Folklore
noun
Traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, passed down orally through generations.
In many cultures, folklore is used to explain natural phenomena, like thunderstorms or the changing of the seasons.
Often appears as...
- native folklore
- folklore stories
noun
The academic study of traditional knowledge and culture.
He pursued a degree in anthropology, with a focus on folklore.
Often appears as...
- folklore studies
- folklore research
Usage tips
Academic
noun
Traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, passed down orally through generations.
In many cultures, folklore is used to explain natural phenomena, like thunderstorms or the changing of the seasons.
Often appears as...
- native folklore
- folklore stories
noun
The academic study of traditional knowledge and culture.
He pursued a degree in anthropology, with a focus on folklore.
Often appears as...
- folklore studies
- folklore research
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Culture-Specific
Folklore varies greatly among different cultures and may not translate well across languages.
The trickster figure in Native American folklore has different attributes than in African folklore.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Factual
Recognize that folklore involves stories that are not claimed to be true, often featuring supernatural elements.
Folklore about fairies describes magical beings that are part of folk tradition, not reality.
Pro Tip 3/3Oral Tradition
Folklore is generally passed down by word of mouth and thus may have many versions.
Each village has its own twist to the folklore of the region.
Pro Tip 1/3Culture-Specific
Folklore varies greatly among different cultures and may not translate well across languages.
The trickster figure in Native American folklore has different attributes than in African folklore.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Factual
Recognize that folklore involves stories that are not claimed to be true, often featuring supernatural elements.
Folklore about fairies describes magical beings that are part of folk tradition, not reality.
Pro Tip 3/3Oral Tradition
Folklore is generally passed down by word of mouth and thus may have many versions.
Each village has its own twist to the folklore of the region.
Pro Tip 1/3Culture-Specific
Folklore varies greatly among different cultures and may not translate well across languages.
The trickster figure in Native American folklore has different attributes than in African folklore.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Factual
Recognize that folklore involves stories that are not claimed to be true, often featuring supernatural elements.
Folklore about fairies describes magical beings that are part of folk tradition, not reality.
Pro Tip 3/3Oral Tradition
Folklore is generally passed down by word of mouth and thus may have many versions.
Each village has its own twist to the folklore of the region.
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Video examples
Are we born to run? PIPE...
A curious thing about running and running injuries is that the running injury is new to our time. If you read folklore and mythology, any kind of myths, any kind of tall tales, running is always associated with freedom and vitality and youthfulness and eternal vigor. It's only in our lifetime that running has become associated with fear and pain.
Video examples
Leyla Acaroglu: Paper...
our environmental folklore. It's either the little voice at the back of your head, or it's that gut feeling you get when you've done the right thing, so when you've picked the paper bag or when you've bought a fuel-efficient car. And environmental folklore is a really important thing
Video examples
TV Presenter Eats...
that just a part of their life did did you ever serve it was there ever a point that you explained what they wear or did you kind of tell them that the folklore of of the Northern Lights actually the Sami people have traditionally lots of stories about the Northern Lights
Video examples
Juliet Eilperin: Demon...
relationship with with sharks where they're in many ways they you know again will protect some individuals or communities and and attack others and so for example the Hawaiians have one of the most elaborate folklore traditions involving sharks and they have a number
Video examples
Where do superstitions...
that few people believe in or even remember. Knocking on wood is thought to come from the folklore of the ancient Indo-Europeans or possibly people who predated them who believed that trees were home to various spirits. Touching a tree would invoke the protection
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
wolves has always appeared in folklore fable and even in modern literature and films misunderstanding breeds fear and fear can breed hatred European settlers brought an image of a savage deceitful sinister creature to the new world and
Video examples
Mysteries of vernacular:...
common, and is based mainly in folklore. It's rumored that these so-called earwigs crawl into your ear at night and tunnel into your brain, but this is false. Sure, an earwig may, on rare occasion,
Video examples
Founding Father's Real...
slaves it is a grisly fact that he did this it kind of gives you an image of slavery that we don't think about after his death the realities of Washington's life become obscured by folklore legend
Video examples
Spend Some Time With The...
their presence here is entwined in folklore they are said to have once been headless fallen from the cut hair of manjushri a religious figure associated with the creation of the valley where
Video examples
Encouraging A New-Born...
because of their quirky looks an elusive nocturnal lifestyle aye eyes have become part of madagascar folklore they're feared and persecuted as the
Video examples
Are we born to run? PIPE...
A curious thing about running and running injuries is that the running injury is new to our time. If you read folklore and mythology, any kind of myths, any kind of tall tales, running is always associated with freedom and vitality and youthfulness and eternal vigor. It's only in our lifetime that running has become associated with fear and pain.
