St Mark’s Eve
Day before the Feast Day of St Mark, 25 April, when watchers could see the wraiths of those destined to die during the year.
Superstition
Superstition
Superstition
Toadstone
Jewel believed to be embedded in the head of toads, with the power to detect and counteract poisons.
Superstition
Devil’s door
Blocked-up door in the north wall of a church, once believed to have been an escape route for the Devil when he left a child as a result of the sacrament of baptism.
Magic, Plant, Superstition
Mandrake
One of 2500 species of plants belonging to the Solanaceae family. Its psychoactive effects have been known to physicians since ancient times.
Superstition
Egyptian days
Days of the year that are considered to be unlucky to carry out any important undertaking.
Cat, Superstition
Black cat
The numerous folk beliefs about black cats, and cats in general, are often contradictory. Superstitions surrounding black cats are almost certainly some of the most prevalent even today, along with the number thirteen and walking under a ladder.
