Acknowledgments

I would like to express my appreciation to the Mugar Memorial Library, in particular to the staff of Special Collections, for their assistance in directing me to the following sources: Sir James G. Frazer, The Golden Bough (New York: Macmillan, 1950); Dorothy Jacob, Cures and Curses (New York: Taplinger, 1967); Paul Ghalioungui, The House of Life (Amsterdam: B. M. Israel, 1973); M. Ester Harding, Woman’s Mysteries (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1971); Angus McLaren, Reproductive Rituals (London: Methuen, 1984); Audrey L. Meany, Anglo-Saxon Amulets and Curing Stones (Oxford, England: BAR British Series 96, 1981); and Elwood B. Trigg and D. Phil, Gypsy Demons and Divinities. The quotations pertaining to fertility rites were taken from these books (listed in order in which the quotations appear).