Encyclopædia of Superstitions

This volume answers the need for a work containing as complete a collection as possible of British superstitions presented in encyclopaedic form giving easy and quick reference to the reader. To those unskilled in the study of superstition, this work will come as a surprise on his discovering the widespread diffusion of superstitious beliefs still obtaining at this day in every aspect of social life among both the civilized and the savage, and to those who have given any thought to the origins of superstitions, this work cannot fail to prove of real value as a reference book; but whether it be regarded as an orderly collection of reading for the curious which will provide much entertainment as well as instruction, or as a work of reference, the general opinion will be that the compilers have hit the mark they aimed at, and have achieved a skillful and valuable piece of work. Individual classification has been carried out, and the title headings enable the reader to obtain within a few minutes the list of beliefs attached to any one subject - and, where it is possible to present it, the origin, or possible origin, of the belief. Care has been taken to distinguish between superstition and custom. Except in one or two instances, where the line of demarcation is barely distinguishable, customs have been omitted as lacking any spiritual origin. The deep research necessitated by this study did raise a topic of peculiar and fascinating interest - whether, indeed, there are such things as "British" superstitions, or whether, on the contrary, those superstitions are world-wide, inherent in all peoples of the world in exactly identical forms of fear, of avoidance, and of remedial measures… [From the Authors' Preface]