It is a common occurrence for my family that around April, May, and June packages begin arriving at our house. Why one may ask is this a common occurrence? Well the answer is not that we are affiliated with the Mob nor are we winners of any summer sweepstakes. Rather each of my close family members (Mother, Father, Sibling, et cetera) have a birthday in these months. Moreover, none of our extended family members or family friends live within driving distance. Thus our presents arrive by post. This is all to say that one day this last spring I received such a package and in it were a couple of things. One a nifty card with some denari, two a book mark shaped like an oriental rug, and three a book called How Did It Begin subtitle The Origins of Our Curious Customs and Superstitions. It is the subject of this review.
Firstly let me say that I would very much recommend How Did It Begin for anyone who enjoys miscellaneous information and a good read. How Did It Begin is by Dr. R. Brasch and Dr. L. Brasch. The Braschs were a husband and wife dynamic duo as the blurb on the back notes "traveling the world, tracking down the the origins of customs and phrases." When I read that I knew that this was a book that the History Junkie Junkies needed to know about. And the book does a very good job of giving fairly brief explanations for a variety of topics from superstitions to eating habits.
How Did It Begin is broken up into 25 different sections and it is easy to jump from one topic to another. I began not by reading it straight through, but by looking up some of the things that most interested me (I spent a lot of time in the "Origins of Superstitions" and the "History of Dress" sections). How Did It Begin is easily navigated due to its organization and it is not at all off putting to jump from fun fact to fun fact. That being said it is also very enjoyable as a straight read.
The writing style used in How Did It Begin reminds me of a lot of some fairly good but popularized histories I've read over the years (Steven Jay Gould and Thomas Cahill come to mind). The language is fairly concise and the comments are all to the point. As I said before this is a very enjoyable read, but the explanations are just that: explanations. While there are a few vignettes within certain sections this book is not a collection of stories. And thus a series of stories should not be expected. That being said the explanations for different "customs or phrases" are not bogged down by jargon and are very accessible for the layman (like myself). By the end of How Did It Begin one feels like one is a minor expert on a hodgepodge of topics. As such it makes a handy companion for anyone lost for words at a cocktail party or an intellectual social gather. (I'd advise staying away from the "Death and Mourning" section unless your circle of friends are prepared for a morbid remark.)
As I've previously noted there are 25 different sections: The Origins of Superstitions, Birth and Its Customs, The Ritual of Courting and Marriage, Death and Mourning, Everyday Courtesies, Drinking Customs, Parliamentary Procedure and Royal Regalia, and Religion and Its Symbols to name a few. Some of the topics these sections cover (Marriage, Birth and Its Customs, and the History of Dress) have already been discussed in posts on The History Junkie. But here are a few topics from How Did It Begin that haven't yet been touched on in The History Junkie.
Here are a few of my favorites:
From "Death and Mourning" readers learn the origins of phrases like "Kick the Bucket" or "To Go West." As many know "To Go West" has become linked to World War I, but it has older origins. In Egypt, Brasch writes, "The West" was thought to be "home of the departed spirits" (Brasch, 53). And in the Americas, the "(American Indians) said those who died had "gone west" to meet the setting sun" (53). And of course if you are a Lord of the Rings fan you know what "going west" means: Elves! (But that is neither history nor here or there)
From "In the Army" readers learn the origins of "khaki" and why officers where given a "baton" back in the good old days. Sadly they were not given a baton because officers are known to be fabulous baton twirlers, but rather having the stick in their hand stopped an "officer from uncouthly putting his hands in his pockets" (Brasch, 220). The Baton also helped to keep the officers from doing any number of impolite or *gasp* unbecoming to a gentleman gestures. Apparently as much confidence as the army puts in its officers it didn't think they could be trusted not to twiddle their thumbs or point at people.
And for a final tidbit from "The Measurement of Time" readers learn surprise, surprise all about calenders, years, months, and all sorts of special days. Some of you may know the origins of "Boxing Day," but some months ago I only had a vague notion. Boxing day is the day after Christmas. For many Americans the day after Christmas means the day one puts out one's empty present boxes, but that is not the origins. Boxing day is a British holiday and is really "St. Stephen's day" (Brasch, 280). "Its origins date back to the Romans" and was a day on which presents were given to "anyone to whom one owed a debt of gratitude" (280). But since Boxing Day had too much of a pagan vibe, the Church "reinterpreted" the gift giving. Classic re-branding, but one I am certainly happy about.
Those are three little bites out of what is good snack if one is looking for food for thought (to finish off that analogy). Again I recommend How Did It Begin to anyone with an interest in odd facts, bizarre icebreakers, or just wants an enjoyable, quick read this summer!
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