Amusements Of The People : AMUSEMENTS OF THE PEOPLE 225. ALTHOUGH Thespis, mounted on his cart, was unquestionably the father of the Greek drama, the Origin of Dramatic Representations of every kind must be sought in an idolatrous form of public worship. When Danaus, a son of Belus, having quarrelled with his brother...
Naval And Military : NAVAL AND MILITARY 36. Flags and Banners originated in the Ensigns or Standards borne at the head of a barbarian host while marching into battle. When the Goths went to war, they sacrificed their horses to the gods and then cut off their heads, which they bore upon staves and spears as ensigns...
Secular Observances : SECULAR OBSERVANCES 409. New Year's Day is described by Lord Chesterfield as "a time when the kindest and warmest wishes are exchanged without the least meaning, and the most lying day in the whole year." Whatever amount of truth may underlie this cynical assertion, the universal interchange...
Legal And Parliamentary : LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY 55. The Law Terms are an essentially Christian institution. Among the Romans the dispensation of justice took place daily, except during the Saturnalia, throughout the year; but after the establishment of Christianity this was prohibited by canonical authority, so th...
Untitled : MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND OBSERVANCES: Their Origin And Significance BY LEOPOLD WAGNER [1894] Title Page Preface Contents Regal and Ecclesiastical Naval and Military Legal and Parliamentary Civic and Social Courtship and Marriage Death and Burial Amusements of the People Patron Saints and Their...
Title Page : MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND OBSERVANCES: THEIR ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE BY LEOPOLD WAGNER Author of "Names: and Their Meaning, More About Names," etc., etc. LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1894 Scanned and proofed by Eliza Yetter at sacredspiral.com, July 2005. This text is in the public domain in the US...
Courtship And Marriage : COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE 170. JOINING hands over a running streamlet was a favourite mode of Plighting Troths in former times. There is a pretty meaning in this. A modern poet has well expressed the sentiment in these words: "Like the waters at our feet, which never cease to flow, Constant love I...
Festivals Of The Church : FESTIVALS OF THE CHURCH 357. Annual Festivals in honour of the saints and martyrs were instituted by Gregory, Bishop of Csarea, in the third century, to facilitate the conversion of the pagans, who were unwilling to forego the recreations incidental to the festivals of their gods. This example...
Death And Burial : DEATH AND BURIAL 200. The cause of the Death Rattle is thus explained by Sir Henry Halford, the eminent physician:--" The lungs are the last to give up the performance of their functions and die. As death approaches they become gradually more and more oppressed; the air-cells are loaded with...
Regal And Ecclesiastical : REGAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL 1. Heraldry is in all respects a complicated science; only those who are officially connected with that sombrelooking building known as Heralds' College, in Queen Victoria Street, or who have made armorial bearings their special study, can be expected to boast of something...
Jewish Fasts And Festivals : JEWISH FASTS AND FESTIVALS 396. There is much to admire in the Jewish people. Admittedly wanderers on the face of the globe, they have preserved their national characteristics, their ancient festivals, rites, and ceremonies, in spite of persecutions and the onward march of Time. Though forming...
Patron Saints And Their Attributes : PATRON SAINTS AND THEIR ATTRIBUTES 252. St. Genevieve (January 3rd) is the patroness of Paris, because she was chiefly instrumental in banishing paganism from that city. Notwithstanding the singular piety of her life, says the Golden Legend, she was beset by demons. Often during her vigils...
Preface : PREFACE ALL that need be said by way of preface to the following pages, is to lay stress upon the great pains which have been taken to ensure accuracy. The innumerable books consulted to this end have not involved half so much time and patience as the journeys undertaken for the purpose...
Civic And Social : CIVIC AND SOCIAL 84. Old London Bridge was built upon Woolpacks, as was said, for the following reason. The bridge was commenced by one Peter, a priest of St. Mary Cole-church, which, previous to the Great Fire, stood on the north side of the Poultry. When the works were stopped for want of funds...
