It’s St. Andrew’s Day tomorrow! And apparently, if you’re in the market for a marriage partner, tonight’s a great night to do a little love divination.
St. Andrew
Traditions in Poland, parts of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania hold that St. Andrew’s Eve is especially good for discovering who your next husband will be. Not much is said about guys finding their future partners, but maybe that’s another saint.
On this magical night, everything from bees wax to shoe piles are divining tools. Pouring hot wax in water is said to create shapes with clues to your man. And pouring it through the eye of a large, old style key is considered especially effective.
Then there’s the shoe pile. This one’s usually done at a St. Andrew’s Eve dance with lots of eligible ladies in attendance. Each potential bride puts their right shoe in a pile.
The youngest girl present (and not trying to find a mate) is then blindfolded, spun around several times and pointed in the direction of the footwear. The owner of the shoe she chooses will be the first one to the altar. Or at least that’s what they say.
I haven’t been able to figure out why St. Andrew, brother of St. Peter, founder and first bishop of the Church of Byzantium and patron saint of Scotland, Ukraine, Russia, and Romania is connected to ‘who’s going to be my husband questions.’ But so be it.
If these techniques work for anyone, let me know.
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