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Ever wonder why we kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas or think a rabbit's foot brings good luck? In this informative volume, two folklore authorities provide reliable and often surprising answers to these and other curiosities that have shaped daily life in England for centuries. Comprising 1,250 entries, this dictionary explores the festivals and past celebrations of the English calendar, from St. Andrews Day and its tradition of drunkenness and cross-dressing to Twelfth Night and its king and queen cake. It also provides concise portraits of real and legendary characters that populate the public memory, including Robin Hood, The Brothers Grimm, Lady Godiva, Puck, and The Sandman. And just as folklore encompasses the mundane as well as the fantastic, numerous other entries illuminate the significance of colors, numbers, flowers, animals, and household objects. In addition to ancient and medieval folklore, readers will find many contemporary urban legends, such as the vanishing hitchhiker--an ominous figure seen by travelers in Britain and the United States--and the Tooth Fairy.
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Marc Staley
reviewed A dictionary of English folklore on March 22, 2011
A dictionary of English folklore
For me the best reference books are those which not only provide a entry matching your initial query but which also encourage you to browse and read other not always related entries. This Dictionary does it for me on both counts: authoritiveness and readability. Folklore here is rightly interpreted as including aspects of modern popular culture as well as topics beloved of antiquarians.
Authored by two stalwarts of the Folklore Society--who should then know what they are talking about--the Dictionary contains over 1250 entries covering a wide range of topics including seasonal customs, traditional tales, superstitions and beliefs. Key figures involved in the recording of lore are noted here, and evidence presented that folklore is part of a continually evolving process. What makes this book particularly worthwhile is that not all so-called traditional lore is accorded uncritical acceptance.
For those wanting more there are relevant references and a bibliography, and in common with many in this Oxford reference series, pretty pictures are excluded in favour of more text.
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