The fern flower is a mythical flower that reveals to its owner the treasures and secrets of the world, giving clairvoyance and strength to the unclean spirit.
According to Slavic beliefs, the fern blooms only for one moment, on the night before Ivan Kupala (June 24 [July 7]).
It is very difficult to pick a flower, especially since evil spirits hinder and intimidate a person in every possible way, in some cases depriving him of his mind, speech, and memory.
In fact, the fern cannot bloom. Refers to fern plants that reproduce by spores.
Description of the plant
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Fern is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Osmundaceae family, the fern family. The plant's homeland is Northern China, Korea, and the Russian Far East.
Distributed in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, and Central Asia. It is a green stem with numerous pinnately dissected leaves. The fern reproduces only through spores and does not bloom.
Interesting. Fern is one of the oldest plants on the planet, appearing in the Devonian period of the Paleozoic era. Later, the wood from the plant became a source of coal.
It is believed that this plant is a descendant of the first plants on the planet - rhinophytes. Their branches gradually turned into leaves as the spores moved from the ends of the branches to the underside of the leaf.
The process of spore emergence and maturation is very similar to the growth of flowers. The plant is harvested throughout the summer.
Today there are thousands of species of ferns.
Structure, flowering
The stem of the fern is smooth and has no scales. The root system is powerful. The root belongs to the vine; buds are formed on it, from which young shoots are formed.
The stepchildren emerge from the ground at a distance of 10-20 cm and first have a snail-shaped head, which gradually turns into leaves.
Sporulation is the main method of reproduction of ferns. The spores grow on the underside of the leaf. As the spore capsule matures, it disintegrates and the spores scatter in the wind.
As soon as they land on fertile soil, they begin to grow.
As the spore grows, a growth forms in the form of a small green cup. Sperm and eggs appear on the back of the growth.
After fertilization of the egg, seed germination begins and the stepson begins to take root. The fern forms a bush for several years. Fern blossoms are impossible.
Vegetative propagation of fern is possible. In this case, long arrows form on the bush. They bend over to the kidney and press themselves against the stone.
Such human reproduction is carried out in the garden or at the dacha. The arrow takes root in the ground. For replanting, a plot of land is dug up along with the root system.
Ferns also reproduce by division. In early spring it must be removed from the ground. Dense roots are washed off the soil with water, divided into shoots, which are then transplanted to another area.
What are called leaves in everyday life are called fronds in science. They are capable of continuously increasing in length. Fronds actively participate in photosynthesis and plant reproduction.
The bark of the stems acts as a support. Ferns are unchanged, so they are fragile. Compared to angiosperms, their conductive tissues are much weaker.
The structure of the fern is very different, depending on the species. There are low herbaceous plants, and there are large ferns that resemble trees.
Some ferns reach a height of up to 20 m. In addition, branched and fairly strong adventitious roots are formed on the tree trunk.
Diseases and pests
Pests of the Thai fern are bottom-dwelling fish that like to dig up the soil. It is advisable to systematically carefully remove areas damaged by them to allow new growth of the aquatic plant.
Bottom fish
It is undesirable for the fern to live next to the following types of fish: corydoras mutaea, catfish, agamixis. Ideal for: guppies, anubias, apistograms, angelfish, swordtails.
Improper care can harm a fern: lighting will burn the leaves and affect their color; hard and acidic water will completely destroy the foliage and stop the process of reproduction and growth.
For your information. In order to prevent diseases, you should take proper care of the plant.
Belief
Fern flower on the Belarusian commemorative coin “Kupala”
Picking a fern flower and keeping it with you opens up unusual possibilities.
Become perceptive, be able to understand the language of animals, see all the treasures, no matter how deep they are in the ground.
To enter the treasure without hindrance, attaching a flower to the curls and curls - they will crumble in front of him, take possession of unclean spirits, control the earth and water, become invisible and take on any form.
According to legend, a flower bud from a fern bush is shown at midnight. Then it moves back and forth, then sways like a river wave, then jumps like a living bird.
All this happens because evil spirits are trying to hide an expensive color from the human eye. Then every minute it grows and grows upward, blooming like a hot coal.
Finally, at exactly 12 o’clock, the color opens with a crack like lightning, and with its flame it lights up nearby and far away.”
To collect a fern, on the night of Ivan Kupala, you need to spread a sacred tablecloth (used during the bright week) near the plant, draw a circle around you with a blessed knife, read the spell and wait until midnight.
Evil spirits are trying to distract the hunter for the fern flower - they make noise, call the voice of a loved one and scream. If you answer the voice or speak to the ghost, you may lose a life.
