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Strange but True
Why do
• Christen ships and sailing vessels or refer to them as ‘she’?
• Avoid the number thirteen, breaking mirrors or walking under ladders?
• Use the phrase having a ‘skeleton in the cupboard’?
• Dress baby boys in blue, speak of ‘true blue’ or ‘blue-blooded’?
• Decorate the Christmas Tree or eat Easter Eggs?
• Kiss under the mistletoe or 'trick or treat’ on Halloween?
In this easy-to-read book – a revised and updated re-publication of her previous book, Curious and Curiouser! – author, lecturer and public speaker, Dr. Monica-Maria Stapelberg, shares the results of her many years of research to uncover the historical background behind numerous commonly-held beliefs and traditions. These range from general popular beliefs to the more specific and enlightening traditions of western culture. Strange but True also brings to light how many of our day-to-day words, phrases and actions are anchored in past ritual or sacrificial observances, or simply based on fearful superstitious notions. This book is a must read for a curious mind!
About the Author
Dr. Monica-Maria Stapelberg has been employed at various universities for many years as a lecturer in history of literature, as well as medieval languages, medieval history and cultural studies. Since retiring from academia, she has had two books published, both aimed at the popular market. Monica lives on the east coast of Australia with her family.
• Christen ships and sailing vessels or refer to them as ‘she’?
• Avoid the number thirteen, breaking mirrors or walking under ladders?
• Use the phrase having a ‘skeleton in the cupboard’?
• Dress baby boys in blue, speak of ‘true blue’ or ‘blue-blooded’?
• Decorate the Christmas Tree or eat Easter Eggs?
• Kiss under the mistletoe or 'trick or treat’ on Halloween?
In this easy-to-read book – a revised and updated re-publication of her previous book, Curious and Curiouser! – author, lecturer and public speaker, Dr. Monica-Maria Stapelberg, shares the results of her many years of research to uncover the historical background behind numerous commonly-held beliefs and traditions. These range from general popular beliefs to the more specific and enlightening traditions of western culture. Strange but True also brings to light how many of our day-to-day words, phrases and actions are anchored in past ritual or sacrificial observances, or simply based on fearful superstitious notions. This book is a must read for a curious mind!
About the Author
Dr. Monica-Maria Stapelberg has been employed at various universities for many years as a lecturer in history of literature, as well as medieval languages, medieval history and cultural studies. Since retiring from academia, she has had two books published, both aimed at the popular market. Monica lives on the east coast of Australia with her family.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryEbooks
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2014
4 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Monica-Maria Stapelberg
4 books1 followerHi, I’m Monica-Maria Stapelberg and I am fascinated by the human condition, how we form the beliefs we hold about ourselves, our culture and our traditions – what was their genesis? Having several medical professionals in my immediate family I also became interested in the medical and psychiatric conditions that ail us and the early history of those professions. The more I delved into this subject-matter the more I became utterly fascinated with it.
I write non-fiction and have written books on the origins of commonly held beliefs and traditions in various cultures (Old Wives' Tales?, Curious and Curiouser! and Strange but True), followed by a book on ‘glimpses’ into the history of medicine (Through the Darkness) and a very early history of psychiatry and mental health care (The Stone of Folly).
Readers will discover work that reflects a diverse background born of growing up in multiple countries and fuelled by a passion for different cultures. I enjoyed a childhood filled with adventure and differing cultural experiences, growing up in Argentina, India, Guatemala, Germany, South Africa and later emigrating to Australia. I live on the east coast of Australia with my family.
My books were originally intended as academic works and are written in a scholarly style, yet they make interesting and compelling reading for a wide range of readers, specifically those interested in the broad but detailed scope of historic aspects of our beliefs and traditions, as well as in medicine and mental health care.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my books!
I write non-fiction and have written books on the origins of commonly held beliefs and traditions in various cultures (Old Wives' Tales?, Curious and Curiouser! and Strange but True), followed by a book on ‘glimpses’ into the history of medicine (Through the Darkness) and a very early history of psychiatry and mental health care (The Stone of Folly).
Readers will discover work that reflects a diverse background born of growing up in multiple countries and fuelled by a passion for different cultures. I enjoyed a childhood filled with adventure and differing cultural experiences, growing up in Argentina, India, Guatemala, Germany, South Africa and later emigrating to Australia. I live on the east coast of Australia with my family.
My books were originally intended as academic works and are written in a scholarly style, yet they make interesting and compelling reading for a wide range of readers, specifically those interested in the broad but detailed scope of historic aspects of our beliefs and traditions, as well as in medicine and mental health care.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading my books!
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 14, 2017
I generally love these types of books. This one was very dry and nothing really stuck with me
December 1, 2023
Lots of facts but little analysis, even to address when obvious contradictions appeared within the same paragraph.
Good source to scan for interesting antidotes, perhaps
Good source to scan for interesting antidotes, perhaps
November 14, 2024
中文版译名《魔法、节日、动植物 : 一些奇异文化传统的历史渊源【万圣节、圣诞节、复活节...那些你不知道的事儿】》 我本以为人血馒头只中国古代和近代有，原来不分国界，自古就有之。
January 29, 2015
I received this book for free from librarything.com giveaway.
I struggled with the book for quite some time. Wouldn't that be for the giveaway and wouldn't I promised to myself to read every book, which I receive for review, I would have gotten rid of it for good a long time ago. So I kept moving on step by step but it wasn't an easy journey for sure.
At first the book sounded promising and I thougt to myself that those first pages were just an introduction because I really liked the idea of the book. And I still do. I think it's very interesting to get behind superstions and beliefs and find out where are legs growing from.
To my great disappontment the story didn't evolve at all and led to nothing. The book was just loaded with whole bunch of statements but didn't get deeper than that. There were just some sentences about each of the topics. Besides they were repetitive.
I would really like to know more about the most of the topics which were presented in the book, and I think at least some of them deserve seperate book. Unfortunately the way they were presented make the book look like table of contents for some other book.
I struggled with the book for quite some time. Wouldn't that be for the giveaway and wouldn't I promised to myself to read every book, which I receive for review, I would have gotten rid of it for good a long time ago. So I kept moving on step by step but it wasn't an easy journey for sure.
At first the book sounded promising and I thougt to myself that those first pages were just an introduction because I really liked the idea of the book. And I still do. I think it's very interesting to get behind superstions and beliefs and find out where are legs growing from.
To my great disappontment the story didn't evolve at all and led to nothing. The book was just loaded with whole bunch of statements but didn't get deeper than that. There were just some sentences about each of the topics. Besides they were repetitive.
I would really like to know more about the most of the topics which were presented in the book, and I think at least some of them deserve seperate book. Unfortunately the way they were presented make the book look like table of contents for some other book.
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November 7, 2014I'm glad this was free from Nook book Fridays. An internet search is more entertaining and will keep you awake.
April 23, 2015
Good reference book to add anecdotes to speeches or papers, but pretty haphazard and boring just to read through.
December 30, 2014
lots of interesting little facts about traditions and superstitions that I found interesting.
November 15, 2014
A book detailing the origins of common superstitions. I found it rather shallow. There are many better books of this type.
Still, you might learn something, or get some sort of story idea from it.
Still, you might learn something, or get some sort of story idea from it.
January 23, 2015
Educational and many interesting facts and historical information given. I would have rated it higher but there were also dry, boring and repetitive parts as well.
February 8, 2015
Very interesting book. An excellent resource for beliefs, sayings, and traditions we use everyday, but have no idea from where they came!
January 30, 2015
it was a good overview but did not go into enough depth.
February 1, 2015
Interesting book. I learned a lot from it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews