Ninth century Polish virgins went naked into the forest at midnight to pick magic herbs that made men fall in love with them. They braided the herbs with wildflowers and floated their Wianki—garlands—on lakes and rivers. If a man removed the wreath from the water, the two would share a night of revelry and perhaps a lifetime of happiness. The Catholic Church frowned on these pagan goings-on. Today, only a few small towns hold Wianki festivals. One is Ciechanowiec, northeast of Warsaw, where young girls participate—fully dressed. Frankly, these girls are more excited about the fireworks than about boys.