A Book Of Folk-Lore

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

A Book Of Folk-Lore

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Sabine Baring-Gould offers a wide-ranging survey of British folk belief, exploring ancient divinities, death customs, and household spirits like brownies and pixies. This text examines the fusion of Celtic and pre-Celtic races in folklore, detailing superstitions surrounding green colors, vampire legends in Hungary, and marriage rites involving nuts and shoes.

Summary up to 500 words

In *A Book Of Folk-Lore*, Sabine Baring-Gould presents a comprehensive survey of British folk belief, investigating the origins and evolution of superstitions across the British Isles. The work begins by addressing the archaeological confusion of early exploration, arguing that folklore, like physical deposits, requires careful sifting to distinguish between Celtic, pre-Celtic, and indigenous influences. Baring-Gould illustrates this fusion through local examples of distinct human types and their mixed superstitious beliefs, noting that a dominating race often absorbs the convictions of the race it has subdued. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the mystery of death, featuring detailed accounts of vampire legends from seventeenth-century Germany and eighteenth-century Hungary. In these regions, exhumed bodies were found fresh with blood, leading to public burnings and official investigations by army surgeons. The narrative also explores the belief in 'fetches' or ghosts, particularly the enduring ties between the living and the dead in engagement and marriage contexts. Baring-Gould cites ballads like 'The Unquiet Grave,' where a damsel seeks release from a dead lover by completing impossible tasks, such as fetching light from a dungeon or milk from a maiden's breast. Further sections cover household spirits, including pixies, brownies, and the protective nature of bees, known as 'Mary's birds.' Baring-Gould recounts stories of these entities protecting homes and families, sometimes transforming into brass helmets or demanding tribute. The book also addresses birth and marriage rites, tracing customs from hazel nuts symbolizing fruitfulness to the symbolic casting of old shoes to transfer authority from father to husband. The text concludes with accounts of wild wedding processions, such as 'Riding the Stang' and the 'Stag Hunt,' which served as public expressions of moral opinion or community celebration. Throughout, the author maintains a tone of scholarly curiosity mixed with local storytelling, aiming to classify folklore according to its cultural 'beds' rather than treating it as a monolithic heap. By examining specific localities and historical records, Baring-Gould provides a nuanced understanding of how ancient myths adapted to the lives of the peoples who occupied the British Isles.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Folklore
• History
• Mythology