Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

From the amorous disposition of these people’s tempers, which breaks out upon all occasions, in an excess of aukward complaisance to their females (who are generally handsotne, if not a little too masculine and indelicate in their limbs) may probably proceed the universal passion that prevails among them for poetry, music, and dancing, after their […]

Papal Superstitions IN my last communication, I presented you with some specimens of the delusions of the Church of Rome with regard to Demoniacism. [See note 26.] I will now instance two other old superstitions, I. of the Devil creating storms of Thunder and Lightning, and the power of Saints, and Reliques of Saints, to […]

The learned editor of the “Antiquitates Vulgares’ (Newcastle, 8vo, 1777) having omitted to say anything upon Relick Sunday, permit an occasional correspondent to lay a few observations upon the subject,together with some additions to his account of Easter, etc., before your numerous readers. Amongst the Harl. MSS., 2447, is a curious collection of antient Postills, […]

Looking over your Magazine for December 1810, I find you have inserted “a newly invented Game of Cards for a Winter’s Amusement.” The Christmas entertainments of the present day differ widely from those of old. Chatterton has given ” the Antiquity of Christmas Games,” which may amuse those of your Readers who are unacquainted with […]

St. Lawrence’s Day is the last of the Dog-days; consequently, when a labourer has been spent with the heat of the rest, he may be said to have finished his work, and received his wages, which ought to be high in proportion to his expence of strength. Among the various reprints of our old literature, […]

The reasons why the first day of August was denominated Lammas-day, and gule or yule of August, may perhaps be an entertainment for your readers. The first of August is called Lammas-day, some say because the priests were then wont to gather their tithe lambs ; others derive it from the Saxon word Leffmesse, i.e., […]

One of the most popular notions yet currently relied upon by the superstitious is, ” that when it rains on St. Swithin’s holiday, we shall have a continuation of wet weather for forty days ;” and this conceit has received considerable encouragement, this year, from the coincidence of there having hitherto been a constant daily […]

Being at a country-town on the 29th of May last, I was very much pleased to see the good old custom of putting up oaken boughs, to commemorate the restoration of monarchy in the last century, so well preserved. Never surely was there a time, when it was more necessary to pay attention to everything […]

Some of your readers will probably not be displeased at seeing a catalogue of the Festivals which were celebrated in the Church of England before the Reformation. A certain number of them are enumerated in the Calendar which is prefixed to the book of common prayer ; but as that list is very defective, I […]

This is the day of Nature’s universal joy, when the sylvan deities dance upon the May-morn sunbeam, to the sweet music of the grove, and the gardens of the valley are clothed in a rich profusion of variegated blossoms. It is the festival of Love, where Harmony and Mirth present the gay garlands of Spring. […]