A compilation of the oddest, most eccentric and truly bizarre customs, laws and superstitions of our forefathers. The people of Cathay demanded such a huge level of respect by children towards their parents that a specific department of state existed solely to punish those upsetting their parents in any way! People through the ages have had their own particular customs and traditions and have always looked with some amusement on those of their neighbours. These customs can evolve and change radically, and traditions which were commonplace 2,000 years ago now appear bizarre or hilarious. This book transcends eras and cultures by uniting them with the common theme of superstition and custom, proving that perhaps we are not so fundamentally different from our most ancient ancestors, no matter how sophisticated we think ourselves.