Paper Divination
A single woman who has several names of potential suitors in mind should write these names on small pieces of paper. After folding them, she must place them in a basin of water and leave it outside on the night before Saint John the Baptist, reciting the following prayer:
“Saint John, Holy Saint,
Holy without being born,
from my God, good advisor,
chosen as lieutenant:
for these papers I ask you
to bring before my eyes
or to my ears
the name of my husband;
whether I see him pass by up close
or hear him call from afar.”
The piece of paper that opens by morning will indicate to the young woman the suitor she should choose, or the name of her future love if she has no current attachments.
Fig Divination
In the more remote villages, there is a curious form of divination involving three unripe figs. After assigning the names of desired suitors to these figs, the young woman should place them outside overnight. The moisture from the atmosphere will open the flower, revealing the name of her love interest.
Salt Divination
To determine the name of a future boyfriend, three small packets containing salt should be thrown onto the street. While watching from a window, the girl must wait for a young man to pick them up. At that moment, she should go outside and ask him his name, which is believed to correspond with the name of the suitor who will eventually court her. It is commonly thought that the young man who picked up the packets will become enamoured with the girl who cast them into the street.
Flower Divination
A bouquet of flowers tossed into the street serves as an effective means to discover the desired boyfriend, and even to guess his nationality. Elizabeth Murray noted in 1859 that if a pig passed by and ate the flowers, it was a sign that the suitor would not be Spanish. Furthermore, it is believed that if the young man gives the bouquet to another girl, that fortunate girl will soon find someone to court her.
Voice Divination
For young women seeking marriage who possess patience, it is advised to listen closely on the morning of Saint John to the voices they hear in their street, as the first male name they hear will correspond to that of their future husband.
