whether fern is a magical plant, we can already conclude that fern is indeed a very powerful plant, as it eliminates many diseases and promotes health. But there is an ancient belief that the fern blooms on the night of Kupala (not to be confused with the Christian version - Ivan Kupala). The night of Kupalo, June 23–24, is one of the ancient pagan holidays dedicated to the beginning of fertility under the auspices of one of the pagan Gods Kupalo. It is on this night that the fern blooms. According to legend, around midnight, a bud suddenly appears from the center of the fern and begins to grow rapidly. But knowledgeable people they say that this flower is very small in size, and its color is such that one might not even notice it, especially at night. This flower can be called inconspicuous in appearance, consisting of 5-6 small pinkish petals with large whitish veins, as if covered with tiny hairs. That is why this flower is soft and fluffy to the touch. In the center of the flower there are three flexible stamens ending in red, rounded cones, each slightly larger than a poppy seed. In fact, without any means at hand, this flower is almost impossible to pick, since its stem resembles rubber or something like silicone, and the flower itself, without the stem, can be easily crushed, turning into an absurd mass. Therefore, it is best to cut a fern flower with a knife. The lucky person who gets a fern flower must immediately bring it home, since the existence of the flower is very limited in time. There it must be placed in a vessel - a glass container with a lid, and then kept in the refrigerator(?), where it can be preserved, as if drying out. In Nature, a blossoming fern flower lasts from 16 to 33 minutes, then it fades just as quickly as it blossomed, but this happens somewhat unusually. The flower, together with the stem, decreases in size before our eyes, releasing moisture, as if melting. And in the end it completely melts down to the very base, leaving behind a tiny, slightly cloudy puddle in the center of the fern bush. Although there are no “black hands”, dancing devils, voices of evil spirits - there is none of this (?) and there is no trace of it around blooming fern. But all sources mention this! I think that's why none of them ordinary people I did not see a flowering fern and was not even able to find any evidence of its flowering. Firstly, not everyone dares to go into the forest at night, and even completely alone! And secondly, only knowledgeable people are aware of the real date of its flowering, since everyone remembers a certain day of Ivan Kupala, but no one remembers the real holiday of Kupala. Anyone who nevertheless masters this flower acquires the most valuable Knowledge. He understands the language of birds and animals. He becomes a man capable of commanding everything. Rulers and people in power are powerless before him. There is a belief that all treasures will be at his disposal. (The only question is whether he needs them...) It is believed that a man who takes possession of a fern flower is able to win the heart of any beauty. But this does not apply to women. In European Countries they believed that witches and sorceresses, without exception, had this treasured flower in their secret treasuries. There is an old sign - if a dried piece of fern (can be a root, or a twig) is threaded through a gold or silver chain and carried with you, then no person will have bad thoughts against the owner of such an amulet. Dried fern can relieve melancholy and nightmares, protect against the evil eye and damage. To make a fern amulet, you need to pick a couple of stems of the plant and dry them in a bright place. Dried fern is tied up wool thread and is laid out in the corners of rooms on a hill. If a fern is placed under a pillow, it will relieve a person from nightmares. A fern planted in a dark corner of the garden, placed in a vase, thrown on hot coals, that is, in any form, the plant will protect and protect. It is best to wear a fern amulet on a naked body so that it is in as close contact with the owner as possible and protects against damage and the evil eye.
