Encyclopedia of superstitions / Edwin Radford and Mona A. Radford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Radford, Edwin, author.

Radford, Mona A., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Superstition--Dictionaries.

Superstition.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (499 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Philosophical Library, 2007.

Summary:

"For the expert investigation of the human will to believe, we recommend The Encyclopedia of Superstitions." - The New York Times Why is it said that breaking a mirror or walking under ladders will bring bad luck and misfortunate? Ever wonder why so many people throw salt over their shoulders after spilling it, or wish on shooting stars? The Encyclopedia of Superstitions holds the answers to these questions and more. This classic and captivating reference book catalogs the origins of hundreds of superstitious beliefs and includes a rich history of charms, spells, folklore, and rural remedies drawn from cultures around the world used to commemorate births, marriages, deaths, to ward off evil, or invite good fortune. Edwin and Mona A. Radford uncover why catching a falling leaf in autumn is believed to stave off colds all winter and explain the traditional Norse mythological roots of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas. They explore the myriad of beliefs surrounding the moon or what spotting a rainbow portends and why. This thought-provoking collection provides a wealth of entertaining entries-stories that have the power to thrill, intrigue, and perhaps send a chill down the spine of even the most skeptical of readers.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Contents

FOREWORD

PREFACE

ACCIDENTS

ACORN

ADDER

ADDER BITES

ADDER STONES

AGATE

AGNES

AGNES' EVE, ST.

AGUE, CURE OF

ALL SOULS' DAY

ANDREW'S WELL, ST.

ANGELS

ANIMALS

ANTS

APOPLEXY

APOSTLE SPOONS

APPLE

APPLE HOWLING

APPLE PIPS

APPLE TREES

APRIL

APRIL FOOL

APRON

ARCHES

ARVALS

ASCENSION DAY

ASHEN FAGGOT, THE

ASHES

ASH LEAVES

ASH SAP

ASH TREE

ASH WEDNESDAY

ASPARAGUS

ASPEN TREE

ASS

ASTHMA

BABY

BACHELOR'S BUTTON

BACK

BADGER

BAKER'S DOZEN

BAKING

BALDNESS

BALLS

BANNS

BAPTISM

BARNACLE

BATS

BAY TREE

BEAM

BEANS

BEATING THE BOUNDS

BED

BEDROOM

BEES

BEETLE

BELLS

BETROTHAL

BIBLE

BIDDING (TO FUNERAL)

BIDDING (TO WEDDING)

BIRDS

BIRDS' EGGS

BIRTH

"BIT OF MY OWN AGAIN"

BITTERN

BLACKBERRY

BLACKBIRD

BLACK CAT

BLACK COCK

BLACKHEADS

BLACK PENNY

BLACK SHEEP

BLACKSMITH

BLACK SNAIL

BLEEDING

BLEEDING NOSE

BLISTERS

BLOOD

BLOSSOMS

BLUE-BOTTLES

BODY

BOIL

BOILING

BOILS

BOLTS

BONES

BONE-SHAVE

BOOSENING

BOOTS (ON TABLE)

BORROWING

BORROWING DAYS

BOY OR GIRL

BRAKE (PLANT)

BRAMBLE-ARCH

BRASSES (ON HORSE'S HARNESS)

BREAD

BREAD (TO FIND A CORPSE)

BREAKFAST

BRIDE

BRIDE-ALE

BRIDE-BED

BRIDE CAKES

BRIDE'S CHAIR

BRIDE DOOR

BRIDE LACES

BRIDE'S EVE, ST.

BRIDE'S DAY, ST.

BRIDE'S PIE

BRIDE-WAIN.

BRIDGE

BROOM

BROWNIE

BUMBLE-BEE

BUN

BUNIONS

BURBECK'S BONE.

