Northern mythology

104 SWEDISH TRADITIONS.
tiful blue than those of the common flax, is Our Ladifs
flax ; in low, wild places a flower called Our Lady's hand
lifts its rose-coloured spike : it has two roots like hands,
one white the other black, and when both are laid in
water, the black one will sink—this is called Satan's hand;
but the white one—called Mari/s hand—will float.
This
plant the peasant shows to his children, and tells of the
holy mother and of Him who overcame the powers of hell.
The pretty, small green seed-vessels of the shepherd^s
purse (thlaspi bursa pastoris) are called Our Ladifs pincushion)
and the dew-flower (alchemilla vulgaris) with its
plaited leaves, Our Ladifs mantle.
As the Thorbagge^, in the time of heathenism, was
sacred to Thor, so was the Lady-bird (coccinella septempunctata)
dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and is to this day
called Our Lady's key-maid (nyckelpiga) . It is thought
lucky when a young girl in the country sees this little
creature in the spring ; she then lets it creep about her
^^
hand, and says : She measures me for wedding gloves.^^
And when it spreads its little wings and flies away, she
particularly notices the direction it takes, for thence her
sweetheart shall one day come. This little messenger from
the Virgin Mary is believed to foretell to the husbandman
whether the year shall be a plentiful one or the contrary :
if its spots exceed seven, bread-corn will be dear ; if they
are fewer than seven, there will be an abundant harvest
and low prices.
YULE-STRAW.
It was a custom in many places to cany Yule-straw
(Julhalm) into the fields, in the belief that it would be of
avail in bringing forth an abundant harvest, for
the sake
of the Child, through whom come all grace and blessings.
It is in remembrance of the Virgin Mary, who laid the
^ See page 53.