Table Of ContentCASSELL
Dictionary of
Superstitions
DAVID PICKERING
I
The Cassell Dictionary of S s provides a
fascinatingoverviewofan inglydiverse
range ofpopularlyheld fea ?liefs. Many
are still familiar and wide: Dthers now
belong firmly to the past, intriguing
|
nonetheless for the insigh offer into
human preoccupations and I tboos.
Entries are arranged alphabetically by subject
and vary from brief accounts of the
superstitions related to specific daily tasks,
medical ailments, plants and animals, to
expansive discussions ofwider topics, such as
theweather, aphrodisiacs, childbirth anddeath.
The paraphernalia of superstitions are also
discussed: the extraordinary array of amulets,
talismans and charms that people have used in
their attempts to ward off bad luck or bring
about good fortune. In addition, many
traditional rhymes and chants are included,
ranging from couplets to be chanted to avoid
the dangers ofbeing bewitched, to spells that
mav be tried in the hope of olearrfqfcfi
information about the future. R IW*
An entertaining read, as well as an invaluable
reference source, the Cassell Dictionary of
Superstitions will prove compelling to anyone
interested in folklore and popular culture.
JAN
5 2000
ARCHBISHOP MITTY LIBRARY
T 15847
Archbishop
Mltty High Softool
Library
5000 MtttyWay
San Jose, CA 95129
CASSELL
Dictionary of
SUPERSTITIONS
CASSELL
Dictionary of
SUPERSTITIONS
DAVID PICKERING
Archbishop Mftty High School
Library
5000 Mitty Way
San Jose, CA,95129
Brockhampton Press
ACASSELLBOOK
Firstpublished1995byCassell
WellingtonHouse,125Strand,LondonWC2Robb
©
Copyright DavidPickering1995
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedor
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includingphotocopying,recordingoranyinformationstorageand
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Thiseditionpublished1998byBrockhamptonPress,
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ISBN1860198406
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AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
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Preface
Superstitioncontinuestoflourisharoundtheglobeeveninthemosttechnologically
advanced societies. Some may regard it as a curious relic dating from less scien-
tificallyadvancedtimeswhenhumanbeingssoughtexplanationsfortheapparently
randomworkingsofnature, buttootherssuperstitionisanintegralandconstantly
developingpartoftherichnessoflifeinanincreasinglysecular,nottosaysoulless,
world. New technologies breed new superstitions, as man grapples with the
changeswroughtbyhisowningenuity.
Thestartlingarrayofoldwives'tales,sawsandwarningsthatsurvivetothisday
areareflectionofmanypreoccupations,rangingfromlargelyhistoricalfearsabout
the welfare ofanimals and portents ofcoming weather to psychologically telling
omensofmaritaldiscord, mistrustoftechnologicalinnovationsand magicalways
ofprobingwhatthefutureholds. Sometimessciencehasdemonstratedthatcertain
beliefs, such as those relating to various plants and foods with supposed magical
properties,haveabasisinreality(thoughreaderswhocasttheirownspellsbasedon
recipesorproceduresdescribedinthetextdosoentirelyattheirownrisk).Onother
occasionsthereseemsnopossiblerationalebehindanotion, butstillpeopleevery-
whereare careful to salute magpies, to avoid walking underladders and to guard
theirluckbycrossing theirfingers, touching woodorspitting.
InthisbookIhaveattemptedafairlycomprehensivesurveyofsuperstitionsold
and new. Entries are arranged alphabetically and include generic articles on such
topicsasactorsandactresses,birdsandsailors,thatservetobringtogetherahostof
disparate but related superstitions discussed elsewhere. Copious cross-references
throughoutprovidelinkswithrelatedarticlesthatmaybeofinterest.
The coverage includes superstitions from many cultures and many eras, with
particular emphasis on those of the Western world. Where appropriate I have
mentionedtheknownorspeculativeoriginofsuperstitions,andhavealsoindicated
thecountryorinsomecasesthecountyorstatefromwhichtheyderive;wherethe
superstitionsbelongtothefolkloreofmorethanoneculture,however,itwouldbe
misleading to be more specific. In order to draw attention to the degree to which
Preface
superstition flourishes even today, I have paid special attention to curious beliefs
thathavesprungupinrelativelyrecenttimes:therearearticlesdiscussingthetaboos
andtalismansofastronauts, cardrivers, photographersandsportsplayers,toname
butafew.
In defining the boundaries ofwhat deserved a place and what did not, I have
madea distinctionbetween truesuperstitionandthosebeliefsthat mightbemore
accurately described as folklore, mythology or religion. Sometimes these bound-
aries are very confused, and when in doubt I have tended to include topics that
extendbeyondthestraightforwardoldwives'taleiftheyhaveseemedofrelevance
andlikelytointerestthereader. Thus, manysuperstitionsincludedhereevokethe
ritualsandceremonialoftheChristianChurch,whileothersarederivedapparently
fromclassicallegendorfromtheritesofwitchcraftandblackmagic, subjectsthat
deservevolumesoftheirown.
Sourcesconsultedhaveincludedalargenumberofreferencebooksonthesubject
published on both sides ofthe Atlantic over the past fifty years or so, as well as
personalknowledge. Wheretheauthoritieshaveconflictedonthedetailsofsuper-
stitionsdiscussedIhavetriedtoincludeallversions,sometimesindicatingthemore
plausible alternatives and sometimes leaving conclusions on the matter to the
reader'sdiscretion.Asitisclearlyimpossibletolisteveryregionalvariationofsome
ofthemostwidelyknownsuperstitions,Ihavemostlyconfinedmyselftothemore
universally recognised versions, and my apologies go to those who fail to find a
localfavouriteoftheirown.
My thanksgo, asalways, to membersofmyfamily and to my friendsfortheir
patience, suggestionsandassistancewhilethisbookwasinpreparation,andalsoto
theeditorsandproductionanddesignstaffatCassellfortheirco-operation.
DavidPickering