BURIAL

BURIED TREASURE

BURN (FIRE)

BURN (WOUND)

BURNING THE FAGGOT

BURNING T'OLD WITCH

BURYING OLD TOM

BUSH

BUTTER

BUTTERFLY

BUTTONS

CAESARIAN OPERATION

CAKE

CALF

CALF (BURNING)

CALF (HANGING)

CAMPHOR

CANCER

CANDLE.

CANDLE (CORPSE)

CANDLE-AND-PINS

CANDLEMAS.

CANTERBURY BELLS

CARROTS

CARRYING THE BRIDE

CAT

CATERPILLAR

CATTLE

CAUL

CHAFF-RIDDLING

CHARMS

CHEEKS

CHERRIES

CHICKENS

CHILBLAINS

CHILD

CHILDBIRTH

CHOPPING THE BLOCK

CHRISTENING

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS BOX

CHRISTMAS CARDS

CHRISTMAS DAY

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS MUMMERS

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS

CHRISTMAS TREE

CHRSTMAS YULE LOG

CHURCH

CHURCH BELLS

CHURCHING (OF WOMEN)

CHURNING

CIDER

CIGARETTE

CINDERS

CLOCK

CLOTHES

CLUB-MOSS

CLUBS (PLAYING CARDS)

COAL

COBBLERS

COBWEB

COCK

COFFIN RINGS

COINS

COLD (IN HEAD)

COLIC

COLLIERS

COMMUNION, HOLY

CONFIRMATION

CONSUMPTION

CORNS

CORPSE

COUGHS

COUVADE, THE

COWS

CRADLE

CRAMP

CRAWLING

CRICKET

CRICKET (IN THE HOUSE)

CROPS

CROSSED EYES

CROSSED THINGS

CROW

CROWING HEN

CRYING BACK THE DYING

CUCKOO

CURES, IN SEASON

CURFEW

CURLEW

CUTS

DADDY-LONGLEGS

DAFFODIL

DAIRY

DEAD EMBERS

DEAD MAN'S HAND

DEAFNESS

DEATH

DEATH AT LOW TIDE

DEATH-COME-QUICKLY

DEATH DIVINATION

DEATH PORTENTS

DEATH WATCH

DEATH WATCH BEETLE

DEER

DEW

DISH

DISHCLOTH

DOG

DOG WHIPPING

DOLPHIN

DONKEY

DOOR

DOORSTEP

DOVE

DRAKE'S DRUM

DREAMS

DRESS

DRESSING

DROPPING OF FORK (KNIFE, etc.)

DROPSY

DROWNING

DRUNKENNESS

DUCK

DUST

DYKE

DYSPEPSIA, TO CURE

EAGLE

EAR

EARACHE

EARRINGS

EASTER

EASTER EGGS

EBB TIDE

EDGEWELL OAK

EELS

EGGS

ELDER WOOD

ELM TREE

ENEMIES

EPILEPSY

ERYSIPELAS

EVERGREENS

EVIL EYE

EXHUMATION

EYEBROWS

EYES

FAIRING PARTIES

FALLING BLIND

FALLING STAR

FEATHER BED

FEATHERS

FEET

FERN

FEVER

FINGERS.

FINGER NAILS

FIR TREE

FIRE

FIRST FOOTING

FISHING (COASTAL)

FISHING (INLAND)

FITS

FIVE-SHILLING PIECE

FLEAS

FLOWERS

FLY

FOOTBALL

FOOTLING

FOWL

FOX

FRIDAY

FROG

FRUIT TREES

FRYING PAN

FUNERAL

FURNITURE

GALL STONES

GAMBLING

GAME FEATHERS

GARDEN

GARLIC

GEMS

GEORGE

GETTING OUT OF BED

GHOST

GIPSIES

GIRL SITTING ON A TABLE

GLASS ROD OF HEALTH

GLOVES

GLOW-WORM

GNAT

GOAT

GODPARENTS

GOITRE

GOLD

GOLDEN BROOM (FLOWER)

