The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HOW TO FIND A FERN BLOOM

TO FIND THIS BLOOM, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY BRAVE. FIRST OF ALL, YOU
HAVE TO GO DEEP INTO THE FOREST AT NIGHT, AS SOON AS IT GETS DARK.
YOU HAVE TO GO SO FAR THAT YOU WOULDN'T HEAR THE ROOSTER CROWING
AT DAWN, AND THAT IS A GOOD THREE OR FOUR MILES.
WHEN YOU GET INTO THE WOODS, THE PERSON HAS TO DRAW A CIRCLE TWO
STEPS IN DIAMETER AND RADIUS. THEN HE HAS TO SIT DOWN IN THE
MIDDLE, LIGHT A CANDLE AND WAIT TILL HE FINDS THE FERN BLOOM.
IN THE MEANTIME, ALL SORTS OF GOBLINS AND SUPERNATURALS COME UP
TO HIM TRYING TO SCARE HIM. THEY MAKE ALL KINDS OF HORRIBLE FACES
AND STRANGE NOISES. IF THE PERSON GETS FRIGHTENED JUST ONE LITTLE
BIT, HE WILL NOT FIND THE BLOOM. IF HE STICKS IT OUT AND ISN'T
FRIGHTENED, THEN CHANCES ARE THAT HE WILL FIND THE BLOOM. SO IT
IS ONLY THE BRAVEST THAT WILL FIND THE FERN BLOOM.
IN REALITY, THE FERN NEVER BLOOMS. BUT AMONG THE PEOPLE IT IS
BELIEVED TO BLOOM ON ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S EVE--JUNE 23.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED BY RAMUNI STONYS.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: 01-17-1972