Video examples
Leyla Acaroglu: Paper...
our environmental folklore. It's either the little voice at the back of your head, or it's that gut feeling you get when you've done the right thing, so when you've picked the paper bag or when you've bought a fuel-efficient car. And environmental folklore is a really important thing
Video examples
TV Presenter Eats...
that just a part of their life did did you ever serve it was there ever a point that you explained what they wear or did you kind of tell them that the folklore of of the Northern Lights actually the Sami people have traditionally lots of stories about the Northern Lights
Video examples
Juliet Eilperin: Demon...
relationship with with sharks where they're in many ways they you know again will protect some individuals or communities and and attack others and so for example the Hawaiians have one of the most elaborate folklore traditions involving sharks and they have a number
Video examples
Where do superstitions...
that few people believe in or even remember. Knocking on wood is thought to come from the folklore of the ancient Indo-Europeans or possibly people who predated them who believed that trees were home to various spirits. Touching a tree would invoke the protection
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
wolves has always appeared in folklore fable and even in modern literature and films misunderstanding breeds fear and fear can breed hatred European settlers brought an image of a savage deceitful sinister creature to the new world and
Video examples
Mysteries of vernacular:...
common, and is based mainly in folklore. It's rumored that these so-called earwigs crawl into your ear at night and tunnel into your brain, but this is false. Sure, an earwig may, on rare occasion,
Video examples
Founding Father's Real...
slaves it is a grisly fact that he did this it kind of gives you an image of slavery that we don't think about after his death the realities of Washington's life become obscured by folklore legend
Video examples
Spend Some Time With The...
their presence here is entwined in folklore they are said to have once been headless fallen from the cut hair of manjushri a religious figure associated with the creation of the valley where
Video examples
Encouraging A New-Born...
because of their quirky looks an elusive nocturnal lifestyle aye eyes have become part of madagascar folklore they're feared and persecuted as the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jonathan Maberry
American Author
My 'Rot & Ruin' series is a post-apocalyptic adventure for teens. My 'Joe Ledger' novels are science-based action thrillers for adults. My 'Dead of Night' stories are zombie tales for adults; my 'Pine Deep Trilogy' is classic horror for adults, and I've written nonfiction books on topics ranging from martial arts to folklore.
Quote examples
Brie Larson
American Actress
I love mythology and folklore, and I respect the time, money, and opportunity that a film gives to an audience. It's a chance to empathize, reflect, and learn, so I really want to understand before I sign onto a project: 'What's the potential of this thing? What are we seeing and learning? What are we empathizing to?
Quote examples
Alan Dundes
American Educator
It is important to recognize that folklore is not simply a way of obtaining available date about identity for social scientists; it is actually one of the principal means by which an individual and a group discovers or establishes his or its identity.
Quote examples
Demis Roussos
Greek Musician
I am basically a folk singer because I'm coming from a part of the earth where folklore means a lot. The Mediterranean is a very old part of the world, and the more a place is old, the more there is folklore.
Quote examples
Tim Schafer
American Businessman
I love studying folklore and legends. The stories that people passed down for a thousand years without any sort of marketing support are obviously saying something appealing about the basic human condition.
Quote examples
Juliet Marillier
New Zealander Writer
I've loved fairytales, folklore and mythology since I was a small child, and I think it was inevitable that they would influence my style and my development of stories.
Quote examples
Ming-Na Wen
Chinese Actress
Mulan is so important in Chinese folklore - a fearless girl who cared about her family and country so much that she was willing to join the fight and sacrifice herself.
Quote examples
Hilton Als
American Writer
I have not seen 'The Lion King.' I don't do black folklore. And I'm black.
Quote examples
Terri Windling
American Artist
I'm working on a very long series of paintings based on desert folklore.
Quote examples
Eric Kripke
American Director
I've had a lifelong obsession with urban legends and American folklore.
Quote examples
Jonathan Maberry
American Author
My 'Rot & Ruin' series is a post-apocalyptic adventure for teens. My 'Joe Ledger' novels are science-based action thrillers for adults. My 'Dead of Night' stories are zombie tales for adults; my 'Pine Deep Trilogy' is classic horror for adults, and I've written nonfiction books on topics ranging from martial arts to folklore.
Quote examples
Brie Larson
American Actress
I love mythology and folklore, and I respect the time, money, and opportunity that a film gives to an audience. It's a chance to empathize, reflect, and learn, so I really want to understand before I sign onto a project: 'What's the potential of this thing? What are we seeing and learning? What are we empathizing to?
Quote examples
Alan Dundes
American Educator
It is important to recognize that folklore is not simply a way of obtaining available date about identity for social scientists; it is actually one of the principal means by which an individual and a group discovers or establishes his or its identity.
Quote examples
Demis Roussos
Greek Musician
I am basically a folk singer because I'm coming from a part of the earth where folklore means a lot. The Mediterranean is a very old part of the world, and the more a place is old, the more there is folklore.
Quote examples
Tim Schafer
American Businessman
I love studying folklore and legends. The stories that people passed down for a thousand years without any sort of marketing support are obviously saying something appealing about the basic human condition.
Quote examples
Juliet Marillier
New Zealander Writer
I've loved fairytales, folklore and mythology since I was a small child, and I think it was inevitable that they would influence my style and my development of stories.
Quote examples
Ming-Na Wen
Chinese Actress
Mulan is so important in Chinese folklore - a fearless girl who cared about her family and country so much that she was willing to join the fight and sacrifice herself.
Quote examples
Hilton Als
American Writer
I have not seen 'The Lion King.' I don't do black folklore. And I'm black.
Quote examples
Terri Windling
American Artist
I'm working on a very long series of paintings based on desert folklore.
Quote examples
Eric Kripke
American Director
I've had a lifelong obsession with urban legends and American folklore.
Example 1 of 10
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