Elizabethan Era Superstitions
Superstitions of the Elizabethan Era – Some are Still Around Today
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Superstitions from the Elizabethan era were there from very earlier times. The Elizabethan era was a time associated with Queen Elizabeth I’s reign in 1558–1603. It is often considered to be the golden age in English history. During that time period was the height of the English Renaissance and the flowering of English poetry, music and literature. This was also the time during which Elizabethan theatre flourished, and William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke away from England’s past style of theatre.
The Elizabethan period being a very important part England’s history, marked the development of many scientific inventions and discoveries. However the increase popularity of science and technology also marked the increase of superstitious beliefs and customs having their origins from the Dark ages.
Superstitions were at its height during the Elizabethan era because of the unknown fear and terror of natural calamities and the supernatural. Chants and omens, spells and mystic readings were the various components of the Elizabethan period superstitions. People of that era had an immense and deep trust in magic and charms.
Witch and witchcrafts were the main cause of terror and superstition amongst the people. Women were the main to be blamed of being witches and practicing witchcrafts. The people had a blind faith in the supernatural powers of the witches and this led to the increased number of superstitions related to them.
Many events that had no explanations behind them were thought to be the work of the witches like the Bubonic plague, crop failure, floods, bad harvests, illnesses or even deaths. Witches were supposed to have an image of a crooked woman of an older age having pets like black cats, owls and blackbirds with them. In the Elizabethan era, about 247 women were allegedly sent under trial for the practice of witchcraft. The witches were believed to fly on brooms and they could brew potions on the cauldron. They generally lived alone.
Besides the belief in witches and witchcrafts, there were several other superstitions in the day to day lives of the Elizabethan people. They considered the eclipse to be a bad omen. The crossing of a black cat in your path was also regarded as a bad omen as black was always the color of magic and cats have always been associated with witches. The saying of ‘touch wood’ in order to be safe against an evil eye was the superstition developed in this era.
The seventh male child of the seventh son was considered as a person having supernatural powers. Pinning of bay leaves on the pillow by an unmarried girl on Valentine’s Day would make her dream of her future life partner. The spilling of pepper and salt was also known to be inauspicious during this period. Another reason for the rise of this superstition may be that the spices were quite expensive in the Elizabethan period.
The practice of saying ‘God bless you’ after a sneeze was also a common superstition developed in this period. They believed that while sneezing, the devil might enter the opened mouth of the person who sneezes. So these words were prompted in order to ward off the evil.
The popular superstition of walking below or under the ladders was developed in this period. It says that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder as it is always associated with executions and even sometimes with gallows. It was this Elizabethan period that Shakespeare had used many superstitions like spirits and witchcraft in his some of his popular plays.
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