A Dictionary of English FolkloreWith 1250 entries ranging from dragons to Mother Goose, May Day to Michaelmas, this enchanting dictionary unfurls the colorful history behind the holidays, customs, legends, and superstitious beliefs of England. Ever wonder why we kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas or think a rabbit's foot brings good luck? Two folklore authorities provide reliable and often surprising answers to these and other curiosities that have shaped daily life in England for centuries. They explore the festivals and past celebrations of the English calendar, from St. Andrews Day and its tradition of drunkenness and cross-dressing to Twelfth Night and its king and queen cake. They also provide concise portraits of real and legendary characters that populate the public memory, including Robin Hood, The Brothers Grimm, Lady Godiva, Puck, and The Sandman. Fairies, mermaids, hobgoblins, and changelings are but a few of the supernatural forces surveyed here. However, as folklore encompasses the mundane as well as the fantastic, numerous other entries illuminate the significance of colors, numbers, flowers, animals, and household objects. Learn the curious history behind our distrust of the "black sheep," popular credence in "wishbone" wishes, folk cures for nosebleeds and warts, and persistent old wives' tales. In addition to ancient and medieval folklore, you will find many contemporary urban legends, e.g., the vanishing hitchhiker--a spooky figure seen ominously by travelers in Britain and the United States--and the Tooth Fairy. An entertaining resource, The Dictionary of English Folklore will be a fascinating companion for readers of English literature, history, cultural studies, and fantasy. |
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User Review - waltzmn - LibraryThingTo know Steve Roud is to -- be amazed. In other words, let it be said that I have a slight personal bias. But I don't know Jacqueline Simpson, and my personal contacts with Steve Roud are slight; we ... Read full review
A dictionary of English folklore
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictContaining more than 1200 alphabetically arranged entries, this folklore dictionary spans familiar beliefs, from the earliest cultural traditions to more familiar subjects, such as Mother Goose. The ... Read full review
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19th century animal appear areas Aubrey baby bad luck ballad belief boggart calendar customs called carried Cecil Sharp celebrations charms Christmas church collected common Cornwall cure death decorated Denham Tracts Derbyshire Devil divination early Easter England English Folk Dance evil example fairies feast festivals flowers folk-song folklore folklorists garlands ghosts girls Gomme hand Herefordshire History hobby horse Hole horns Journal Kightly known Lancashire legend Lincolnshire London lore Lucy Broadwood magic maypole medieval mentioned Midsummer modern Molly dancing morris dance night North Yorkshire one’s Opie and Opie Opie and Tatem popular Radford recorded references Reginald Scot reported revival rhyme ritual round saints Samuel Pepys Sharp Shropshire Shuel Society Somerset sometimes songs stone story Sunday superstitions Sussex symbol traditional unlucky usually versions Vickery Victorian village widespread witchcraft witches woman women Wright and Lones writers Yorkshire