Slovakia's witches come out to play on St. Lucy's Day

Twelve days before Christmas is a bewitching time in Slovakia. Some Slovaks still celebrate the day of St Lucy - the end of the cycle of so called witches' days. In some European regions, St Lucy is considered the patron of light. But Slovaks did not fancy Lucy so much. Until the end of the 16th century, this day was the shortest in the year. On this dark day people believed witches were at their greatest power.

The cycle of witches' days in Slovak folk tradition is reaching its end with the day of St Lucy. In some European regions, St Lucy is considered the patron of light. However, Slovaks did not fancy Lucy so much. Until the end of the 16th century, this day was the shortest in the year when the activities of evil living in the dark culminated. People believed that witches were most powerful two weeks before Christmas. Ethnologist Katarina Nadaska:

"They locked their stables unlike for the rest of the year. They started to lock them around this time and used to hang a garlic wreath on the door of the stable. It was done to protect these buildings from strangers and demons."

People used to be very suspicious even towards their closest neighbours. One never knows whether the neighbours are evil demons. In order to be sure with their cattle, they did not even trust their own relatives.

"It was dangerous to leave the door unlocked. The witches could simply come to take straw or some bits and pieces out of the stable and use them for black magic."

People in Slovak villages usually help each other. If you're a cup of milk short, you pop in to your neighbour who gives it to you. If the master of the house couldn't find a spade he borrowed it. Nevertheless, all the kindness was interrupted in the period of so called witches' days the worst of which is Lucia - Lucy.

"So indeed, nobody lent anything to anybody nor did they sell anything to each other. Even beggars were left unattended because people feared misuse of all the things they would give away."

The day of St Lucy is famous for so called Lucia walks in Slovak folk tradition. Katarina Nadaska:

"Men and women used to dress in white. They put white powder of flour on their face and a garlic wreath on their head. With a goose wing in their hand they visited homes in the village. Most of the time, these 'Luckas' silently swept the corners of houses."

...which had a practical reason. If single men were dressed as Luckas they could see if the young woman living in the house is going to make a perfect wife.

The day of St Lucy is only 12 days away from Christmas Eve. Farmers used to pay better attention to each of these days in order to predict what the next year would be like. The period of 12 days gave rise to love magic too. Put down 12 names on separate pieces of paper, tear one off each day and the name that is left on Christmas Eve will be your faithful.

"Another habit was scaring off witches. People would walk down the village and made noise with pans and other tools. It was prohibited to go to the forest on St Lucy's day or stop at crossroads as it was believed that witches would chase you and tear you apart. Nevertheless, it was also the day of good wishes of great crop."

If you're scared and want to be sure that the witch Lucy will not do any harm to you follow several rules: don't spin thread and don't sew on December 13, if you have cattle, lock the door of the stable, hang a garlic wreath and sign a cross on it. Don't forget to take a pan and make big noise at crossroads to drive away the witches. That will protect you against the evil and secure you a tranquil wait for Christmas Eve. All the best!