The Midsummer Night's Dream

So, there I was, all excited about being able to try out one of the Swedish folklore tradition, made famous by Shakespeare in one of his comedies.

So, tradition adivses that all unmarried girls (and boys, too, if you will) do this. Just before you go to bed, you wash your face, go out to the fields and look for 7 different types of flowers. You have to pick these flowers, quietly, without speaking a word. Once you've got them all, you put them under your pillow and go to sleep. If you do this, you will dream of your future husband!

Now, you know why I was excited. I did exactly that, except a small deviation. (I couldn't help it!). I picked the flowers, put them in a plastic shot glass filled with water, showed them off to everyone, researched their names and qualities, took loads of pictures, partied a bit, and then went up to bed, put them under the pillow and went to sleep.

No dreams! Not one single of them, leave alone of the 'husband' kind.
So, I go down to the breakfast table, the next morning and complain to the Swedish friend.
"Well..?" i enquired.
"You were supposed to go straight to bed after you pick the flowers" she admonished.
"Now, now. You said I shouldnt talk during the picking of the flowers, not after." I objected.
"Oh?" she said.

So there.. no husband for me this year too! (Sigh!) Perhaps the next midsommer...