1) German folklore 
Segen is a German word translating to `blessing, benediction; charm; prayer; spell, incantation`. It is in origin a loan from Latin signum sīgnāre `to make a sign`, viz. the Sign of the Cross used to confer a Christian blessing, The term is attested as Old High German seganōn from as early as c. AD 800, resulting in a modern segnen `to ble...