海外文化:英美民俗-魔法

【英文原文】

摘要：魔法指試圖用某些超自然的力量控制自然或他人的行為。現代科學已為很多神秘現象的原因提供了科學的解釋，但仍然有人迷信星相和算命之類的魔法。

Magic is the practice of trying to control human actions or natural events by using powers that are supposed to be unnatural or superhuman. Now science has provided an increasingly greater understanding of the true caused of natural events, but many people still trust in such forms of magic as astrology and fortunetelling. Many people who believe in magic may carry magic objects called amulets or charms to protect themselves from harm. Amulets or charms may be stones or rings engraved with magic symbols.

To work most magic, the magician, who is supposed to have supernatural powers, sings or speaks special words in a certain order. These words are called incantations or spells. Some spells are prayers to demons, spirits, or other supernatural forces. Other magic words have no meaning, though they are supposed to have power when spoken by a magician. The magician may combine words with actions to form a ceremony called a rite or ritual.

Some people believe they can cause an event to happen by imitating what whey want to happen in a small scale. This magic is based on the belief that like produces like. For example, a magician trying to make rain fall may sprinkle water on the ground. Some people also believe a person can injure an enemy by damaging a lock of hair or a piece of clothing from the enemy. A magician can even cripple an enemy by putting a sharp object in that person’s footprint. People who believe in this kind of magic fear that an enemy can gain power over them by obtaining parts of their body. Therefore, they carefully dispose of their nails, hair, teeth, and even their body wastes. And for the same reason, witches and magicians may make a doll or some other likeness of an enemy, and try to harm the enemy by sticking pins into the doll or injuring it in some other way. The doll may have on it a lock of hair or a piece of clothing from the enemy.