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STRANGE CUSTOMS: HOW DID THEY BEGIN? by R. Brasch

STRANGE CUSTOMS: HOW DID THEY BEGIN?

By

Pub Date: Jan. 7th, 1976
Publisher: McKay

. . .and will this ever end? Brasch has compiled several books before, loose-jointed collections that trace--usually to a single source--the origins of modern practices and expressions. Although each item is interesting (black cat, evil eye), the entries are not comprehensive and the impact of one after another is, well, underwhelming. In addition, the groupings are somewhat idiosyncratic: ""Places, Peoples, and Seasons"" includes Hell and several variations, Stonehenge, the Druids, the Star of David, Gypsies, Robin Hood, the Changeling, Halloween, and the Corn Spirit. Brasch also looks into magic generally, numerology, weird creatures, witches and the devil, protections, divinations, and related subjects. No spellbinder here--just odd bits of the occult from A to Z.