Fancy a folkloric read? Check out #FolkloreThursday’s books!
Fancy a folkloric read? Check out FolkloreThursday’s books!
An Introduction to Academic Folklore Studies
Academic folklore studies—or folkloristics—is a field of scholarship devoted to the classification, documentation, and interpretation of folklore and folklife.
British Legends: The Outlaws of Inglewood and the Feminine Influence
The story of William of Cloudesly is found in a 16th century ballad, Adam Bell, Clym of the Cloughe and Wyllyam of Cloudeslee, but may be older. It was included in the influential 19th century collection, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, as ballad 116, by Francis James Child. Although it is a male dominated, rip-roaring, all action story, three women play a significant part, emerging at points to influence events. Presented here is a short retelling followed by a brief discussion on the influence of the three females on the story.
Folk Crafts: Handmade Textiles and Folk Costumes in Poland
Poland is a country where the diversity and presence of textile traditions in folklore derives from the country’s long and complicated history.
Slavic Traditions: The Garlands of Midsummer’s Eve
In Poland, Midsummer’s Eve garlands would be set on water, their path on the surface foretelling the owner’s future, and protecting from spells and curses.
Myth and the Urban Landscape
Myth is folklore writ large, or to turn that phrase around, folklore is myth with a specific sense of local place, a
particular piece of landscape.