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The Origins of Popular Superstitions and Customs · Sacred Texts

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The Origins of Popular Superstitions and Customs

80 entries · 5 sections

by T. Sharper Knowlson

Title Page Preface Contents Introduction

Days and Seasons

(1) Candlemas Day (2) Valentine's Day (February 14th)(3) Simnel Sunday (4) Maunday Thursday (Or Shere Thursday)(5) Shrove Tuesday (6) Good Friday: Hot Cross Buns (7) Good Friday Loaves (8) Picking Up Sixpences At Smithfield (9) Easter Holidays (10) Biddenden Cakes (11) Easter Eggs (12) Knutsford: The May Queen and the Morris Dances (13) Furry Dance--Helston (14) Baal fire--St. John's Eve (15) Hocktide--or Hoke Day (16) Garland Day at Abbotsbury (17) Ascension Day--(18) Ascension Day--Other Superstitions (19) All Fools' Day (20) Lichfield Greenhill Bower (21) Lammas Day (22) Harvest Home--The Kern Baby (23) Halloween (24) The Fifth of November (25) Wroth Money (26) Christmas (27) Christmas Boxes (29) Yule Logs (29) Lucky and Unlucky Days

Marriage Superstitions and Customs

(1) The Engagement Ring (2) Kissing the Bride (3) Wedding Rings and Bride Cake (4) Bridesmaids and Best Man (5) May Marriages (6) Throwing The Shoe (7) The Dunmow Flitch of Bacon (8) Selling Wives (9) Christening Customs

Divination and Omens

(1) Dreams (2) Witchcraft (3) Divination by Books (4) Divining Rod (Dowsing Rod)(5) Palmistry (6) Astrology (7) Crystal Gazing (8) Colour Superstitions (9) Numbers (10) Amulets, Gems, Charms, Talismans, Mascots (11) Omens--Introductory (12) Looking-Glass Omens (13) Stumbling and Falling (14) Spilling the Salt (15) Thirteen at Table (16) The Owl (17) The Howling of Dogs (18) Ear-Tingling (19) Sneezing (20) Spitting (21) Knife Superstitions (22) Sharks Following Ships a Sign of Death (23) Black Cats (24) The Cuckoo (25) Comets

Miscellaneous

(1) Holy Wells (2) The Horn Dance--Abbots Bromley (3) ''Telling the Bees''(4) The Death-Bell (5) Vampires (6) Robin Redbreast (7) Drinking Customs: Toasts (8) Yew Trees In Churchyards (9) Theatre Superstitions (10) Christening Ships (11) Horseshoe Tributes in Oakham Castle (12) The Duty of not Saving a Drowning Man (13) Playing Card Superstitions