Brown socks like nuts
Depending on the season, we instinctively reach for the colors we associate with that time of year. We are just entering a time that brings to mind, among other things, tasty nuts. Nuts and dried fruits are often found on the Christmas Eve table and make the perfect snack throughout the holidays. Not surprisingly, inspired by the specialties, we choose brown socks and orange socks, among others. Even such a small item of clothing is able to put us in a good mood. Both hazelnuts and hazelnuts themselves are associated with many legends and stories that can make long and somewhat gloomy evenings more pleasant. Some beliefs are associated with December time. Our ancestors believed that on Christmas Eve night exactly at midnight a beautiful flower blooms on the hazel tree. Only a real lucky person can hit the right moment. Then pick it and carry it with you, and the next year will bring great reciprocated love and wealth. In addition, hosts buried hazelnuts in the ground during the same special night. This custom was supposed to guarantee future fertility.
Lightning bolt
Traditions related to nuts applied not only to Christmas Eve, but also to other important events. In some regions of Poland, when newlyweds left the church, they were showered not with money, flowers or rice, but with hazelnuts. This was supposed to bring good luck and prosperity to the young couple. When the couple wanted to have a son, then hazel fruits were placed under the mattress to increase the chance of a male offspring. Centuries ago, the hazel bush was associated with, among others, Dziewanna, i.e. the goddess of fertility, nature and fertility. Over time, when the belief in Slavic deities began to weaken more and more, hazel began to be called the tree of the Virgin Mary. This was connected with the story in which, during the flight to Egypt, Mary, along with Joseph and Jesus, hid from the soldiers under the leaves of the hazel tree. It is believed that since then the bush has been bearing fruit with hazelnuts, plus it is not spared by lightning.
