Knock on Wood : A Collection of Superstitions about Love, Money, Health and Much More

by Spencer, Linda

• ISBN13: 9780517206218
• ISBN10: 0517206218
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-02-01
• Publisher: Gramercy

Summary

From ladders to lovers, habits to horseshoes, this is a fun-filled compendium of hundreds of common superstitions, their origins and their meanings, all arranged by subjects such as love, health luck, and money.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
PART ONE: Love Lost, Love Gained	1	(24)
Predictions	3	(2)
Omens	5	(3)
Four-Leaf Clover	8	(1)
A Kiss Is More Than a Kiss	9	(1)
Lover's Knot/Bride's Bouquet	10	(2)
How to Insure Happiness When you Marry	12	(3)
Third Finger Left Hand	15	(1)
Wedding Cake and Fertility	16	(2)
Rice, Grain, Sweet Nuts, and Fertility	18	(1)
Throwing Old Shoes	19	(1)
Mysterious Spaces---Thresholds	20	(2)
Honey & Moons	22	(2)
Leapin' Women's Lib	24	(1)
PART TWO: Good Luck and Bad	25	(30)
The Rabbit's Foot---Good Luck or Bad?	27	(3)
Lucky Metal---Horseshoes	30	(2)
The Evil Eye	32	(3)
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall---Don't Break	35	(2)
Knock on Wood	37	(1)
Ladders in Life	38	(2)
Umbrellas & Good Luck	40	(2)
Lucky Breaks	42	(1)
Sweeping Luck---Brooms	43	(2)
Celestial Bodies	45	(2)
Well-Wishing	47	(1)
Bones & Wishes	48	(2)
Good Deals---Cards	50	(2)
Headgear---Kerchief, Hat, & Cap	52	(3)
PART THREE: To Have or Have Not---Money	55	(20)
You Are Due to Get Money if...	57	(1)
To Get Money...	58	(2)
You Will Be Poor if...	60	(2)
The Faces of the Rich	62	(1)
Rich Clothes	63	(2)
Penny Power	65	(2)
Good Luck Coins	67	(1)
Giving Coins	68	(1)
Coins and the Dead	69	(1)
If You Find Money	70	(3)
Bad Luck Money Habits	73	(2)
PART FOUR: Good Health Luck	75	(32)
Feed A Cold---Starve A Fever	77	(2)
Teeth and Toothaches	79	(2)
The Sneeze	81	(3)
Yawning---What Happens	84	(2)
Hiccoughs	86	(1)
Warts	87	(2)
Remember, Remember---Memory	89	(2)
An Apple A Day	91	(2)
Tea For Many	93	(2)
Garlic---The Miracle Plant	95	(2)
Peeling Away the Onion	97	(2)
The Egg and Us	99	(2)
The Real Stuff---Bread	101	(2)
A Pinch of Salt	103	(2)
Way Before Popeye---Spinach	105	(2)
PART FIVE: Flying & Crawling Good Luck: Birds & Insects	107	(32)
Super-Eagles	109	(2)
The Hawking Hawk	111	(2)
Humming Good Luck---Hummingbirds	113	(2)
The Kindness of Robins	115	(2)
The Many Numbered Sparrow	117	(2)
The Good Swallows	119	(2)
Crow for Crows	121	(2)
Winsome Wrens	123	(2)
Owls & Hoots	125	(3)
Butterflies & Luck	128	(2)
Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home...	130	(1)
Bees, Hornets, & Wasps	131	(2)
Chirping Crickets	133	(2)
Itsy, Bitsy Spiders	135	(2)
Antsy Ants	137	(2)
PART SIX: Lucky Blossoms: Lucky Trees	139	(22)
Lover's Hope---Mistletoe	141	(2)
The Useful Dandelion	143	(2)
The Undefeatable Snowdrop	145	(1)
The Innocent Daisy	146	(1)
The Persevering Daffodil	147	(1)
Violets Don't Shrink	148	(2)
Hi Lily, Hi Low	150	(2)
The Sacred Oak	152	(2)
Ash to Ash	154	(2)
Pine Away No More	156	(2)
Willows, Weeping & Otherwise	158	(3)
PART SEVEN: Four-Footed Good Luck	161	(31)
Slow & Steady---Turtles and Tortoises	163	(2)
The Newts in Life	165	(2)
Frogs and Toads a Hopping	167	(2)
Slippery, Slimy Snakes	169	(2)
More Than Milk---Cows	171	(2)
Goats---Scapegoats & All	173	(2)
Pigs---Tails & Squeals	175	(2)
Sheep---Shearing & Counting	177	(2)
Neighing Horses	179	(3)
Clucking Hens & Crowing Roosters	182	(3)
Fox Lungs & Fur	185	(2)
The Four-Footed Wolf	187	(2)
Dogs---Friends Indeed	189	(2)
Squirrelly Squirrels	191	(1)
The Cat's Meow	192