What is folklore?


what is folklore? it is understood by folklore the set of popular expressions and cultural traditions, such as legends, proverbs, myths, handicrafts, dances, games, games, popular festivals, tales and customs that form the identity of a people.

The origin of the word comes from English "folklore", which means "popular knowledge"."Folk"it means people, while "therepray"it means knowing and knowing, that is, folklore is the representation of the customs and popular culture of a nation, passed down from generation to generation.

In a letter to the magazine The Atheneum on August 22, 1846, writer William John Thomas first used the word in the sense we know it today.

In this way, each country has unique elements linked to folklore. Japan, for example, has folklore roots linked to supernatural creatures known as Youkais.

folklore story

The areas of study related to folklore gained prominence from the 18th century onwards, with the foundation institutions dedicated to research on the subject in the late nineteenth century in Europe and the United States.

The pioneers in the study of folklore themes were Johann Gottfried Von Herder and the well-known Brothers Grimm.

In the year 1878, in the United Kingdom, the The Folklore Society (The Society of Folklore). The association's main objective was to study and analyze the customs and traditions of a people, taking into account cultural aspects such as music, dance, theater, narrative, beliefs, arts, and etc.

From there, folklore gained categories that would facilitate its understanding, namely:

  • Traditional narratives: folk legends, myths and tales;
  • Beliefs and superstitions: knowledge related to religious practices, magic, witchcraft, etc;
  • Traditional customs: cultural expressions such as popular festivals;
  • Popular language: popular terms and jargon and their meanings.

With the satisfactory results of research from the London society, the relevance of the theme folklore increased in Europe and reached the United States with force.

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In Brazil, in 1951, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the first congress focused on the analysis of what folklore really is and, through debate, proposing its characteristics was held.

Some important names in the study of folklore in Brazil were Luís Câmara Cascudo, Florestan Fernandes and Mario de Andrade.

Folklore Characteristics

Relentlessly debated, it is still unknown what the features that define what is folklore and what is not.

There is still no consensus among experts, but it is known that this set of cultural expressions and customs arise through attributes such as:

  • Anonymous origin;
  • Collective popularization;
  • Oral communication;
  • Spontaneous actions.

Brazilian folklore

Rich in customs and traditions, the Brazilian folklore it is the result of the joining of the knowledge of African, indigenous and Portuguese peoples. celebrated on the day August 22, some of the best known Brazilian folkloric manifestations are:

  • Legends and Myths: Saci-Pererê, Headless Mule, Curupira, Boitatá, Negrinho do Pastoreio;
  • Popular parties: June Festivals, Carnival, Cavalhadas, Festa do Divino Pai Eterno;
  • Wheel songs: Slaves of Job, Ciranda-cirandinha, Throwing Pau no Gato, O Cravo and Rosa;
  • Music and dances: Samba, Frevo, Xaxado, Xote, Bumba meu Boi /Boi-bumbá.
bumba-meu-boi
Presentation of the folk dance Bumba Meu Boi / Boi-Bumbá

See too:

  • Goiano Folklore – Legends, Food, Dances
  • 9 Brazilian folklore games
  • 20 Typical Brazilian Folk Foods – Traditional Brazilian Recipes
  • Meet the most important characters and legends in Brazilian folklore

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