The research of the folklore genre of charms became extremely dynamic around the turn of the millennium. A number of academic disciplines allied themselves to explore manuscripts healing texts and other textual relics of verbal magic from antiquity and the middle ages. Studying this corpus has shed light on a number of previously unexplored aspects of Eurasian cultures. The authors of the twelve essays in the book, covering a wide geographical and thematic range, include representatives of European ethnology and folklore studies, contemporary and historical anthropology, as well as linguistics, the study of Classical Antiquity, mediaeval studies, Byzantine studies, Russian and Baltic studies. The essays reflect the rich textual tradition of archives, monasteries and literary sources, as well as the texts amassed in the folklore archives or those still accessible through field work in many rural areas of Europe and known from the living practice of lay specialists of magic and healers in local communities, and even of priests.
- Cover
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part I GENRE, CLASSIFICATION, TERMINOLOGY
- Chapter I A Genre in the Making. The First Study of Charms in Norway
- A Norwegian Example
- Popular Culture and Moral Evaluation
- Anton Christian Bang—Theologian, Church Historian, Folklorist
- Bang’s Studies on Popular Belief and Practices
- Magic Manuscripts as Literary Sources
- Magic Not Being Part of the National Canon
- History and the Lack of Lasting Value
- References
- Chapter II The Making of a Charm Collector. Alexander Carmichael in Uist, from 1864 to 1882
- Introduction
- Early Collecting, 1867–1870
- Charms as Newspaper Curiosities, 1871–1872
- The Torranan Charm, 1874
- Final Years in Uist, 1875–1880
- Conclusion
- Statistical Appendix
- References
- Chapter III Charm Indexes: Problems and Perspectives
- Introductory Remarks
- The Index of East Slavic Charms
- The Structure of an East Slavic Index Entry
- Problems in Creating an International Charm Index
- The Research Programme (Problems for Discussion)
- Test Entries
- Index of European Charms
- References
- Chapter IV Medieval Narrative Charms
- Thematic Classification
- Occurrences
- Language
- Efficiency
- References
- Chapter V The Historical Development of “Charm” Terminology in Hungarian
- Part I I HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE STUDIES
- Chapter VI The Marginality of Charms in Medieval England
- Manuscript Margins: an Anglo-Saxon Case of Deliberate Placement
- Orality
- Censorship
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter VII Church Benedictions and Popular Charms in Hungary
- Magical and Religious Commands
- Magical and Religious Enumerations
- Magical and Religious Similes
- Religious Texts as Amulets
- Magic and Religion—Demons and Saints
- Priests and Peasants—Benediction, Exorcism and Charms
- References
- Chapter VIII Benediction and Exorcism in Early Modern Hungary
- Chapter IX Baltic and East Slavic Charms
- Common Mythical Patterns
- Zoological Elements
- Bundles of Mythical Motifs
- Religious-Ritual Formulas and Prayers
- Functional Formulas in the Healing Charms
- Conclusions
- Acknowledgements
- References
- Part III CONTENT AND FUNCTION OF CHARMS
- Chapter X The Năjit Between Prayers and Charms: A Study of the Romanian Manuscript Tradition
- Chapter XI Charming The Moon: Moon Charms for Sick Children in Portuguese Ethnography
- Chapter XII “Dear Merciful Mother”: The Virgin Mary in Finnish and KarelianBirth Incantations
- Birth Incantations
- “Dear Merciful Mother”
- “Come Here when Called for!”
- “Bring Lubricants from Slimy Fish!”
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- XIII The Power of Words in Miracles, Visions, Incantations and Bewitchments
- Efficacious Words in Sacraments and Incantations
- Vows and Healing Words
- Charms, Curses, and Evil-Chasing, Protective Words
- Concluding Reflections
- References
- About the Editors
- About the Contributors
- Index
- Back cover
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