The custom
On St. Andrew’s Eve, girls in Poland wrote boys’ names on small cards and slipped them under their pillows. In the morning, before saying a word to anyone, each one reached under the pillow and pulled out a card: that was said to be the name of her future husband. Some added a blank card, which meant waiting, or freedom, depending on who you asked.
There were stricter versions. In some regions you had to go to bed in silence, or put the cards under the pillow at midnight, or dream of the person first and only then draw. Across Eastern Europe, similar dream divinations asked a future spouse to appear in a dream, often with a comb or a glass of water placed by the bed.
Why names?
In the old world, a name was more than a label. People were named after saints, and a person’s name day was often celebrated more than their birthday. Drawing a name was a way of drawing a whole person, with their saint, their story and their place in the village.
Today the game is gentler. You can write the names of people you know, of celebrities, or of popular names you’ve never met in person. The online version also has a button that fills in a mix of popular American names.
How to play online
Type two to twelve names, separated by commas. With three or more names, we add a blank slip, just like the old custom. The slips are shuffled and tucked under the pillow; when you’re ready, think of your question and draw one. The names never leave your device.
Take the result lightly. A slip of paper can’t tell you who you’ll love, and it can’t make anyone love you back. It can start a fun conversation, and sometimes it shows you whose name you were secretly hoping for.
More St. Andrew’s Eve games
Try shoe divination with your friends, or pour wax with our wax pouring tool. For a private question about love, our love tarot spread is a good next step, and the Slavic divination hub explains the other traditions of the season.
Frequently asked questions
How does the names under the pillow divination work?
You write names on slips of paper, put them under your pillow and draw one, traditionally in the morning before speaking to anyone. The name you draw is said to belong to someone important to your heart.
What does a blank slip mean?
In the old custom, a blank slip meant you’d wait a little longer for great love, or that fate left the choice up to you.
Are the names saved anywhere?
No. The names stay in your browser and are never sent to our server.
When is the best time to play?
Traditionally on St. Andrew’s Eve, November 29, but it works as a sleepover or party game any night.