A Dictionary of English FolkloreA Dictionary of English Folklore
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Book, 2000
Current format, Book, 2000, , All copies in use.Book, 2000
Current format, Book, 2000, , All copies in use. Offered in 0 more formatsAn entertaining reference on English folklore features 1250 entries that shed new light on the colorful history behind the holidays, legends, superstitions, traditions, contemporary urban legends, and customs of England, discussing such topics as Mother Goose, Robin Hood, folk cures, wishbone wishes, festivals, and more.
Entries look at the history behind the holidays, legends, superstitions, traditions, modern urban legends, and customs of England, discussing such topics as Mother Goose, Robin Hood, folk cures, wishbone wishes, and festivals.
English folklore is often regarded as impoverished in comparison with the customs and stories of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, but this new dictionary shows the enormous variety and distinctive features of traditions and beliefs throughout England, as well as indicating links with broader British and European patterns. Folklore covers an extremely wide field, with connections to virtually every aspect of life, every part of the country, both urban and rural, and of every age group and occupation. It ranges from the bizarre to the seemingly mundane, and is as much a feature of the modern technological age as the ancient world.
With 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.
Entries look at the history behind the holidays, legends, superstitions, traditions, modern urban legends, and customs of England, discussing such topics as Mother Goose, Robin Hood, folk cures, wishbone wishes, and festivals.
English folklore is often regarded as impoverished in comparison with the customs and stories of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, but this new dictionary shows the enormous variety and distinctive features of traditions and beliefs throughout England, as well as indicating links with broader British and European patterns. Folklore covers an extremely wide field, with connections to virtually every aspect of life, every part of the country, both urban and rural, and of every age group and occupation. It ranges from the bizarre to the seemingly mundane, and is as much a feature of the modern technological age as the ancient world.
With 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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- Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2000.
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