They Do What?: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from Around the World

摘要

What a delight this title is and how fun to browse through it. Who knew the Burning of Witches sprang from the pagan tradition of weaving Grain Mothers out of straw to house the spirit of the grain after the harvest, which would be ploughed under or burned in mid-to-late April, April 30 being Walpurgis Night? Or that Gurning is a rural British version of deliberately making ugly faces? This entry is complete with photographs, including one of Her Majesty, as a spectator, of course, not a participant. Finger Amputation at Funerals -how can you not look at this entry? The Dani tribe in Papua New Guinea practices this strange ritual. Fingers are cut off female members of a family after a male dies. This was only recently outlawed. Their religion is based on ancestor worship and magic; waging war on their neighbours is seen as a tribute to dead ancestors. Interesting to note that combat often ceases for smoke breaks or bad weather. Finger amputation is " [. . .] a symbolic sharing in the pain of death".