Folklore

the term folklore (English. folk “people” and truck “excessive quantity”) enclosure in the Volkskunde strictly speaking the verbally tradierten excessive quantities of a certain people. In addition count: Proverbs, mystery, narrations, fairy tale, fables, legends, Reime, varies, Volkslieder, Balladen, jokes or swearing to formulas. In recent time modern legends and conspiracy theories are added . In the broader sense folklore designates the whole of all popular tradition. The scientific argument with folklore takes place in the frameworkthe Volkskunde and/or. the telling research.

The designation was coined/shaped 1846 of William John Thoms as name for the term “Volkskundliche Altertümer” (popular antiquities). Johann Gottfried of Herder provided as the first for the collection and retaining of the “folklore”,particularly in shape of the Volksliedes. It strove for it, the “people spirit” to document the tradition and the identity of the German people. Folklore can contain religious or mythologische elements, is however normally concerned with the everyday excessive quantities of the daily life.Folklore unites frequently the material and the Übersinnliche in a erzählerischen with one another. On the other hand folklore for a representation can be used, which does not have theological or edifying contents, instead useful lay excessive quantities. This lay excessive quantity can exhibit elements Fantasti (how Magic, supernatural natures or personifizierte articles).

People fairy tales can exhibit edifying traditions, act however primarily within the lay range. Thus the fairy tale Hänsel and Gretel covers religious elements of the Hexerei and/or. early nature-religious courses. It points at the same time - laily and morally- on the dangers of the forest and hunger.

Folklore refers beyond that to social rituals within the cycles of seasons and ages (birth -, Heirats -, and funeral ceremonies) and holiday customs. Furthermore expresses itselfFolklore in people dance, people music and play.

Folklore finds its material precipitation in painting, carving, architecture, handicraft, textiles, decoration, lining and meals.

Another (usually devaluing used) meaning one names alsoFolklore a wide-spread opinion, whose correctness was however never proven.

see also

• Europeade
• Folklorismus
• Folkloristik

literature

• Hermann Bausinger: Folklore, Folkloristik. In: Encyclopedia of the fairy tale; Volume 4 (1984), frame. 1397-1403.

Web on the left of

• “folklore europaea” (multimedia data base to the European customs)