The evil spirit tears off his head instead of a fern and sends his soul to hell in torment because he dared to steal the flower that decorates hell.
Having picked up the flower, you need to hide it in your chest and run without looking back (according to another belief, you need to carefully place it on your open palm and take it home without looking back).
Belarusian legends
According to Belarusian belief, on Kupala night you had to go out into the forest alone, without a flashlight, without a flashlight (according to some legends, even barefoot or without clothes).
It was necessary to enter such a forest jungle from which you could not even hear the roosters or dogs of your native village. The fern flower is believed to glow in the dark.
I had to injure my palm, hold a flower in my palm and go home. The evil spirit will make noise, growl, scare, but will not look back.
Having received a fern flower, a person will acquire the ability to see what is invisible to others, he will become wise.
It happened that a cross was drawn above the flower, which meant a secret treasure, and below was a rooster, which symbolized the north.
Carpathian analogue
In the Carpathians there was a similar legend about the red rue flower, which usually blooms yellow. This legend is sung in the song “Chervona Ruta”.
According to one version, rue chervona is an ordinary fragrant rue plant, the yellow flowers of which miraculously turned red. It was as if it happened once a year, on the night of Ivan Kupala, and for a very short time.
A girl who manages to pull out the red color of the rue before it turns yellow again will be able to “bewitch” any boy for life.
Legends about the blooming fern
Is it possible to keep a fern at home?
The most common legend says that on the night of Ivan Kupala (July 6-7), ferns bloom in the dense forest. A blooming fern appears at the stroke of midnight as a blooming ember. Moreover, at this time it opens with a bang, illuminates the clearing with a wonderful color and makes an unusual sound.
A person who has managed to master such a flower becomes subject to all secret knowledge. He can have access to all the secret treasures located in the ground. But not everyone can get such a flower. It is located in the deepest part of the forest. To get to it, you need to overcome the fear of the evil spirits that gather in the clearing. If a person gets scared or, even worse, looks back at the faces of the demons, then he will not see any flower.
This beautiful legend has some basis. There are very rare species of fern that produce stems that look like brightly colored flowers. But these are not flowers, but elongated and modified leaves with buds, which are called “sporangia”.
Sporangia
Another belief says that at midnight a bud appears from a fern bush. She moves like a living bird. The movements occur because evil spirits are trying to hide the flower from human eyes. He grows like a hot coal.
The Carpathian version of the legend has a similar narrative. In this region there is a legend about a red flower - rue. Ruta has yellow flowers, but on the night of Ivan Kupala they suddenly change their color to red. This happens at night and the red color doesn't last very long. If a girl was able, despite her fear of evil spirits, to look and pick such a flower, then she will be able to bewitch any young man with her charms. This same flower will be a real proof of love and will look beautiful.
There are interesting recommendations on how to pick the color of a fern. To do this, you need to go into the forest on the evening before the holiday of Ivan Kupala, find a fern and spread a sacred tablecloth around it. This is the name of the tablecloth that was used during Holy Week, before Easter. You need to draw a circle around yourself using a knife, also consecrated during Holy Week. Next, you need to read the plot and wait until midnight.
Fern flower
You need to concentrate while waiting for fern flowers and not be distracted by extraneous sounds, because evil spirits begin to yell, scream and whistle. Otherwise, the fern may not bloom. It is forbidden to be online. There is a belief that if you respond to the sounds of evil spirits when the plant begins to bloom, you can die, because evil spirits tear off the head and send the soul straight to hell. Walking near a fern flowering site should be very careful.
Interesting. Having picked a fern flower, you need to hide it in your bosom and quickly run home without looking back. The meaning of this belief is interesting: if you perform actions as needed, evil spirits will not “stick” to a person.
In literature
The fern flower is found in folk tales, legends and songs.
A number of writers and poets have encountered the legend:
- Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (story “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala”);
- Józef Kraszewski (Fern Flower);
- Vincent Dunin-Martsinkevich, Yanka Kupala (“Kupala Night, Kurgan”);
- Yakub Kolas (“The Night When the Fern Blooms”);
- Mikhas Charot (Su Kupala");
- Frantisek Alekhnovich (children's play “Fern Flower”, 1916),
- Constance Billeaud (fern flower);
- Vladimir Korotkevich (“That Night”, reading “The Cradle of Four Witches”).
Light
What kind of lighting do fern flowers require? Photos of plants with beautiful bright foliage will confirm that they are being cared for normally. Most types of ferns do not require bright lighting. Many can even grow and develop in the absence of light. A small illumination made artificially will completely satisfy the fern. Therefore, these plants can decorate a room without windows. If exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, the fern may die.
