Chapter V: Lunar Superstitions and Festivals

Great importance assigned to the moon by primitive peoples, pp. 124,
125.—The lunar rays often believed to be deleterious to both children
and adults, pp. 125-127.—The moon supposed to cause menstruation and
impregnation, pp. 127-130.—Influence of the moon on the tides, p.
130.—Belief that the moon affects the growth of vegetation, pp. 130,
131.—Doctrine of lunar sympathy, p. 131.—The waxing moon commonly
regarded as favourable, the waning moon as unfavourable, for business
of various sorts, pp. 131-134.—Lunar eclipses sometimes marked by a
general suspension of activity, pp. 134, 135.—The _interlunium_ often
observed by a cessation of labour, pp. 136-140.—Ceremonies performed
at new moon, pp. 140-142.—Seasons of abstinence and restriction at
new moon and full moon, p. 143.—Tabooed days in connection with
the lunar changes found among the Bantu peoples of Africa, pp.
144-148.—Lunar taboos in modern India, pp. 148, 149.—The _upavasatha_
of the Aryans of ancient India, pp. 149-151.—Sabbatarian observance
of lunar days in post-Vedic times, pp. 151-154.—The _posaha_ of
Jainism, pp. 154, 155.—The Buddhist Sabbath, or _uposatha_, pp.
155-158.—Introduction of the _uposatha_ into Ceylon, Burma, Siam,
and Cambodia, pp. 158-162.—The Buddhist Sabbath in Tibet, Mongolia,
China, and Japan, pp. 162-164.—Lunar days observed in Indonesia,
pp. 164, 165.—Lunar festivals of the ancient Iranians, pp. 165,
166.—Lunar festivals in ancient Egypt, pp. 166-169.—The Greek
Noumenia and Dichomenia, pp. 169, 170.—The Roman Kalends, Nones, and
Ides, p. 170.—The _dies postriduani_, pp. 170, 171.—Lunar festivals
in heathen Europe, p. 172.