Dictionary of Superstitions [Hardcover]

David Pickering (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

An A-Z guide to the origins and meaning of superstitions. Find a wealth of fascinating facts and a number of fun "spells" to try -- including a rhyme to say to the new moon for revealing the identity of your true love. For those who believe in "breaking a leg", or for anyone interested in folklore and popular culture, this is sure to be an entertaining read as well as an invaluable reference.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 294 pages
• Publisher: Cassell; 1ST edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304345350
• ISBN-13: 978-0304345359
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine reference book, August 1, 2006

By 

Literary Mykal (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Superstitions (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic reference book of superstitions, new and old! While it would have been nice to get an explanation of the origin of these superstitions, the book is still a great read and helps to understand why some people feel and fear the way they do.

As for the definition of BELT, which references to the marriage to a coloured man and caused a certain amount of discomfort of reviewers on here, yes, it's a term that is dated now but the cover sleeve of the hardback does say, and I quote: "The Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions provides a fascinating overview of an astonishing diverse range of popularity held fears and beliefs. Many are still familiar and widespread. Others now belong firmly to the past, but are intriguing nonetheless for the insights they offer into human preoccupations and taboos." The operative words being "others now belong firmly to the past" and mean they are not NEW superstitions. I believe the wording was kept in the original format to preserve the history of these superstitions.

By the way, the word OMEN, which also appears in the definition of BELT, does not always mean negative, it is a phenomenon supposed to portend (predition of) good or evil. You get to pick depending on the intention!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very usefull information, September 13, 2003

By 

Johanna Jamison (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Superstitions (Hardcover)

i look down on who decided that because of one definition, they returned the book. I in turn cary it around where ever i go, and find it's now my favorite passages to read in my spare time. This is an amazing book i shall never forget.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!, September 13, 2010

By 

Amanda Jade - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Superstitions (Hardcover)

This book is a fascinating and well-researched read. I have family in Germany that still believe some of these old superstitions (haha) - so the author didn't make them up.