Observations on Popular Antiquities: Chiefly Illustrating the Origin of Our Vulgar Customs, Ceremonies and SuperstitionsCambridge University Press, 2011 M12 8 - 746 pages John Brand (1744-1806), secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, first published his widely popular Observations on Popular Antiquities in 1777. This fascinating two-volume almanac of British superstitions and customs was in fact a heavily revised and annotated version of Henry Bourne's Antiquitates vulgares (1725). Volume 2 of Brand's almanac concerns the origins and practices of British customs and ceremonies including marriage customs, death rites, belief in fairies, witchcraft, omens, and divination. The volume also provides explanations for obscure but common phrases and expressions. Following the success of the book's initial reception, Brand continued to research English folklore with the intention of publishing fuller information. This two-volume version, published posthumously in 1813, was edited and expanded by Sir Henry Ellis, Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum, and further revisions also appeared in 1841 and 1870. Brand's book is regarded as the foundation for folklore studies in England. |
Contents
CUSTOMS and CEREMONIES | 1 |
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS and CEREMONIES | 19 |
Winning the Kail in Scotland termed Broose in Westmoreland | 77 |
Sports at Weddings | 83 |
Flinging the Stocking | 91 |
Dunmow Flitch of Bacon | 98 |
CUSTOMS AT DEATHS | 122 |
Watching with the Dead called in the North of England the Lake | 139 |
Setting Salt or Candles on the dead Body | 146 |
Sin Eaters | 155 |
Torches and Lights at Funerals | 181 |
The Custom of laying Flat Stones in our Churches and Church Yards | 202 |
Mynnyng Days Mynde Days or Months Mind | 213 |
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Common terms and phrases
Account of Scotland Æneid antient Antiquities appears Bell Body Bride Burial called Ceremony Charms Child Christian Church Yard Corpse Country Cucking Stool Cuckold cure curious Custom Dæmon dead death deceased Devil Divination doth Dreams drink Edinb England entitled evil Fair Fairies find the following Fire Flowers following passage Friends Funeral Gaule Gent Ghosts Grave Grose hand hath head Hesperides History Honest Whore honour Horns Horse House Hudibras Ibid King Lady Lond London Lord Love Maids Marriage married mentions Moon Newcastle upon Tyne night observes occasion old Play Omen Parish person Polydore Vergil quæ quod Reed's edit Reginald Scot Ring Rosemary says Scotland Shaksp Shakspeare shew Signat signifies Sir Thomas Browne Skimmington speaking Spirits Statistical Account Stone Superstition supposed tells thing Thomas thou Tree unto vulgar Water Wedding Witchcraft Witches Woman Women word