Folk lore : $b or, Superstitious beliefs in the west of Scotland within this century

"Folk Lore: or, Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland" by James Napier is a journey into the 19th-century Scottish countryside, revealing the strange and wonderful superstitions that shaped people's lives. The book opens by defining the role of superstition in society and how deeply folk beliefs were woven into the fabric of everyday existence for everyone, not just the uneducated. From birth rituals and marriage customs to death rites, it uncovers how ancient pagan traditions continued to cast their shadows on the West of Scotland. It offers specific examples of common superstitions, like methods to avoid the evil eye or practices surrounding childbirth, proving how these traditions, with their deep historic roots, held strong even then.