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Show Observing St. John's Eve In Poland, St. John's eve it marked by the lighting of bonfires bon-fires and the throwing of wreaths into rivers and streams. For the occasion girls weave flowers and herbs into crowns and, placing a light in the center of the leaves, toss them into brooks or rivers. Youthful swains either stand on the bank or boat out into the water and attempt to catch the wreaths on poles. If a girl's lover succeeds in rescuing her wreath, the Poles believe that the love affair will have a happy ending; if ha lails to, an unfortunate one. In Warsaw this festival takes the form of a gay water fete. |