Northern mythology

136 NORTH GERMAN CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS.
!
!
ing wash themselves with the dew, rain, or snow that
has fallen on them.
This preserves them from illness for
the whole year. In Sachsenburg on the Unstrut they
ride the horses into the water ; then they will not be ill
during all the year. The Easter-water has virtue only
when, while drawing it, the wind is due east.
If it rains on Good Friday, the turf will be parched up
three times during the year.
On Good Friday, after sunset, wreaths of elder should
be twined and hung up in the houses : they will then not
be struck by lightning. Neukirchen near Chemnitz.
On Good Friday one should not go into the garden, lest
it cause caterpillars.
Stendal.
On Maundy Thursday green kale should be eaten.
In the neighbourhood of Cammin the village boys hunt
squirrels at Easter. They go into the forest, and when
they have found one, they drive it with sticks and stones
from tree to tree, until it falls down dead.
THE FIRST OF APRIL.
Among children it is everywhere the custom to make
April-fools. In Berlin the little ones are sent to the
apothecary's to fetch crabs' blood or gnats' fat. This
custom is prolonged to the end of the month.
MAY-DAY.
As soon as the first heralds of spring appear, the youth
of Berlin issue from the gates to fetch may-flies and buttercups,
both of which they exchange for pins. The mayflics
they let fly again, singing,
Maikaferchen fliege,
May-chaferkin fly,
Dein Vater ist im Kriege, Thy father 's in the war,
Deine Mutter ist in Pommcrland, Tliy mother 's in Poinerania,
Pommerhmd ist abgebrannt Pomerania is all burnt
Maikaferchen fliege.
May-chaferkin fly.