St John's wort is named as such because it commonly flowers, blossoms and is harvested at the time of the summer solstice in late June, around St John's Feast Day on 24 June. The herb would be hung on house and stall doors on St John's Feast day to ward off evil spirits and to safeguard against harm and sickness to man and live-stock. The genus name "Hypericum" is possibly derived from the Greek words "hyper" (above) and "eikon" (picture), in reference to the tradition of hanging plants over religious icons in the home during St John's Day.