Leonard R.N. Ashley: The Complete Book Of Superstition, Prophecy And Luck

DID YOU KNOW.... that in the Shetland Isles it is considered good luck to encounter a deformed or retarded person when going fishing? Or that the Ancient Hebrews believed that the ashes of a black kitten would enable one to see demons? Even the famous have their own beliefs and rituals: Luciano Pavarotti always looked for a bent nail on stage before he felt secure about singing an opera. On the luck front, Ranulf Flambard was unfortunate enough to be the first prisoner of the Tower of London - but as he was the builder and the architect of the Tower, he knew a secret way out and escaped. To ensure good luck, don't bring holly into the house before Christmas Eve and that in America it's unlucky to kill a toad, as these creatures were regarded by the indigenous Americans to be benevolent water-brings. A book that is so much more than unlucky broken mirrors and walking under ladders.