GOLF

GOOD FRIDAY

GOOSE

GOOSEBERRY

GORSE

GOUT

GO WITH THE SUN

GRAHAM

GRAVE, GRAVEYARD

GREEN

GREEN CHRISTMAS

GREYHOUND

GROANING CHEESE (OR CAKE)

GUESTS

GULL

GUNFIRE

HADDOCK

HAIR

HALLOWE'EN

HALTER

HAND

HAND OF GLORY

HANDKERCHIEF

HANDSEL

HARE

HARVEST BUG

HARVEST MOON

HAT

HAWTHORN

HAYCART

HAYSTACKS

HAZEL

HEAD, HEADACHE

HEARTBURN

HEARTH

HEDGEHOG

HEN

HENBANE

HERBS

HERRING

HERON

HERNIA

HICCOUGH

HOLES (PASSING THROUGH)

HOLLY

HOPFIELDS

HOOP

HORSE

HORSE BRASSES

HORSESHOE

HOSPITAL

HOT WATER

HOUSE

HOUSE LEEK

HUNCHBACK

HUSBAND'S TEMPER (FUTURE)

HYDROPHOBIA

HYMNS

IMBECILE

INFLUENZA

INVALID

IRISH STONES

IRON

ITCHING

IVY

JACKDAW

JANUARY

JAPONICA

JAUNDICE

JOCKEYS

JOHN'S EVE, ST.

JOURNEY

JUNIPER

KETTLE

KEY

KINGFISHER

KING HERRING

KING'S EVIL

KNIFE, FORK AND SPOON

KNOCK OF DEATH

KNOCK SALT

KNOTS

LADDER

LAD'S LOVE

LADYBIRD

LADY'S TREES

LAMB

LAMMAS (AUGUST 1st)

LANTERN

LAPWING

LARK

LAST BREATH

LEAD

LEAF

LEAP YEAR

LEEK

LEES (FAMILY NAME)

LEFT FOOT

LEFT HANDED

LETTUCE

LICE

LIGHT

LIGHTNING

LILAC

LILY

LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY

LIZARD

LOADSTONE.

LOAF

LOCH MONAR

LOCKERBY PENNY

LOCKS

LOOKING BACK

LOOKING GLASS

LOOKING UNDER THE BED

LOVERS

LUNG DISEASE

LYCH-GATE

MACKEREL

MAD DOG

MADNESS

MAGPIE

MAIDENHAIR (FERN)

MANDRAKE

MAPLE TREE

MARBLE HALLS

MARCH

MARIGOLDS

MARK'S EVE, ST. (APRIL 24th)

MARRIAGE

MARRIED LIFE

MARTIN'S DAY, ST.

MAY (THE SHRUB)

MAY BABY

MAY CATS

MAY DAY

MAY DEW

MEASLES

MEAT

MEDICINE

MICE

MICHAELMAS

MIDSUMMER EVE (AND DAY)

MIDSUMMER FIRES

MINCE PIES

MINERS

MIRROR

MISTLETOE

MOLES (ON THE BODY)

MONEY

MOON

MOP

MOTH

MOUSE

MUGWORT

MULBERRY TREE

MUMPS

MURRAIN (CATTLE DISEASE)

MUSHROOM

MUSICIANS

MUTTON BONE

MYRTLE

NAILS (FINGER)

NAILS (IRON)

NAME

NAPKINS

NEED FIRE.

NEW YEAR

NEW YEAR DRINKS

NEW YEAR WIND

NIGHTMARE

NOSE

NUMBERS

NUN'S WELL, ST.

NURSING

NUTS

OAK TREE

OMENS

ONIONS

ORANGE BLOSSOM

ORPINE

OVERLOOKING

OWL

PALM SUNDAY

PANCAKE

PANSIES

PARSLEY

PARSON

PASSING BELL

PEACH

PEACOCK

PEAS

PENNY

PERIWINKLE

PETER'S DAY, ST.

