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The Dictionary of Omens and Superstitions
The Dictionary of Omens and Superstitions Author:Philippa Waring Did you know that: If a woman's apron suddenly falls off for no apparent reason it is an omen that she will have a baby within a year? A man with a hairy chest makes a better lover than one without? The appearance of bubbles on the surface of a cup of tea can mean you are in for some money? If you must get out of bed on the left-hand side, you s... more »hould put your right sock and shoe on first to counter the bad luck? Omens, superstitions, folk beliefs cling in fact to nearly every human activity. Most of them have grown up through centuries, linking us with a distant magical past when inanimate objects and chance happenings all had powers and meanings that we have long forgotten. Yet the superstitions persist, part of a living tradition that penetrates our language and our subconcious awareness still, and which it seems no scientific and technological progress can altogether eradicate. In this widely researched dictionary, Philippa Waring has listed omens and superstitions from all over the world, tracing their probable origins and the rich symbolic context in which they still survive. She suggests ways of exploiting good luck and avoiding bad. With over 500 entries, The Dictionary of Omens and Superstitions is the most wide-ranging and fascinating work in its field.« less