The origins of popular superstitions and customs
By: T. Sharper Knowlson
Contributors: Brand, John, 1744-1806
Publisher: Dodo Press
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Gloucester, England?]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 181
ISBN-13: 9781409910145
Subjects: Superstition; Popular culture; Social life and customs; Folklore; Manners and customs
Notes: Originally published: London : T. Werner Laurie Ltd., 1910.

"The following pages are based on Brand's Popular antiquities, the edition published in 1841, supplemented by the results of later investigation"--Preface.
Table of contents: title: Section I. Superstitions and customs relating to days and seasons; title: Candlemas Day; title: St. Valentine's Day; title: Simnel Sunday; title: Maunday Thursday; title: Shrove Tuesday; title: Good Friday; title: Good Friday loaves; title: Picking up sixpences at Smithfield; title: Easter holidays; title: Biddenden cakes; title: Easter eggs; title: Knutsford: May Queen and Morris Dances; title: Furry Dance - Helston; title: Baal fire - St. John's Eve; title: Hock tide; title: Garland Day at Abbotsbury; title: Ascension Day, "beating the bounds"; title: Ascension Day - other superstitions; title: All Fool's Day; title: Lichfield Greenhill Bower; title: Lammas Day; title: Harvest Home: the Kern baby; title: Halloween; title: The Fifth of November; title: Wroth money; title: Christmas; title: Christmas boxes; title: Yule logs; title: Lucky and unlucky days; title: Section II. Marriage superstitions and customs; title: The engagement ring; title: Kissing the bride; title: Wedding rings and bride cake; title: Bridesmaids and best man; title: May marriages; title: Throwing the shoe; title: The Dunmow flitch of bacon; title: Selling wives; title: Christening customs; title: Section III. Divination and omens; title: Dreams; title: Witchcraft; title: Divination by books; title: The divining (dowsing) rod; title: Palmistry; title: Astrology; title: Crystal-gazing; title: Colour superstitions; title: Numbers; title: Amulets, gems, charms, and talismans; title: Omens - introductory; title: Looking-glass omens; title: Stumbling and falling; title: Spilling the salt; title: Thirteen at table; title: The owl; title: Howling of dogs; title: Ear tingling; title: Sneezing; title: Spitting; title: Knife superstitions; title: Sharks following ships; title: Black cats; title: The cuckoo; title: Comets; title: Section IV. Miscellaneous superstitions and customs; title: Holy wells; title: The Horn Dance: Abbot's Bromley; title: "Telling the bees"; title: The death bell; title: Vampires; title: Robin Redbreast; title: Drinking customs; title: Yew trees in churchyards; title: Theatre superstitions; title: Christening ships; title: Horse shoe tributes at Oakham Castle; title: The duty of not saving a drowning man; title: Playing card superstitions.