The Origins of Popular Superstitions and Customs

The Origins of Popular Superstitions and Customs is a book by T. Sharper Knowlson, first published in 1910. This scholarly work delves into the roots of everyday superstitions, folk beliefs, and customs—ranging from festivals and seasonal observances to marriage rites, omens, charms, divination, and curious practices. Knowlson, a British folklorist writing in the early twentieth century, approaches his subject with a critical and anthropological eye, tracing how ignorance, ancient mythology, and humankind’s desire to explain the inexplicable have shaped traditions that persist into modern times.

By examining cultural psychology and the interplay between myth and ritual, the book offers insight into how ordinary people have sought to influence fate, ward off evil, and impose meaning on the world around them. Its comprehensive cataloging of British folk traditions influenced later popular studies in anthropology and folklore and remains a valuable reference for understanding how age-old beliefs underpin contemporary customs.