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The Magic of the Horse-Shoe

With Other Folk-Lore Notes

by Robert Means Lawrence

[1898]


Title Page
Preface
Contents

The Magic Of The Horse-shoe

The Magic Of The Horse-shoe
1. History Of The Horse-shoe
II. The Horse-shoe As A Safeguard
III. Horns And Other Two-pronged Objects
IV. The Symbol Of The Open Hand
V. Crescents And Half-moon-shaped Amulets
VI. Iron As A Protective Charm
VII. Blacksmiths Credited With Supernatural Attributes
VIII. Fire As A Spirit-scaring Element
IX. The Serpentine Shape Of The Horse-shoe
X. The Horse-shoe Arch In Ancient Caledonian Hieroglyphics
XI. The Horse-shoe As A Symbol Of The Horse
XII. Horses' Heads As Talismans
XIII. The Horse-shoe As A Favorite Anti-witch Charm
XIV. The Position Of The Horse-shoe As A Protector Of Buildings
XV. The Lucky Horse-shoe In General
XVI. The Horse-shoe As A Phallic Symbol
XVII. The Horse-shoe As A Symbol On Tavern Sign-boards
XVIII. Horse-shoes On Church-doors
XIX. Horse-shoe Legendary Lore
XX. Recapitulation Of Theories Of The Origin Of The Horse-shoe Superstition
XXI. Conclusion

Fortune And Luck

Fortune And Luck
1. Tyche, The Grecian Goddess Of Good Luck
II. The Roman Goddess Fortuna
III. The Character Of Fortune
IV. Temples Of Fortune
V. Luck, Ancient And Modern

The Folk-lore Of Common Salt

The Folk-lore Of Common Salt
I. Origin And History
II. Salt Uncongenial To Witches And Devils
III. The Latin Word ''sal''
IV. Salt Employed To Confirm An Oath
V. Salt-spilling As An Omen
VI. Helping To Salt At Table
VII. Salt As A Protection To Young Infants
VIII. Salt As A Magical Substance
IX. Miscellaneous Remarks On Salt
X. The Salt-cellar

The Omens Of Sneezing

The Omens Of Sneezing
I. In Ancient Times
II. Mediaeval Beliefs About Sneezing
III. Modern Superstitions About Sneezing
IV. The Doctrine Of Demoniacal Possession
V. Salutation After Sneezing
VI. Legends Relating To Sneezing

Days Of Good And Evil Omen

Days Of Good And Evil Omen
1. Egyptian Days
II. Roman Superstition Concerning Days
III. Medieval Belief In Day-fatality
IV. Prevalence Of Similar Beliefs In Modern Times
V. The Sixth Day Of The Week
VI. Friday In Modern Times

Superstitious Dealings With Animals

Superstitious Dealings With Animals
I. Rats And Mice As Avengers
II. Spirits Assume The Forms Of Black Animals
III. Exorcism And Conjuration Of Vermin
IV. Charms Against Animals
V. Images Of Animals And Birds Used As Charms
VI. Words Used As Charms
VII. Superstitious Dealings With Wild Animals
VIII. Legal Prosecution Of Animals

The Luck Of Odd Numbers

The Luck Of Odd Numbers
I. Early Significance Of Numbers
II. The Number Three
III. The Number Seven
IV. Odd Numbers In Witchcraft
V. Odd Numbers In Folk-medicine