Hay harvesting began around St. John's Day (June 24th). At dawn on that day, the lead harvester crossed himself and began the first cut. Hay harvesting also marked the coming of age of young men. A boy who cut hay well was first considered a man on this day. The harvest leader tied a bunch of flowering grasses onto his scythe to signify this fact.
"LITHUANIAN ROOTS", Edited by Rytis Ambrazevicius