Transylvanian Superstitions / From: The Nineteenth Century (Vol. 18), London, July-December 1885, pp. 130-150

Name: Transylvanian Superstitions / From: The Nineteenth Century (Vol. 18), London, July-December 1885, pp. 130-150
Author: E. Gerard

By E. Gerard

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About This Book

A survey of regional folk belief traces three main sources: native imaginative responses to rugged landscape, traditions imported by long-settled colonists, and practices of itinerant fortune-tellers. The account catalogs spirits, witches, dragons, and place-named devils linked to caves, forests, and lakes, and explains calendars and hours deemed perilous. Particular weekdays and festivals carry prohibitions on tasks like spinning, baking, or washing, while protective rituals and superstitious diagnostics — for example hearth-leaf divination at New Year or planting a fork to repel a midnight dragon — govern daily life and agriculture.

About the Author

E. Gerard

E. Gerard was a writer known for his explorations of Transylvanian culture and folklore. His notable work, "The Land Beyond the Forest: Facts, Figures, and Fancies from Transylvania," delves into the rich traditions and superstitions of the region, offering readers a glimpse into its unique heritage. Additionally, his essay "Transylvanian Superstitions," published in the Nineteenth Century magazine, further reflects his interest in the mystical and cultural aspects of Transylvania. Gerard's writings contribute to the understanding of Eastern European folklore and the historical context of the area.