Why are Celtic fairies behind our compulsion to knock on wood? How is a Norse myth responsible for our fear of the number 13? And why might an ancient Byzantine war strategy make us wary of spilling salt?
A fascinating and mystical tumble through thousands of years of curious traditions, Very Superstitious gets to the root of just why we practice these rituals. From keeping new shoes off the table to nailing a horseshoe above the door, so many of our habits are informed by beliefs handed down through generations.
Weaving between folklores, religions, cultures and traditions, Very Superstitious is a beautifully illustrated exploration of 100 of the most curious beliefs from around the world. In telling the stories of how we came to adopt these superstitions and their place in our lives today, this peculiar history explores human nature itself.
Price: $13.56
$16.95
Pages: 224
Publisher: Welbeck Publishing Group Limited
Imprint: Welbeck Publishing
Publication Date:
04 October 2022
ISBN: 9781802795011
Format: Hardcover
Find A Penny, Pick it Up;
Trimming Nails at Night;
Empty Bottles on the Ground;
Knocking on Wood;
Chewing Gum after Twilight;
Saying "White Rabbit" on the First of the Month;
Spilling Water;
Never Leave your Wallet on the Floor;
Avoid Walking Backwards;
Tuck your Thumbs in at a Cemetery;
Don't Toast with Water;
Watch out for Manhole Covers;
Unlucky Number 4;
Gifting Yellow Flowers;
Opening scissors without cutting;
Eat Twelve Grapes on New Year's Eve;
Sticking Chopsticks into Food;
A Black Cat Crossing your path;
Whistling at Night;
Sleeping Towards the North;
Lying Down after Eating;
Breaking a Mirror;
Saluting Magpies;
Don't Leave a Fan on While you Sleep;
13, Unlucky for Some;
Beware the Evil Eye;
Letters to Juliet;
Walking Under Ladders;
Never Eat Goat Meat;
Opening an Umbrella Inside;Breaking Egg Shells;
Starting a Journey on a Friday;
Putting Clothes on Topsy-Turvy;
Lucky Horseshoes;
Seeing your Doppelganger;
Shoes on the Table;
Sign of the Beast;
Crossing on the Stairs;
Tossing A Coin in a Wishing Well;
Stirring the Christmas Pudding;
Wishing a Happy Birthday Early;
Having Itchy Palms;
Bad Luck Comes in Threes;
Wishing on a Wishbone;
Paying to Receive a Gift;
The Elusive Four Leafed Clover;
Step on a Crack…;
A Bird in the House;
When the Cock Crows;
Hooting of an Owl;
An Apple A Day;
Never Kill A Ladybird;
Take Care When Cutting Bread;
& MORE
