Madrid. 21x14 cm. 192 p. Encuadernación en rúst. de editorial. Traducido del Inglés .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. 9788449504075; 8449504074
I learn a Lot of this book about how the other Popular supersitions comes from and what we beliefs in. This book is all about the superstition that until now we believe in and how it does invent and meaning, but is up to you if you believe in that superstition or believe in GOD .
I tried, tried hard to like this book. The topic looked very promising, it is exactly the sort of thing I normally enjoy, however the reality was a let down.
First, I think the title is a misnomer, by about a third of the way through I was getting irritated by the fact that no superstitions were ever mentioned. Customs were, to be sure, however a superstition is the belief in supernatural causality and there was no mention of causality at all, just a long list of things that people do. Origins is another misnomer, very few origins are researched though the author shares at great length his opinions about where he thinks things come from.
The opinions themselves are delivered in a pompous, self-satisfied very condescending tone from a extraordinarily limited, Christianised world view (Yes, I do know it was first published in 1930, that is no excuse).
The author uses a lot of long quotes from secondary sources and does not always tell you when he lapses into these quotes, so you are often unsure of whose words you are reading. You are frequently unsure of what the point is, and can expect no enlightenment most of the time.
All in all, a challenging read. I may try it again with no expectations of superstition or origins, just for the sake of the writing style. Or I may not.
The search continues. This was entertaining, if only for the observable racism and included lists of foods the British tend to eat (blegh).
Not anything I plan to add to the calendar, but of historical interest. Certainly more meaningful than the holidays we have today (drink, be lonely, eat chocolate, is it memorial or veterans, eat, eat, eat).