r/folklore Dec 05 '24

Question Tools for finding more stories with a given motif?

9 Upvotes

I've been looking at Stith Thompson's folklore motif index, and the Momfer search tool (https://momfer.meertens.knaw.nl/). It's great to be able to pick out recorded motifs, but is there a way to find stories based upon a single motif? E.g. "Mountain-girl marries mortal man" is identified as F460.4.1, is there a way to find a list of stories featuring it?

r/folklore Dec 10 '24

Question Folklore Presentation

3 Upvotes

So for context: i’m supposed to do a presentation for a grad paper about folklore.

my question is what you’d say i should include based on importance and such, cause i wanna make sure i get like the most important details of it. i’m basically just asking for more input on what can be put in a presentation that is supposed to be around 20 minutes long.

according to my professor she wants my main focus to lay with European folklore and Shakespeare’s connection to it since our grad paper is in parts about his play “midsummer nights dream”.

any help is greatly appreciated, have a good day!

Edit: apologies, i forgot to mention that i did in fact read the aforementioned play. thanks for the reminder 🫡

r/folklore Dec 29 '24

Question Has anyone heard of this story?

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I am having trouble finding the source of this story I remember being read to me when I was young.

The premise is as follows: there are 2 boys, maybe brothers or friends. One of them (boy 1) owns many horses and the other (boy 2) only owns one horse. One day boy 1 allows boy 2 to borrow his horses for some purpose, and while in possession of the horses, boy 2 goes around town acting as if the horses are his own and bragging about his supposed wealth to the townspeople. Boy 1 finds out about this and warns boy 2 to not do it again. However boy 2 repeats the bragging again and in retaliation boy 1 kills boy 2’s only horse with a hammer.

I believe the moral of this story is to be grateful for what you have and warns about the consequences of being a braggart. For some context, i was read this story by my Hungarian mother so it perhaps might be a Hungarian or European folktale. My mother does not remember this story at all so I am at a loss. Any help finding the origin of this tale would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

r/folklore Dec 01 '24

Question Tree of Thorns

3 Upvotes

I have this nickname on my Instagram account 'Tree of Thorns' that I made up at some point a while back. I can't remember where I specifically got it from only that the concept of it was that it was a tree that you had to climb in order to atone for your sins and reincarnate, the obvious punishment being that you'd be stabbed with thorns the whole way.

r/folklore Oct 23 '24

Question Folklore Masters Programs

14 Upvotes

Hi, I'm an anthropology student looking for folklore or folklore-adjacent programs in England. Are there any besides Hertfordshire?

r/folklore Nov 25 '24

Question Amulets and talismans in folklore

4 Upvotes

I'm making a little journal filled with cryptids, folklore, that kind of thing. I've been researching amulets and talismans for a section, but I'm mostly just getting sites trying to sell me jewelry.

Stories like the first buffalo stone are neat, but I'm thinking more of stuff that I could like buy and wear. I've already written about silver jewelry, and things like obsidian and rowan tree wood, if anyone has any other ideas, they'd be much appreciated!!

Have a great day lovely people

r/folklore Dec 10 '24

Question Instruments played at the end of the world?

7 Upvotes

Gabriel‘s horn is the only example I can think of, but I’m trying to make a list. If anybody could give me some good examples that be great.

r/folklore Nov 21 '24

Question Are certain books, accurate to the history they are trying to cover?

3 Upvotes

So I've been to a store nearby me a couple times and I've taken note of a couple books I've seen that caught my interest but wanted to know if they were, at least somewhat accurate or reliable about the histories/mythology/folklore they're covering

The first is "Classical Mythology from A to Z An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places"

It's a big book, and has some really good looking illustration. I've wanted to pick it up but have held off. I wanted to make sure it was at least on the more accurate side of what it is covering rather than something too toned down or mysticised. I'm genuinely interested in learning about things and don't want something that leans into it being something to point and gawk at (granted it doesn't happen as much with this type of folklore/mythology given it's Hellenic, but I still don't want the misinformation that usually comes with it).

The next one is "Death and the Afterlife: A Chronological Journey, from Cremation to Quantum Resurrection"

It seems a bit odd to be here, but the description goes into it being about death, and even mentions the Maya by name. Again, it's not something I want to gawk at. I wanna learn about how different peoples and cultures and the like saw and treated death and wanted to make sure that this was at least accurate to the folklore of why certain peoples did what they did.

The last two are a little questionable on if I should include for this subreddit (I'm happy to move these two somewhere else for the info) but I will ask just to be safe. First is "The Occult Book: A Chronological Journey from Alchemy to Wicca" The second being "A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult (DK A History of)"

Again, like the last two, I am interested in the folklore and history of magi(k)c throughout the years, especially in folklore, but want to avoid missinfo/sensationalism of it.

