#straw puppet

In southern Germany, especially in Upper Bavaria, the time around 21. - 24.6. is when villages and communities will have a bonfire for St.Johns Day (Johannistag), where it is common to also burn a puppet of straw, called Hans or „Hanserl“. This is supposed to ward off evil spirits and witches, as well as bring luck and protection in the upcoming harvest time.

I made a little doll from leftover dandelion stems and cotton thread to burn tonight.

Me and my friends (who don’t practice witchcraft) whispered our worries and fears to the Hanserl and thanked him before I placed him on the fire.

He burned quite prettily and I took a video I might turn into a GIF later.

I also burned all my old homemade incense bundles, that I had made years prior. The days around Johannis are particularly good for picking the Johanniskräuter (St. Johns Herbs), and before picking new herbs, all old ones have to be burned since they have absorbed the houses energy and thus lost their power.