{"product_id":"a-dictionary-of-english-folklore-9780192100191","title":"A Dictionary of English Folklore","description":"\u003cp\u003eWith 1250 entries ranging from dragons to Mother Goose  May Day to Michaelmas  this enchanting dictionary unfurls the colorful history behind the holidays  customs  legends  and superstitious beliefs of England. Ever wonder why we kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas or think a rabbits foot brings good luck? Two folklore authorities provide reliable and often surprising answers to these and other curiosities that have shaped daily life in England for centuries. They explore the festivals and past celebrations of the English calendar  from St. Andrews Day and its tradition of drunkenness and cross-dressing to Twelfth Night and its king and queen cake. They also provide concise portraits of real and legendary characters that populate the public memory  including Robin Hood  The Brothers Grimm  Lady Godiva  Puck  and The Sandman. Fairies  mermaids  hobgoblins  and changelings are but a few of the supernatural forces surveyed here. However  as folklore encompasses the mundane as well as the fantastic  numerous other entries illuminate the significance of colors  numbers  flowers  animals  and household objects. Learn the curious history behind our distrust of the \"black sheep \" popular credence in \"wishbone\" wishes  folk cures for nosebleeds and warts  and persistent old wives tales. In addition to ancient and medieval folklore  you will find many contemporary urban legends  e.g.  the vanishing hitchhiker--a spooky figure seen ominously by travelers in Britain and the United States--and the Tooth Fairy. An entertaining resource  The Dictionary of English Folklore will be a fascinating companion for readers of English literature  history  cultural studies  and fantasy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651749535797,"sku":"ByrdShop_019210019X","price":109.56,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780192100191.jpg?v=1781839307","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/a-dictionary-of-english-folklore-9780192100191","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}