Observations on Popular Antiquities
Chiefly Illustrating the Origin of our Vulgar Customs, Ceremonies and Superstitions
2 Volume Set
£92.99
Part of Cambridge Library Collection - Spiritualism and Esoteric Knowledge
- Author: John Brand
- Editor: Henry Ellis
- Date Published: December 2011
- availability: Temporarily unavailable - available from TBC
- format: Multiple copy pack
- isbn: 9781108036481
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John Brand (1744–1806), secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, first published his widely popular Observations on Popular Antiquities in 1777. This fascinating almanac of British superstitions and customs was in fact a heavily revised and annotated version of Henry Bourne's Antiquitates vulgares (1725). Beginning with New Year's Eve, Volume 1 describes the origins and practices of British calendar festivals including religious holidays, saints' days, and seasonal celebrations. Volume 2 concerns the origins and practices of British customs and ceremonies, including marriage and funeral customs. 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.
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×Product details
- Date Published: December 2011
- format: Multiple copy pack
- isbn: 9781108036481
- length: 1260 pages
- dimensions: 246 x 170 x 64 mm
- weight: 2.06kg
- availability: Temporarily unavailable - available from TBC
Table of Contents
Volume 1: Editor's advertisement
Preface
New Year's Eve
New Year's Day
Twelfth Night
St. Agnes's Day or Eve, Jan. 21st
St. Vincent's Day, Jan. 22d
St. Paul's Day, Jan. 25th
Candlemas Day, Feb. 2d
St. Blaze's Day, Feb. 3d
Valentine's Day, Feb. 14th
Collop or Shrove Monday
Shrove-tide, or Shrove Tuesday
Ash-Wednesday
St. David's Day, March 1st
St. Patrick's Day, March 17th
Mid-Lent Sunday
Palm Sunday
All Fool's Day, April 1st
Shere Thursday, also Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Easter Eve
Easter Day
Easter eggs
Easter holidays
Lifting on Easter holidays
Hoke Day
St. George's Day, April 23d
St. Mark's Day or Eve
Parochial perambulations in Rogation Week. Ascension Day or Holy Thursday
May Day customs
May Poles
Morris dancers
St. Urban's Day, May 25th
Royal Oak Day, May 29th
Whitsuntide
Trinity, or Trinity Sunday, Even.
Eve of Thursday after Trinity Sunday
St. Barnabas Day, June 11th
St. Vitus's Day, June 15th
Corpus Christi Day, and Plays, June 14th
Summer Solstice. Midsummer Eve. The Vigil of St. John the Baptist's Day
St. Peter's Day, June 29th
St. Ulric, July 4th
St. Swithin's Day, July 15th
St. Margaret's Day, July 20th
St. Bridget, July 23d
St. James's Day, July 25th
Gule of August, commonly called Lammass Day
Assumption of the Virgin Mary, August 15th
St. Roch's Day, August 16th
St. Bartholomew's Day, August 24th
Holy-Rood-Day, Septemb. 14th
Michaelmas, Septemb. 29th
St. Ethelburgh's Day, October 11th
St. Simon and St. Jude's Day, October 28th
Allhallow Even.
The Fifth of November
Martinmas, Novemb. 11th
Queen Elizabeth's accession, Novemb. 17th
St. Clement's Day, Novemb. 23d
St. Catharine's Day, Novemb. 24th
St. Andrew's Day, Novemb. 30th
St. Nicholas's Day, Decemb. 6th
On the montem at Eton
Customs a little before, at, or about Christmas
Of the Yule clog, or block, burnt on Christmas Eve
Of the word Yule, formerly used to signify Christmas
Sports, games, etc. at Christmas
St. Stephen's Day, Decemb. 26th
St. John the Evangelist, Decemb. 27th
Childermas or Holy Innocents' Day
Country wakes, called also feasts of dedication, revellings, rush-bearings, and in the north of England hoppings
Harvest home, alias Mell Supper, Kern or Churn supper, or Feast of Ingathering
The feast of sheep shearing
Saturday afternoon
The borrowed days
Days lucky or unlucky
Cock crowing, time of the morning so called
Strewing churches with flowers on days of humiliation and thanksgiving
Cock-fighting
Bull-running in the town of Stamford
Additions to Vol. 1. Volume 2: Customs and Ceremonies: Child-bearing, churching, and christening customs
Marriage customs and ceremonies
Customs at deaths
Of bowing towards the altar or communion table on entering the church
Drinking customs
Barbers' signs
Tobacco in ale houses
Custom and superstitions concerning wells and fountains
Notices concerning sports and games
Popular notices concerning cards
Sports of sailors
Fairs
Of the meaning of the old saw, 'Five score or men, money, and pins, six score of all other things'
Fairy mythology
Popular notions concerning the apparition of the devil
Sorcery or witchcraft
Ghosts or apparitions
Gipsies
Obsolete vulgar punishments
Omens
Charms
Divination
Vulgar errors
Neck verse
Bishop in the pan
Dining with Duke Humphrey
Miller's thumb
Turning cat in pan
Putting the miller's eye out
To bear the bell
To pluck a crow with any one
Of certain other obscure phrases and common expressions
Of the phenomenon vulgarly called Will, or Kitty with a wisp, or Jack with a lanthorn.
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