What are the 5 types of folklore?
Types of Folklore
Folklore encompasses the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, songs, and practices of a community, passed down through generations. Scholars commonly recognize five main types of folklore:
- Folk Narratives: These are traditional stories shared orally, including myths, legends, fairy tales, fables, and anecdotes.
- Folk Beliefs: Also known as folk customs, these include superstitions, traditional medicines, rituals, and beliefs about the natural and spiritual world.
- Folk Music and Song: This category covers traditional music, ballads, work songs, lullabies, and other forms of oral musical expression.
- Folk Art and Material Culture: Includes traditional crafts, clothing, architecture, tools, and decorative arts that reflect the cultural identity of a group.
- Folk Speech: Refers to proverbs, riddles, jokes, dialects, and unique ways of speaking within a community.
These categories often overlap and can vary across cultures, but together they form the core components of what is studied and celebrated as folklore.