September 8th is Ussimaarjapäev, the day when snakes, like wise old men, retreat beneath the earth to slumber through the long winter. On this day, nature, weary of summer's heat, begins its slow dance of decline. The forest, like an ancient temple, closes its doors to humans, lest they disturb the sleep of its inhabitants.

Old tales tell of a young maiden who, disregarding the advice of her elders, ventured into the forest on this forbidden day. There, amid the yellowing leaves, she encountered a snake, its scales shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Captivated by the reptile's beauty, she placed it around her neck as a precious necklace. But her joy was short-lived. The snake, like a living curse, coiled around her neck, and with all her might, she could not free herself from this bright, yet deadly adornment.