Category: Superstitions

You may assure Mr. Dickinson, p. 4, the notion of the Cuckoo, in part, subsisting by sucking the eggs of other birds, does universally prevail ; and, though it is not noticed by authors of notoriety, there is a humble production, entituled “Songs for Children,” which has inculcated it for many years, if not for […]

Superstition has done much mischief in the world in the days of our forefathers ; and perhaps, in some instances, their children of the present day are not quite exempted from its influence. May I be permitted to select the following as a specimen ? It is common to throw away the feathers of pigeons, […]

As arts and sciences make very perceptible advances in Europe after every ten years, an Encyclopaedia or magazine, wherein to register our new stores, becomes, of necessity, a periodical publication. But as these dictionaries contain not only what is new, but generally a system of all that is known, both new and old, upon every […]

The vulgar in our country formerly esteemed it a forerunner of some calamity. Pennant, however, says it visits these islands frequently ; but not at stated seasons. It is found in many parts of Europe, in Egypt, and even as remote as Ceylon. The Turks call it Tir Chaos, or the messenger bird, from the […]

Among other plagiarisms idly charged against that gifted poet Lord Byron, is the incident of the White-bird, recorded in ” Don Juan,” hovering over a death-bed. Permit me to observe, that if his lordship is liable to censure on this account, so must the author from whom he is said to have derived it. The […]

A friend told me lately, that in a cold winter a year or two ago, as he was riding over the moors near Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, he saw a great number of geese dead upon the moors ; and upon enquiring into the cause of it, he was informed that it was the custom of […]

Dec. 24. An instance of horrid barbarity, coupled with gross superstition, lately occurred at Hoo, in Kent. A farmer having a duck in his possession which layed eggs of a dun colour, the animal was immediately considered unlucky, and a resolution taken to dispose of it. A distemper, just at the time, broke out among […]

In the animal kingdom birds have come in for a full share of legendary lore. Thus the owl has given rise to widespread superstitions, and has ever been considered a bird of ill-omen, and its unexpected appearance a portent of death and disaster. Even whole nations have been influenced by this belief; Rome twice underwent […]

I was extremely entertained and delighted with the copy of that antient and venerable manuscript concerning Free-Masonry with which you first obliged the publick in your September magazine, and which is since unartfully printed in various shapes. The brotherhood were so well pleased with it that there was not a Magazine to be got in […]

I have found it a popular notion among that class of people to whom we are most indebted for the preservation of much interesting folklore country cottagers that the peculiar scent of the hawthorn is ” exactly like the smell of the Great Plague of London.” This belief may have been traditionally held during the […]