The undergraduate thesis attempts to present a definition of superstition, especially in relation to the concept of religion, which is linked with it to a great extent, and magic, which works partly within superstition and partly goes beyond it. Its goal is to present superstition and magical practice in Europe between 500 and 1500 in the field of illness and healing, the use of protective charms, divination and belief in (un)lucky days and numbers. Some discussed superstitions are still present today, such as: unlucky friday and the number thirteen, avoiding black cats and walking under a ladder, bad luck when breaking a mirror or spilling salt and knocking on wood for protection. Medieval writers paid a lot of attention to witchcraft, which they saw as a threat to established religion, leading to the first organized witch trials at the end of the Middle Ages. Finally, the thesis provides insights into the response of the Catolic Church to recurrent superstitions, the use of magical rituals and the rise of heresy, which can be traced through papal documents, court records, church laws and other medieval sources.
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