In the first half of the 20th century, groups of girls dressed in white and adorned with flowers, sometimes covering their faces with white headdresses, still walked through the fields and villages in the midsummer season. They were known in Styria as ''ladarice''. They were chanting during the summer nights, asking for good fortune for people and their livestock and for a good harvest in the fields and vineyards.

The belief that during the summer solstice the plants, full of sun's strength, have special, healing powers, which protect against evil forces, misfortunes and spells, is something that can be traced back to our distant anmistic past. This is why during this time plants are gathered and stored for invocations, blessings, for defence and purification. Their magical powers would ward off evil and attract the forces of good in the coming year.

The most important plant of midsummer time is the fern (Pteridium aquilinum). It is believed to have magical powers that can make people invisible, help them understand the language of animals or find a gold ring. St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), or St John's flower, protects against storms and lightning. If a girl sleeps with a garland of oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum ircutianum) or common daisies under her pillow on solstice night, they reveal her future bridegroom in her dreams. Goatsbeard (Aruncus sylvestris) protects livestock from witches...

A traditional headdress ''Peča'', 19th century, Sv. Jurij v Slovenskih goricah