Blessing the Land on St. Gregory’s Day
Blessing the hazel nut tree
It was said: "On Svaty Řehoř (St. Gregory’s Day), every farmer is lazy who does not plow.” The actual start of spring plowing also had its own magical ceremony – the farmer sprinkled himself, the plow and the ground with holy water and blessed the field and the first furrow with a cross. When he returned home, the housewife doused him with water to keep him strong in the days to come. Sieving was done on days when the moon was waxing – this was especially true for grain and flax. And finally, when the field was sown, it was walked around, which was related to the belief in the magical protective power of the circle.
Blessing the bridal wreath and the white walnut tree
Today is the old folkloric date of St. Gregory’s day. Since we don’t farm I decided to simply bless plants and places on our land that I particularly work with. I used the water that I gathered and consecrated at the creek on Three King’s Day.
Blessing the possumhaw and the loblolly pine
Blessing the black cherry and the redbud
Blessing the creek and the daffodil patch
