The Origins of Popular Supersitions and Customs: Contents

SECTION I. Superstitions and Customs Relating to Days and Seasons 1. Candlemas Day 2. St. Valentine's Day 3. Simnel Sunday 4. Maunday Thursday 5. Shrove Tuesday 6. Good Friday 7. Good Friday Loaves 8. Picking up Sixpences at Smithfield 9. Easter Holidays 10. Biddenden Cakes 11. Easter Eggs 12. Knutsford: May Queen and Morris Dances 13. Furry Dance--Helston 14. Baal Fire--St. John's Eve 15. Hock Tide 16. Garland Day at Abbotsbury 17. Ascension Day, "Beating the Bounds" 18. Ascension Day--other superstitions. 19. All Fool's Day 20. Lichfield Greenhill Bower 21. Lammas Day 22. Harvest Home: the Kern Baby 23. Halloween 24. The Fifth of November 25. Wroth Money 26. Christmas 27. Christmas Boxes 28. Yule Logs 29. Lucky and Unlucky Days SECTION II. Marriage Superstitions and Customs 1. The Engagement Ring 2. Kissing the Bride 3. Wedding Rings and Bride Cake 4. Bridesmaids and Best Man 5. May Marriages 6. Throwing the Shoe 7. The Dunmow Flitch of Bacon 8. Selling Wives 9. Christening Customs SECTION III. Divination and Omens 1. Dreams 2. Witchcraft 3. Divination by Books 4. The Divining (Dowsing) Rod 5. Palmistry 6. Astrology 7. Crystal-gazing 8. Colour Superstitions 9. Numbers 10. Amulets, Gems, Charms, and Talismans 11. Omens--Introductory 12. Looking-glass Omens 13. Stumbling and Falling 14. Spilling the Salt 15. Thirteen at Table 16. The Owl 17. Howling of Dogs 18. Ear Tingling 19. Sneezing 20. Spitting 21. Knife Superstitions 22. Sharks following Ships 23. Black Cats 24. The Cuckoo 25. Comets SECTION IV. Miscellaneous Superstitions and Customs 1. Holy Wells 2. The Horn Dance: Abbot's Bromley 3. "Telling the Bees" 4. The Death Bell 5. Vampires 6. Robin Redbreast 7. Drinking Customs 8. Yew Trees in Churchyards 9. Theatre Superstitions 10. Christening Ships 11. Horse Shoe Tributes at Oakham Castle 12. The Duty of Not Saving a Drowning Man 13. Playing Card Superstitions