August was traditionally another month of hard work on the field but that doesn’t mean that there would be no time for traditions. Here are some of the Czech folkloric traditions in August.
As I have said several times, Czech folkloric traditions are of pagan origins. Many of them had to adapt to the Catholic church to survive and, in consequence, today we have traditions that are a unique mixture of folklore and Christian beliefs.
Czech Folkloric Traditions in August
As in other seasons, the traditions in August also reflected the needs of people, the weather and nature. Protection from summer storms, hail and fire, healing power of herbs, asking for good weather. All this was the object of the traditions.
Significance of Rowan Tree
Rowanberries (jeřabiny) and leaves had a great significance in the summer traditions as a part of the celebrations of the Day of St. Batholomew (sv. Bartoloměj). In South Bohemia, unmarried girls picked rowanberries and rowan tree leaves the evening before August 24 and made wreaths from them. Just before the sun went up on the Day of St. Batholomew, they hung their wreaths from the attic windows so people could see how many girls were living in the house.
Rowanberries were also believed to have strong healing powers and they were recommended for inhalation to alleviate toothache and cattle was fed rowanberries to boost appetite. In fact, rowanberries are still used for medicinal purposes to help with joint pain, increase bill production and as a diuretic.
Protection Against Adverse Weather
People also used to hand wreaths from rowanberries and rowanberries on a thread in windows, doors and at the gable walls of their houses to ensure protection from storms and the fire a lightning could cause. St. Lawrence (sv. Vavřinec) used to be worshiped as the protector from fire in the middle ages and even in the modern times families would have a picture of him at home to protect them from fire.
Pilgrimage of St. Lawrence
The Day of St. Lawrence is August 10 and the tradition of these celebrations is still very much alive. The pilgrimage leads to the top of Sněžka, the highest peak of the country, and ends with a mass. Another famous pilgrimage is a part of the festival Chodské slavnosti (largest ethnographic festival in western Bohemia dedicated to the Chodsko region) which lead to Vavřineček, a local hill named after the saint.
St. Lawrence Celebrations
St. Lawrence festivals and celebrations take place all over the country – folkloric performances, fairs and masses.
Day of Our Lady of Spices
August 15 is the Day of Assumption of Mary and in the folkloric culture, she is given the attribute “of the Spices” or “of the Herbs” (Panna Marie Kořenná, Panna Marie Bylinná). This celebration is a perfect example of the adjustments of the folkloric festivities to the pressure of the church in order to survive. People believed in the special power of herbs picked on St. John’s Eve and the same goes for the Day of Assumption of Mary. Rather than to fight the pagan rituals, the church attributed these special powers to the saints. And because Mary was the patroness of herbalists, people weren’t discouraged from picking herbs and believing in their powers but they were taught to believe that the closer to a church or chapel, the stronger to powers. People would also bring their herbs to church to get a blessing.
Churches would get beautifully decorated with flower wreaths and so did the houses. It was believed, that such a wreath would protect the house (stall, barn…) against fire, flood and hailstones.
