Observations on Popular Antiquities

This antiquarian volume contains John Brands 1777 treatise; "Observations on Popular Antiquities". It is a comprehensive catalogue of popular festivals and customs of the common folk of the time, with reflections on which should be kept and which should be relinquished. Contents include: "Of visiting Wells and Fountains", "The Original of this Custom", "The Naming of Great Antiquity", "The Worship paid them by the Papists, was Gross Idolatry", "Of Omens", "Their Original", "The Observation of them Sinful", "Of the Devils Appearing with a Cloven Foot", etcetera. Many vintage texts such as this - particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before - are increasingly hard to come by and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this book now, in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.