Cassell S Dictionary Of Superstitions

Alphabetically arranged entries provide coverage of a wide range of ancient and modern fears, beliefs, and taboos, explaining the rituals, charms, and talismans invoked by the superstitions.

Separating truth from myth, an expert offers an A to Z guide to one of the most intriguing aspects of the super-natural. Hundreds of carefully researched articles provide explanations of the key concepts of witchcraft, from demons and exorcisms to sabbats and spells, as well as fascinating biographies of key figures. Articles on witch trials through the centuries draw on records of torture, confessions, and recantations.

This dictionary is a guide to the subject of witchcraft which has exerted its influence on the popular imagination for centuries. It looks at the history of witchcraft, traces its development in countries such as Britain, Germany and the US, and explains the rituals and objects associated with it, from black sabbaths to covens, and from hands of glory to pentagrams. In addition, it provides biographies of key figures, such as the 17th-century Witch-Finder General, Matthew Hopkins, and the Great Beast Aleister Crowley and gives detailed accounts of notorious witch trials, drawing on contemporary documents and eye-witness views.

Describes superstitions related to minerals, plants, animals, weather, the calendar, the human body, stages of life, objects, and clothing