Folklore
Cultural knowledge that is spread through societies by means of oral traditions such as stories, songs, jokes, or sayings. Originally passed on through the spoken word, many of these traditions have now been collected and written down.
SEE ALSO Subject Collections • MagazinesSub-headings:
- Folk Songs and Rhymes
- The traditional verses of folk songs and rhymes are social rather than personal in nature and reflect something about the community they come from.
- Folktales and Fairy Tales
- A form of made-up folklore told primarily for entertainment and sometimes containing a message.
- Incantations and Magic
- Incantations come from a traditional belief that words have the magical power to control events or individuals. They include taboos, greetings, verbal wishes, and magical phrases.
- Jokes and Riddles
- Enigmatic expressions with an answer or a punch line. Whereas jokes have a humorous punch line usually revealed by the teller, riddles are meant to be solved by the listener.
- Legends and Myths
- Folklore stories that are told as true, but cannot be proven. Legends and myths are about people, local history and events, natural phenomena, or supernatural forces.
- Proverbs and Sayings
- Timeless statements or phrases that are repeated often and contain some insight about the world.
- Superstitions
- Folk beliefs that reveal cultural knowledge, convey traditions, and metaphorically address many elements of the human condition.
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