- "Folklore is the whole of oral traditions shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture."
Local and regional stories (often with a moral component) that have passed down through the generations.
Creation myths: A narrative that explains the origins of the universe, the earth, and humans.
Heroes and heroines: Characters that embody ideal qualities such as courage, wisdom, and strength.
Tricksters: Characters that use wit and cunning to outsmart others.
Gods and goddesses: Deities that have a significant role in a particular culture’s mythology.
Folk tale genres: Categories for folk tales like fairy tales, legends, fables, etc.
Legends: Stories based on real events or people that have been embellished over time.
Mythical creatures: Creatures that are associated with specific cultures, such as dragons, unicorns, and mermaids.
Supernatural beings: Ghosts, witches, and other supernatural entities that exist in folklore.
Folklore motifs: Archetypal patterns or repeated elements found in folklore.
Oral traditions: The passing down of stories and traditions orally from generation to generation.
Origin stories: The tales that describe the beginnings of specific cultures or societies.
Rituals and ceremonies: Traditional practices, festivals, and celebrations that are based on mythology.
Myths related to natural phenomena: Local explanations of natural phenomena like rain, thunder, and lightening.
Folk beliefs and superstitions: Traditional beliefs in supernatural powers, omens or ill luck.
Local and regional Folklore: The folk culture of specific regions or areas, and the unique folklore found in these places.
Folk music and dance: Traditional music, dance, and songs that are passed down through the generations.
Symbolism and metaphor: Understanding the use of symbols and metaphors in folklore and the meanings associated with them.
Cultural identity and expression: Examining how folklore and mythology are used to express and reinforce cultural identity.
Gender roles and representations: Examining the portrayal of gender roles and representations in folklore, and the way they have evolved over time.
Ethnography and Anthropology: Analysis of folk art, architecture and customs, etc. in the light of anthropology and ethnography.
Mythology: It represents traditional stories and beliefs of a particular culture, typically involving gods and supernatural beings.
Fables: These tales often feature animals or objects as characters and teach a moral lesson.
Fairy tales: Fairy tales typically feature magical elements, as well as princesses, dragons, and talking animals.
Legends: Legends are stories that are passed down as historical accounts, often with significant embellishments.
Folktales: Folktales are stories that are passed down orally and feature common themes and motifs, such as magic, talking animals, and the triumph of the underdog.
Myths of origin: These stories aim to explain the birth and creation of the world, along with the origins of humankind.
Urban legends: Urban legends are modern-day myths that are passed down through word of mouth and the internet.
Ghost stories: These stories are centered around supernatural occurrences and spirits.
Tall tales: Tall tales feature exaggerated characters and events, often based on historical figures.
Epics: Epics are long poems or stories that deal with heroic figures and their adventures.
Superstitions: Superstitions are beliefs that are based on tradition and often involve good or bad luck.
Proverbs: Proverbs are short, wise sayings that are passed down through generations.
Rituals: Rituals are traditional and religious practices that are passed down through generations.
Oral histories: Oral histories are stories and accounts that are passed down through word of mouth and aim to document historical events or people.
Creation stories: These tales describe the origins of the universe, earth, and humanity.
Trickster tales: Trickster tales feature mischievous and cunning characters who often outsmart more powerful and serious figures.
Anecdotes: Anecdotes are short stories or accounts that are passed down through generations and often involve notable figures or events.
Riddles: Riddles are puzzles that are passed down through generations and require critical thinking to solve.
Nursery rhymes: Nursery rhymes are traditional and often nonsense poems that are passed down through generations.
Animal stories: Animal stories feature animals as characters and often teach moral lessons or explain natural phenomena.
Historical legends: Historical legends are stories that are centered around notable historical figures or events and are often used to reinforce cultural values.
Myths of heroes: These tales focus on exceptional individuals who are often more than human in their abilities and achievements.
Misunderstandings: Misunderstandings are humorous tales that are based on misunderstandings or miscommunications between characters.
Parables: Parables are stories that often involve spiritual or moral lessons and are meant to teach a broader truth.
Songs and ballads: Songs and ballads are traditional forms of storytelling that include music and lyrics.
- "This includes tales, myths, legends, proverbs, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions."
- "They include material culture, such as traditional building styles common to the group."
- "Folklore also includes customary lore, taking actions for folk beliefs, and the forms and rituals of celebrations such as Christmas, weddings, folk dances, and initiation rites."
- "Each one of these, either singly or in combination, is considered a folklore artifact or traditional cultural expression. Just as essential as the form, folklore also encompasses the transmission of these artifacts from one region to another or from one generation to the next."
- "Folklore is not something one can typically gain from a formal school curriculum or study in the fine arts."
- "Instead, these traditions are passed along informally from one individual to another, either through verbal instruction or demonstration."
- "The academic study of folklore is called folklore studies or folkloristics."
- "It can be explored at the undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. levels."
- "Tales, myths, legends, proverbs, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions."
- "Traditional building styles common to the group."
- "Christmas, weddings, folk dances, and initiation rites."
- "Folklore is the whole of oral traditions shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture."
- "Just as essential as the form, folklore also encompasses the transmission of these artifacts from one region to another or from one generation to the next."
- "It can be explored at the undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. levels."
- "Folklore is not something one can typically gain from a formal school curriculum or study in the fine arts."
- "These traditions are passed along informally from one individual to another, either through verbal instruction or demonstration."
- "The academic study of folklore is called folklore studies or folkloristics."
- "Proverbs, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions."
- "Each one of these, either singly or in combination, is considered a folklore artifact or traditional cultural expression."