Interesting properties
This plant is believed to have magical properties.
From time immemorial it has been used not only for magical rituals, but also for the treatment of many diseases:
- With the help of a flower obtained at midnight in front of Ivan Kupala, you can find treasures.
- To attract the groom, the girl weaves a branch of fern into her braids and wears it like that.
- To get rid of sciatica pain, you need to cover the mattress with fern leaves and branches. Medicine says that pain and inflammation will quickly pass.
- The root of this plant is used in magic against the evil eye. To do this, the crushed part of the root is added to various potions. Anyone who drinks this decoction will get rid of diseases caused by the “evil eye.” It can protect you from diseases. The root helps with love spells and flaps, and removes the effect of any ritual with which a person does not agree.
- If you place a whole fern root on the house, it will protect the inhabitants of the house from negative energy. A sorcerer and anyone with bad intentions cannot enter such a mansion.
- To use fern as a reliable remedy for the evil eye, you should wear it as close to your body as possible. To do this, the fern is dug up at dawn, washed, and left to dry in the sun. It must be applied the next day.
- The root is used by gypsies. The plant helps maintain clarity of thought and will not allow a person to deceive himself when communicating with it.
Some people use fern for pickling. Products prepared with the addition of fern to the brine have a very interesting taste.
Application and manufacturing options
Since the Fern Flower represents inexhaustible vitality directed towards creation and development, a credit holder with the image of a sacred symbol is suitable primarily for people who are constantly in search of new knowledge: children, schoolchildren, students and creative individuals.
At the same time, very often the amulet encourages its owners for their curiosity and sends good luck in various life situations, including helping to achieve financial well-being. The Fern Flower is also protection against the evil eye or damage, so it will come in handy on a long journey and before starting a new business.
In the old days, Slavic amulets were made from different materials. They were also applied to household items, embroidered on everyday clothing or military accessories.
To protect their home from the invasion of evil forces and enemies, they hung dry leaves and branches of fern in it. To do this, the plant was dried in the sun and then tied with woolen thread. The amulet made in this way was placed in the corners of the hut closer to the ceiling, where there was a better view.
To protect your home from negative energy, it will be enough to simply plant a plant in the far corner of the garden. You can put it in a vase or throw twigs into the hearth.
Embroidery
The person who was entrusted with embroidering the amulet had to be extremely careful and attentive. It was necessary to make the seam precisely so that there were no empty spaces, stitches or hooks. Only a perfectly executed pattern had magical powers.
Embroidery with fern flowerAnother condition for creating protective embroidery was that it should only be performed by a person related by blood. It could be a mother, sister, grandmother or even father. The wife or husband was not suitable for this procedure, because... Although they are close people, they are not family.
You should start working on the waning moon. Throughout the entire period of sewing clothes, the energy of the master and its future owner were united. Therefore, you need to create a talisman only in a good mood and with good intentions. Also, the person should not be tired. If difficulties arise during the process, threads get tangled or break, then the protective amulet will not receive the strength that is intended for it.
As a decoration
Charms in the form of jewelry were very popular. This is still the most convenient way to use magic symbols. Only wealthy Slavs could afford products made of stone and metal, but talismans made of wood were available to everyone. You could simply carry bags filled with dry leaves of the plant. The effect of such a talisman was enhanced by embroidering the symbol of a fern flower on the inside of the bag.
An important condition for wearing a talisman was its interaction with human skin. Therefore, they wore it under their clothes, away from prying eyes. Thus, the product gave its owner its positive energy, while at the same time taking on all the negativity.
Before wearing the talisman, it was first revived. To do this, he had to be placed under the pillow all night. In the morning they took him in their hands and began to talk about their desires and needs. Thoughts must be well formulated so that the amulet can accurately understand what exactly is required of it.
What do scientists say?
Probably, as long as people live, the debate about this mysterious plant will continue. In the same way, stories about missing people will be passed down from generation to generation in villages, and there will also be brave souls who, on the cherished night, will go into the fern thickets for a magic flower. So how do you know if ferns are blooming? You can go to the forest yourself - according to legend, the fern blooms a few minutes before midnight, and at midnight its color, having gained full strength, disappears, as if plucked by an invisible hand. Or trust science. Are ferns blooming? The scientific answer is no. However, it is worth remembering that there are exceptions to everything. The ancestors believed that the fern opens a fiery red bud for loving hearts or for those ruled by the thirst for omnipotence. And it seems that scientists say out loud that a spore plant cannot bloom. However, historians have now proven the existence of Baba Yaga. So maybe the next step would be introducing the fern flower to the world? Who knows...
