Superstition : white rabbits & black cats : the history of common folk beliefs
Coulthard, Sally2019
Books
Ever wondered why we touch wood, salute magpies, skip over cracks and throw salt over our shoulders? Then Sally Coulthard has the answer as she gets under the skin of these peculiar pastimes in her new book 'Superstition'. Exploring the history and background of 50 of these fascinating cultural behaviours, discover how they affected our everyday life and why many of these beliefs are still pertinent today. Superstitions reveal the hopes, fears and preoccupations of our ancestors and give a fascinating glimpse into how they lived. Seemingly bizarre folk beliefs and practices - in farming, marriage, craft, love, feasting, birth and death - often have their roots in real-life worries and desires. By looking at the material circumstances and challenging environments of our forefathers we start to understand how strange rituals and rules give comfort and reassurance.
Main title:
Superstition : white rabbits & black cats : the history of common folk beliefs / Sally Coulthard ; illustrated by K.J. Mountford.
Author:
Coulthard, Sally, author
Imprint:
London : Quadrille, 2019.
Collation:
1 volume (various pagings) : illustrations (colour) ; 19 cm
Contents:
Light sideDark side.
ISBN:
9781787133631 (hbk. :)
Dewey class:
398.410941398.41 COUL
Language:
English
BRN:
2275190