Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling / Illustrated by numerous incantations, specimens of medical magic, anecdotes and tales

Name: Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling / Illustrated by numerous incantations, specimens of medical magic, anecdotes and tales
Author: Charles Godfrey Leland

By Charles Godfrey Leland

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About This Book

This work collects folk practices and beliefs associated with gypsy fortune-telling, witchcraft, and folk magic, bringing together incantations, charms, amulets, medical spells, anecdotes, and examples of divination and exorcism. It surveys rituals for healing people and animals, pregnancy and childbirth lore, love charms and theft recovery, witch meetings and haunt traditions, and the principles and techniques of fortune-telling, illustrated by regional variants and translations of spells. Chapters include proverbs, children’s rhymes, magical secrets, and notes on amulets and toad-lore, aiming to document both specific formulas and broader patterns in popular magical thought.

About the Author

Charles Godfrey Leland

Charles Godfrey Leland was an American author, folklorist, and humorist, known for his diverse contributions to literature and culture in the 19th century. He is particularly recognized for his works on folklore and the Romani culture, as seen in titles like "The English Gipsies and Their Language" and "Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling." Leland also explored themes of American history and mythology, notably in "Abraham Lincoln and the Abolition of Slavery in the United States." His literary style often blended humor with a deep appreciation for the oral traditions of various cultures, making him a unique figure in American literary heritage.