The Encyclopedia of Curious Rituals and Superstitions: Ancient and Remarkable Traditions That Will Captivate Your Mind

Explore the most fascinating superstitions from around the world and marvel at the impact they have on our present-day lives.

The Encyclopedia of Curious Rituals and Superstitions sheds light on the impact that superstitions have on our global society at large, world history, the pop culture we consume, the art we create, and even the way we think about marriage, death, prosperity, self-protection, and luck, to name a few. No matter where on Earth you live, superstitions have always been the infrastructure of societies since ancient times. They can be found in social rules of etiquette, in the vocabulary we communicate with, in rituals performed during holidays, in birthing rooms across time, at funerals, or just in our everyday habits. These mysterious practices provide an essential source of comfort, safety, and control. Even more fascinating is that they have been used since time immemorial to explain the unexplained. Unpack the lore and origins of cultural superstitions and how they have persisted throughout many generations.

Discover how:

• Celtic fairies are behind our compulsion to knock on wood
• Norse mythology is responsible for our fear of the number 13
• Taylor Swift finds the number 13 to be lucky
• A quick death in Japan is thought to be ensured if you cut your toenails at night
• The evil eye is an important talisman in Jewish and Muslim cultures
• The meaning behind your birthstone can predict your personality
• Rabbits hold significance in some Asian and Indigenous cultures
• Finding a husband in Nebraska is as simple as 99 horses, a white mule, and a handshake
• Eating twelve grapes on New Year's Eve in Spain and Central and South America can bring forth prosperity

Beautiful illustrations further challenge the images your mind may have already held about the beliefs you instinctively carry throughout your life. You will be continually surprised and delighted by how superstitions not only define the bedrock of a culture but also demonstrate the nuanced ways in which we are all connected.

Unlock a world of wonders in The Encyclopedia of Curious Rituals and Superstitions.

The Wonderpedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy illustrated references on a range of intriguing topics, including archeological discoveries, world mythology, pop culture, global superstitions, and the fascinating stories behind signs and symbols. A cross-cultural exploration of what makes humans tick, this series magnifies the connective threads between us across time and geography and demystifies the surprising, confounding sides of life.

Author: Arie Kaplan
Publisher: Wellfleet Press
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 8.50h x 6.00w x 0.64d
ISBN: 9781577154624

About the Author

Arie Kaplan is the author of the 96 Facts series of middle-grade biographies (96 Facts About Taylor Swift, 96 Facts About Timoth?e Chalamet, et al.). Before that, Arie wrote the six-volume Shockzone: Games & Gamers series of children's nonfiction books, which covered every aspect of the video-game industry. Arie also wrote the award-winning nonfiction title From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, and he has lectured on the history of the comic book industry at colleges, universities, museums, and literary festivals all over the world. In addition, he has authored nonfiction books on a wide range of topics, from the life of Vlad the Impaler to the history of piracy. He most recently penned the highly anticipated and beautifully illustrated Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends: Extraordinary and Mesmerizing Stories That Will Boggle Your Mind, the second volume in the wildly popular Wonderpedia series.

Aside from his work as a nonfiction author, Arie has written numerous books and graphic novels for young readers, including The Jurassic Park Little Golden Book, Frankie and the Dragon, LEGO Star Wars: The Official Stormtrooper Training Manual, The New Kid from Planet Glorf, Batman: Harley at Bat, The Spider-Man Comictivity Book, Shadow Guy and Gamma Gal: Heroes Unite, and Speed Racer: Chronicles of the Racer.

In addition, he has penned scripts for such iconic comic book series as Star Wars Adventures, MAD Magazine, Tales from the Crypt, Archie & Friends, Looney Tunes, and Bart Simpson Comics.

When he's not working on his latest book, comic book story, or graphic novel, Arie is a screenwriter for television, video games, and transmedia. He lives in New York City, New York, with his wife and daughter. Please check out his website: ariekaplan.com.