Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans

Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans by Edwin Miller Fogel serves as a foundational text in American folklore studies. This volume, titled Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans, presents a comprehensive collection of over two thousand Pennsylvania German aphorisms. Fogel utilized extensive research in both Pennsylvania and Germany to document traditions that were fading from the American consciousness at the time of publication. The work explores various aspects of Pennsylvania Dutch life, including superstitions regarding childbirth, marriage, farming, religion, and medicine.

This scholarly resource provides each entry in the Pennsylvania German dialect alongside an English translation. Many entries include correlated phrases from Germany or the British Isles and specific county records to provide historical context. As a significant work of folklore and Pennsylvania German dialect studies, the book includes a detailed introduction on the historical origins of these beliefs. This edition also features an appendix covering scientific observations of social customs.