Black Cats and Evil Eyes

A Book of Old-Fashioned Superstitions

Chloe Rhodes

• Publisher: Michael O'Mara
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN:
  9781782434863
• eBook ISBN:
  9781843179160
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Customs & Traditions
• Index: Social Sciences

This collection investigates the origins of our most intriguing old-fashioned superstitions, many of which we still find ourselves abiding by today.Hundreds of the beliefs passed down through the generations have their foundations in our ancestors' efforts to ward off evil, which they blamed for hardship, illness and injustice in times when life was, as often as not, 'nasty, brutish and short'. Black Cats and Evil Eyes sets these superstitions in their historical and social context, explaining how fear of the Devil, demons, evil spirits and witchcraft drove people to arm themselves with rituals and talismans to repel dark forces and allow them to live long and healthy lives.In examining many of our common superstitions, this book illuminates the customs, beliefs and practices that link us to an ancient, and often darker, human past.

INDEX

accidents, in threes ref 1

acupuncture ref 1

Adam (Genesis) ref 1, ref 2

albatross ref 1

All Hallows’ Eve, see Halloween

Allingham, William ref 1

angels ref 1, ref 2

Annwn, Hounds of ref 1

anti-Semitism ref 1

Aristophanes ref 1

Aristotle ref 1

Athena ref 1

Auguries of Innocence (Blake) ref 1

Augustus, Emperor ref 1

babies:

amniotic membrane (caul) of ref 1

and baptism ref 1

christening of ref 1

keeping cats from ref 1

medieval, deaths of ref 1, ref 2

nails of ref 1

and yawning ref 1

Bacon, Francis ref 1

Balder ref 1

Baldwin, William ref 1, ref 2

Banister, John ref 1

Bannatyne, Richard ref 1

baptism ref 1, ref 2

bats ref 1

beds, and Fridays ref 1

beef bones, burning ref 1

bells ref 1, ref 2

Beltane ref 1

Beware the Cat (Baldwin) ref 1, ref 2

birds:

albatross ref 1

in Christian folklore ref 1

cock ref 1

gull ref 1

magpie ref 1

owl ref 1

raven ref 1

robin ref 1

swallow ref 1

swan ref 1

thunderbirds ref 1

black cats ref 1

and Charles I ref 1

as familiars ref 1

Black Death ref 1, ref 2

see also bubonic plague; plague

Blake, William ref 1

‘Bless you!’ ref 1

Boer War ref 1

Böhmerwald Mountains ref 1

bones:

bats’ ref 1

beef ref 1

burning ref 1

Brand, John ref 1

bread ref 1

executioner’s ref 1

breath:

holding, while passing a cemetery ref 1

as life force ref 1

soul linked with ref 1

stolen by cats ref 1

bridesmaids ref 1

bridges, parting on ref 1

brooms ref 1

and witches ref 1

Browne, Thomas ref 1

bubonic plague ref 1, ref 2

see also Black Death; plague

Bunch, Mother ref 1

Caesar, Julius, assassination of ref 1

Caesar, Tiberius ref 1

candles ref 1

in ceremony and ritual ref 1

Canterbury Tales (Chaucer) ref 1

cats:

...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Contents
• Introduction
• The Superstitions
• PICKING UP PENNIES
• WALKING UNDER LADDERS
• SPILLING SALT
• THE EVIL EYE
• MOONLIGHT
• BREAKING A MIRROR
• LOOSE OR BROKEN SHOELACES
• NEVER LEAVE A HOUSE THROUGH A DIFFERENT DOOR FROM THE ONE USED FOR ENTRANCE
• BLACK CATS
• THE GIFT OF A PURSE OR WALLET SHOULD ALWAYS INCLUDE MONEY
• PARTING ON A BRIDGE
• OWLS
• NEVER KILL A ROBIN
• NEVER KILL A SWALLOW
• IT IS BAD LUCK TO LET MILK BOIL OVER
• NEVER KILL A SPIDER
• NEVER TREAD ON A GRAVE
• NEVER REMOVE FLOWERS FROM A GRAVE
• IT IS BAD FORTUNE TO USE SCISSORS ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
• NEVER GIVE A KNIFE OR SCISSORS AS A GIFT
• LIGHTED CANDLES AND EVIL SPIRITS
• BURNING CHEEKS MEAN SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU
• A SUDDEN CHILL THAT CAUSES A SHIVER MEANS SOMEONE HAS STEPPED OVER YOUR GRAVE
• IF A BROKEN CLOCK SUDDENLY CHIMES, THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
• WRAPPING A NEWBORN CHILD IN ITS MOTHER’S CLOTHES UNTIL IT HAS BEEN BAPTIZED
• WHEN A DOG HOWLS, DEATH IS NEAR
• IT IS BAD LUCK TO BURN BEEF BONES
• SAYING ‘BLESS YOU’ WHEN SOMEONE SNEEZES
• IF YOU BITE YOUR TONGUE WHILST EATING, IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECENTLY TOLD A LIE
• A BRIDE MUST SEW A SWAN’S FEATHER INTO HER HUSBAND’S PILLOW TO ENSURE FIDELITY
• PUT A PINPRICK IN EMPTY EGGSHELLS
• HOLDING YOUR BREATH WHEN PASSING A CEMETERY
• NEVER OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS
• FRIDAY 13TH IS AN UNLUCKY DAY
• NEVER USE A CROSSROADS AS A MEETING PLACE
• CROSSED KNIVES AT THE TABLE SIGNIFY A QUARREL
• TO DREAM OF A LIZARD IS A SIGN THAT YOU HAVE A SECRET ENEMY
• A CHILD’S NAILS SHOULDN’T BE CUT BEFORE ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY
• SPITTING TO WARD OFF EVIL
• NEVER CHOOSE A REDHEAD AS A BRIDESMAID AS SHE WILL STEAL THE GROOM
• KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED TO MAKE WISHES COME TRUE
• A BED CHANGED ON FRIDAY WILL BRING BAD DREAMS
• ALWAYS STIR CHRISTMAS CAKE CLOCKWISE
• IF A TOAD OR FROG ENTERS THE HOUSE IT WILL BRING BAD LUCK
• CARRYING A RABBIT’S FOOT TO WARD OFF EVIL
• RAVENS
• IF A PICTURE FALLS OFF THE WALL, THE PERSON DEPICTED WILL SOON DIE
• Acknowledgements
• Bibliography
• Index