An Egg at Easter: A Folklore Study

Venetia Newall

За особеностите на екземпляра

An Egg at Easter: A Folklore Study - снимка 1

Състояние:: Много добро
Забележка:: Отлично книжно тяло и корици, леко захабена обложка.
Език:: Английски
Наличност:: 1 бр.

За изданието

Издателство:: Indiana University Press
Град на издаване:: Bloomington, IN, United States
Година:: 1976 г.
Език:: Английски
Страници:: 423
Корици:: Твърди
Категория:: Етнология и етнография
Тегло (гр.):: 799
Ширина (мм):: 145
Височина (мм):: 220
Дебелина (мм):: 37
ISBN:: 253319420

AN EGG AT EASTER First Prize, Chicago Folklore Prize Competition 1971. Why do we have eggs at Easter? As an easily comprehensible emblem of life, the egg appears through the ages in the cultures of the most varied peoples of every continent. An Egg at Easter gives a comparative understanding of the egg myth in the many different forms in which it is represented, from the earliest recorded references until contemporary usage. It is a study of the egg's symbolic role in tradition and belief and of the underlying psychology which leads to the acceptance of so simple an object as a universal folk motif. Venetia Newall describes the adoption of the egg's form into sophisticated art and its derivation from traditional practice. The custom of decorating eggs at Easter provides a vehicle for peasant artistic skills, and the author elaborates in detail the techniques used. She also considers the egg's relationship to broader aspects of folk belief, such as witchcraft, egg games and the egg tree. Thus this study, in considering the egg's place in Christian tradition, is also concerned with the various aspects of comprehensive religion. There is a Foreword by Dr Robert Wildhaber, editor of the International Folklore and Folklife Bibliography and of Schweizerisches Archiv fur Volkskunde. Dr Wildhaber was, until his recent retirement, Director of the Schweizerisches Museum fur Volkskunde. * Contents List of Plates Colour Plates xi Black and White Plates xii Foreword by Robert Wildhaber xiii Author's Preface xvii Acknowledgments xxi 1 Creation Myths 1 The Primeval Waters 1 The Egg of the Sun 5 The Cosmic Mountain 14 Chthonic Symbols 17 The Goose that lays Golden Eggs 22 The Creation Struggle 27 Timelessness 32 The Universe Egg 3 5 Levels of Creation 37 2 Sacrifice 45 Foundation Ceremonies 45 Household Spirits 54 The Blajini 57 Water Sprites 58 Tree Spirits 60 3 Witchcraft and Magic 62 Divination and Prophecies 62 Supernatural Sights 67 The Devil's Egg 69 Changelings 77 Witches' Boats 80 The Casting of Spells 87 4 Bird and Egg 98 Farmyard Superstitions 98 The Soul Egg 103 The Bird of the Spirit no 5 Fertility 113 The Source of Life 113 Increasing the Crops 115 Rain-making 120 The Cattle 122 Love 123 Reproduction 125 Conception and Childbirth 128 The New Baby 132 Marriage 136 6 Purity 142 Disease Transference 142 Dispersion 144 The Evil Eye 145 Exorcism 146 Inviolability 148 Votive Ostrich Eggs 149 Lightning Talismans 15 2 Repelling Evil Spirits 153 7 Resurrection 156 Rebirth 15 6 Jewish Practice 159 Funeral Rites 164 Spiritual Perpetuity 174 8 Christian Eggs 177 Catholic and Protestant 177 Lenten Rules 179 Egg Tithes 183 Carnival Time 187 The Egg Feast 190 Easter Eggs of Old Russia 197 The Egg and the Eucharist 204 9 Red Eggs 207 Magical Red 207 Renewal of Life 208 Christ's Saving Blood 213 Red Eggs of the Resurrection: the Easter Cycle 220 10 Christian Charms 232 Green Thursday 232 Rites of Renewal 238 Lucky Amulets 241 11 Decorated Easter Eggs 258 Tokens of Love 2 5 8 Easter Gifts 261 Colouring 265 Designs 274 English Pace-eggs 281 The Scratch Technique 284 Etching and Applique 285 Inscriptions 288 12 Artificial Techniques 292 Early Art Eggs 292 Eggs of Glass, Porcelain, Wood, Stone and Precious Materials 295 Kutabya Ware 300 Waxing Methods 301 Egg Curiosities 303 13 The Egg Tree 306 The American Egg Tree 306 A German Custom 308 Confusion of Festivals 310 Carrying out Death and Bringing in Summer 315 The Gift-bearing Tree 318 14 Easter Egg Pastimes and Games 321 Magical Significance 321 Egg-bringers 323 Social Importance 328 Egg-tossing 334 Egg-rolling 335 15 More Pastimes and Games 344 Egg-tapping 344 Coin-and-egg Game 350 The Egg Dance 351 Egg-gathering 358 Pace-egging 365 Conclusion 375 Appendices: 1. Egg-colouring Substances 380 2. The Goddess Eastre 384 A List of Books Cited and Consulted 387 Index (including relevant Tale Types and Motifs) 407