Hart’s-tongue fern

Asplenium scolopendrium, from the family Aspleniaceae, is a fern that grows up to about 60 cm in height. Its leaves are undivided, resembling long, glossy tongues with wavy edges. The sporangia are arranged like the legs of a centipede. It grows in lush green clusters, typically in shady, rocky, and humid areas, often around waterfalls and springs.

In folk tradition, it is known as Năvalnic (a năvăli-to rush)Deer’s tongue, or Neighbor’s tongue. In Transylvania, it is simply called  Neighbor. In the past, people used to collect the plant with its roots, stuff it into sacks, and take it to markets to sell to those suffering from various ailments—such as fever, consumption, or cough. It was boiled in sweet milk and taken in the morning on an empty stomach. For eye treatments, it was placed in fresh water on a Thursday morning.

The Flower of Năvalnic

Năvalnic is a plant that, much like its relative, the common fern (link to article about The Fern Flower), possesses a magical ability that is not listed in its biological traits: the ability to bloom. It blooms for just a moment, but as soon as it flowers, it immediately withers. Very few people have the chance to see its flower, and those who do are believed to be lucky for life and destined for heaven.

It is said that in the past, when people were kinder, Năvalnic would bloom even during the day, and anyone could pick its flower. Those who took and wore the flower would suddenly be granted knowledge of all the world’s mysteries, both visible and invisible. However, since people have become more wicked, Năvalnic now only blooms on the night of Saint George’s Day, precisely at midnight. The night before Saint George’s Day is one of the major holidays in the agricultural and pastoral calendar, marking the return of nature to life, to its warm and living state. It is a night filled with meaning, during which “the heavens open” (Antoaneta Olteanu), and is rich in magical rituals and preparations for the festivities that take place on Saint George’s Day, such as Băbăluda.

On this night, Năvalnic blooms, but as soon as it does, the devils who guard it come and take the flower, keeping people away from the knowledge it holds

The sinister screams of the unclean spirits terrify those who keep watch at night, trying to catch the Năvalnic in bloom and take its flower. Whoever wants to keep the devils at bay in order to reach the flower at any cost must draw a circle on the ground and place a cross in its center, then sit inside the circle. However, despite these efforts, only people with a pure heart will be able to glimpse the flower, and afterward, they will know all things—even the language of the flowers.

Năvalnic/Hart’s tongue fern in Love Spells

Young girls use Năvalnic/Hart’s tongue fern  in love spells, employing it for marriage, honor, and love. Those who carry Năvalnic with them gain magical powers, and all love will rush toward them. In Suceava, to attract love, girls gather năvalnic with its roots. They wear the roots in their skirts, and tuck the leaves into their bosom or weave them into their hair. Likewise, young men will wear năvalnic in their hats for the same purpose.

When a girl wishes to cast a love spell, she must bring offerings to the năvalnic. She brings bread and salt and says:

“Năvalnic

Great herb

I summon you with bread and salt

And with holy prayers.

Summon me too,

With luck and much fortune,

With luck 

And with joy

Let the whole world rush to me”

Girls also perform love spells with Năvalnic/Hart’s tongue fern on Dragobete, February 24th, the beginning of the agricultural year and a day of fertility—the day when the birds of the sky are said to get engaged. Dragobete, the son of Baba Dochia, was a love-struck youth who could drive girls mad with love. In Olt, it is said that he was transformed into the năvalnic plant.

Another legend from Dorohoi tells of Năvalnic, a young man of striking beauty. Whenever he entered a village, all the paths would become tangled for the beautiful girls, and the women would lose control, wandering around in a daze, as if drunk. One day, an old woman dressed in white, who wandered in search of healing plants, cast a spell on the young man to stop him from confusing the girls. She transformed him forever into the năvalnic plant.

“Năvalnic you are

Năvalnic you shall be

Among the love herbs you are,

And a love herb you shall remain

As it has always been” (T. Pamfile)

Witches use năvalnic along with great herb and a slipper’s sole in their rituals.
“Harvesting năvalnic for malevolent purposes was done at midnight. However, when the plant was invoked for beneficial purposes, it was collected in the morning, before the dew had lifted.” (Ion Ghinoiu)

The most powerful for spells is the Năvalnic/Hart’s tongue fern plant, pulled out with its roots on Saint George’s Day. The witch leaves bread and salt in the place where she uprooted the Năvalnic from the ground. In Moldova, the Năvalnic is pulled out on a Monday, before sunrise, and in its place, a piece of  cornmeal porridge is left.

The witch then takes the sole from the priest’s shoes—the ones he wore during the liturgy on the Eve of Epiphany, when he blessed the water. The sole is cut at midnight, on the night of Epiphany.

The witch takes the năvalnic/Hart’s-tongue ferngreat herb, and the sole, and begins to say:

“Just as people gather on Epiphany and rush to collect holy water and kiss the cross in the priest’s hand, so will the young men of the village rush to N. to court her and live a sweet life with her.”

The girl receives the water in which the plants were washed. She will wash herself with part of it, and the rest she will throw in the path of the young men. The witch will also give her a small piece of the sole, of năvalnic, and of great herb. These she will sew into her belt and wear until the day of her wedding.

Author: Ilinca Micu

Bibliography:

  1.  Simion Florea Marian, Botanica poporană română Vol I, Ediție critică, introducere, repere biobibliografice, indice Botanica, indice capitole publicate antum/postum, text stabilit, indice informatori și bibliografie de Aura Brădățan, Editura Academiei Române, Suceava, 2010
  2. Germina Comanici, Ramura verde în spiritualitatea populară, Editura Etnologică, București 2004
  3. Tudor Pamfile, Dragostea în datina tineretului roman, Editura Saeculum, București, 1998
  4. Antoaneta Olteanu, Calendarele poporului român, Paideia, București, 2009

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