Folklore consists of traditional myths, legends, and customs of a people or community passed down through generations, often orally.
It’s a dynamic body of cultural knowledge, shaped by shared beliefs, experiences, and values, reflecting a group’s identity and history.
Key Characteristics / Core Concepts
- Oral Tradition: Primarily transmitted through storytelling, songs, and performances.
- Anonymity: Often lacking a known author or creator, reflecting collective authorship.
- Traditional Beliefs: Incorporates myths, legends, and superstitions reflecting cultural worldview.
- Cultural Transmission: Passed down through generations, adapting to changing contexts.
- Community Identity: Reinforces group identity and shared cultural heritage.
How It Works / Its Function
Folklore functions as a means of preserving and transmitting cultural knowledge, values, and beliefs. It helps communities understand their history, their place in the world, and their relationship to the supernatural or natural world.
The process of telling and retelling stories, songs, and performing rituals strengthens social bonds and reinforces cultural norms. This process changes the narrative across time as each storyteller adapts it to their current audience.
Examples
- Fairy tales like Cinderella or Jack and the Beanstalk.
- Urban legends like the vanishing hitchhiker or the killer clown.
- Traditional folk songs or ballads passed down through generations.
Why is it Important? / Significance
Folklore provides invaluable insights into the beliefs, values, and worldview of past and present communities.
It serves as a powerful tool for cultural preservation, promoting a sense of identity and continuity within a community. It also serves as a window into understanding how societies have dealt with conflict and change.
Related Concepts
- Mythology
- Legends
- Oral History
Folklore offers a rich and varied perspective on human culture and experience.