Page:Modern Greek folklore and ancient Greek religion - a study in survivals.djvu/322

 denotes a bachelor, the black a widower, and the blue a stranger, that is to say some one other than a fellow-villager. Then, in order to supplement with fuller detail the indications of the lot, the girl takes her stand in the door-way of the cottage and listens to the casual conversation of the neighbours or the passers-by; and the first name, trade, occupation, and suchlike which she hears mentioned are taken to be those of her future husband.

Another similar custom, practised only by girls and not necessarily taken more seriously than a game of forfeits, preserves in its modern name [Greek: ho klêdonas] the old word [Greek: klêdôn], and the purpose of the custom is to obtain that which Homer actually denoted by [Greek: klêdôn], a presage drawn from chance words. The preliminaries of the ceremony are as follows. On the eve of the feast of St John the Baptist a boy (who for choice should be the first-born of parents still living) is sent to fetch fresh water from the spring or well. This water is known as [Greek: amilêto nero], 'speechless water,' because the boy who brings it is forbidden to speak to anyone on his way. Each girl then drops into the vessel of water some object such as a coin, a ring, or, most frequently, an apple as her token. The vessel is then closed up and left for the night on the roof of a house or some other open place 'where the stars may see it.' The proceedings of the next morning vary. According to one traveller, each girl first takes out her own apple—for he mentions only this token—and then draws off some of the water into a smaller vessel. This vessel is then supported by two other girls on the points of their four thumbs and begins to revolve of its own accord. If it turn towards the right, the girl may expect to marry as she wishes; if to the left, otherwise. Also, he says, they wash their hands with this water and then go out into the road, and take the first name they hear spoken as that of their future husband. This latter part of the ceremony is true to the meaning of the word [Greek: klêdonas] and is a genuine instance of divination from chance words. Butis sometimes given as a title to the saint himself; and from his willingness to enlighten enquirers concerning their future lot he is also named sometimes [Greek: ho Phanistês] (the enlightener) and [Greek: ho Rhizikas] (from [Greek: rhiziko], 'lot' or 'destiny'), [Greek: I. S. Archelaos, hê Sinasos], p. 86.]