PHOTOGRAPH

PICTURE

PIEBALD HORSE

PIES

PIG

PIGEON

PILCHARDS

PIN

PIXIES

PLAYING CARDS

PLOUGHING

PLOVER

PLUM

PNEUMONIA

POINTING AT A SHIP

POKER

POPPIES

PORK

POSTHUMOUS CHILD

POT

POTATO

POULTRY

PRAYER BOOK

PRIDE

PRIMROSE

PROVERBS (BOOK OF)

PUPPY

QUARRY

QUARTER-DECK

RABBIT

RABBIT'S FOOT

RACING

RAIN

RAINBOW

RAIN WATER

RALEIGH BELLS

RATS

RAVEN

RED THREAD

RETURNING

RHEUMATISM

RICKETS

RIGHT-HAND TURN

RINGING GLASS

RING FINGER

RINGWORM

RIVER (LIFE EVERY YEAR)

ROBIN

ROCKING A CRADLE

ROOKS

ROSE

ROSEMARY

ROWAN WOOD

RUPTURE

RUST

SACRIFICE

SAGE

SAIL

SAILORS.

SAINING A BABY

SAINING A CORPSE

ST. ANTHONY'S FIRE

ST. JOHN'S EVE

ST. MARK'S EVE

ST. PAUL'S DAY

ST. SWITHUN'S DAY

ST. VITUS'S DANCE

SALT

SATURDAY

SCALDS

SCARLET FEVER

SCIATICA

SCISSORS

SCYTHE

SEA

SEAGULLS

SEALS

SEAWATER

SEAWEED

SEED (TIME AND SOWING)

SELLING

SERMON

SERVANTS' SUPERSTITIONS

SEVEN YEARS

SEVENTH SON

SHEEP, SHEPHERD

SHOE (THROWN FOR LUCK)

SHOOTING STARS

SHREW ASH

SICKLE

SIN EATING

SKULL

SLEEP

SLIPPERS

SLUG

SMALLPOX

SNAIL

SNAKE

SNEEZE

SNOWDROP

SNUFF

SOAP

SOOT

SORE EYES

SORES

SOUL

SOULING BELL

SOULING DAY

SOWING

SOW THISTLE

SPARROW

SPIDER

SPILLING SALT

SPITTING

SPOON

SPRAIN

SPRING

SPRING CLEANING

SPRINGWORT

SQUINT

SQUIRREL

STAGE

STAIRS

STEALING

STILE

STILLBORN CHILD

STOCKING

STONECROP

STONES

STOOL

STORMS

STUMBLING

STY (IN THE EYE)

SUN

SUNDAY

SUNWISE

SUPERSTITION

SWALLOW

SWAN

SWARM (OF BEES)

SWEEP

SWEEPING

SWEETHEARTS (CALLING)

SWELLINGS

SYMPATHY POWDER

TABLECLOTH

TALKING UNDER RAILWAY BRIDGE

TEA

TEACHER'S CANE

TEARS

TEETH

TENCH

TENNIS

THIEF

THIRTEEN

THORN

THREAD

THREE

THREE CIGARETTES

THREE-LEGGED STOOL

THRUSH (COMPLAINT)

THUNDER

THURSDAY

TICKLING

TIDE

TOAD

TOES

TONGUE

TOOTH

TOOTHACHE

TOUCH WOOD

TOUCHING THE CORPSE

TREES

TUMOURS

TURNING BACK

TWELFTH DAY

TWINS

UMBRELLA

UNBAPTIZED CHILD

UNDER THE BED

UNLUCKY DAY

URINE

VALERIAN

VEIN

VERTIGO

"V" FINGERS "V" SIGN

VIOLETS

VIPER

VISITOR

WALKING UNDER LADDER

WALNUT TREE

WARTS

WASHING

WASPS

WATER

WATER, HOT-AT WEDDINGS

WAVE GOODBYE

WAVES

WEAK EYES

WEASEL

WEATHER

WEDDING.

WEDDING CAKE.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781504055086

150405508X

OCLC:

1041062919