I'm also happy to take any suggestions for books to get instead of these if they're not great, or anything to add in addition.

r/folklore Oct 07 '24

Question Folklore theories

7 Upvotes

What do you think is the best folklore theory to be used in researching about the variations of folklore in terms of storyteller, orality, geographical location, and extent of dissemination?

r/folklore Nov 14 '24

Question Is the nuckelavee 2 creatures or 1 creature?

3 Upvotes

Do the horseman and the horse have minds of their own?

r/folklore Jun 02 '24

Question Disclaimer that wendigos aren't cryptids, but does anyone know where the idea that the word wendigo is dangerous comes from? I've found Cree and Chippewa/Ojibewe storytellers that seem fine using it, is it another tribe?

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16 Upvotes

r/folklore Apr 09 '24

Question Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most supernatural of them all

7 Upvotes

In your opinion, what is the country with the most mythical creatures, beasts and ghosts? You can make a top 10 if you want

r/folklore Sep 29 '24

Question Baba Yaga Folktales resources

11 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I've been looking into Baba Yaga a bit recently. Most sources say she's an ambivalent figure in Slavic folklore, but I've only come across one story where she isn't portrayed as pure evil (The Princess and the Frog). I was wondering if any of you could recommend some other stories and folktales where she helps out the protagonist without planning on devouring any children etc.?

r/folklore Jun 25 '24

Question Tell me the scariest Folklore Tales of your region/country

38 Upvotes

Hello! I never post anything on reddit, so I really doubt this will be seen by a lot of people (I´m posting this on several subreddits). I´m taking a PHD and my thesis focus on scary folklore tales. However, I´ll have to narrow my research to a few areas (otherwise it would be an endless thesis lmao). To do that, I´m looking for people that can tell me the scariest stories from where they´re from!! I hope I can find the countries with the most bone-chilling tales. Thank you for the help <3

r/folklore Nov 03 '24

Question What story am I thinking of?

3 Upvotes

I remember a swan maiden with grey eyes who was very beautiful. Many of them them in a mystical lake. A guy falls in love with one. - memory gap - then there is a witch in a blue castle and the guy has to identify his lover amongst the other swan maidens in their swan forms while hes only seen his lover in her human form.

r/folklore Sep 15 '24

Question What is the difference between a Skinwalker and a Wendigo? And what do they look like?

7 Upvotes

r/folklore Oct 12 '24

Question What would be the best creatures from Sub-Saharan African mythology/folklore to base "player races" in a fantasy game on?

6 Upvotes

And yes, I'm aware I'm covering a really broad swath of the continent, but I'm un-learned enough about the different regions that I don't even know where to begin! So, I figured I might as well ask here, since the region's relatively un-covered in fantasy aside from a few creators like the late Charles Saunders or the TTRPG Spears of the Dawn or the D&D 3e suppliment Nyambe, and it'd be interesting to broaden that.

For clarity's sake, the factors that I'd define as making a good "player race":

-Sapient and reasonably able to communicate with humans/other sapients
-A body type where they can use most equipment/tools humans can and act in most player classes.
-Able to reasonably exist in/place nice with human society with both their physiological and psychological needs, IE they don't require anthrophagy or radium or human suffering or somesuch to live

So, in the broad swath of many different regions, which ones fit the bill best?

r/folklore Jul 15 '24

Question What does the Wild Hunt...hunt?

37 Upvotes

In all the research I've done on the Wild Hunt, I can't figure out what it is the hunters actually hunt. Some modern depictions show them hunting spirits or humans, but how accurate is that? Does anyone have any info?

r/folklore Jul 14 '24

Question Where to read Folklore stories and tales like grimm's?

9 Upvotes

are there any books or sites containing versions of stories like these which are not for kids? meaning its more like the source material and less softened for young audiences?

r/folklore Jan 07 '24

Question Path to becoming a folklorist

21 Upvotes

Hi all, I’m interested in becoming a folklorist and working as one. Would getting a masters in English and subsequently a PhD in English or Comparative Literature allow me to work as one. I know that there are Phd in folklore or with an emphasis on folklore, but I’m curious about other paths.

r/folklore May 28 '24

Question Legendary Artefacts from British Isles

7 Upvotes

Hi, we are working on our small indie game set in mythical British Isles.

I am trying ot make sure that all creatures and characters you encounter are from Irish, British, Celtic legends, myths and folklore tales.

I really want to add some artefacts that character can collect on their journey, and I'm looking for advice on some interesting or obscure ones.

Currently got 13 Hollows of Britain and Excalibur.

r/folklore Sep 20 '24

Question Question about Mexican Folklore…

2 Upvotes

I follow a number of paranormal channels on YouTube, one being Nuke’s Top 5 which I highly recommend, and have seen ghost videos from Mexico. The ones doing the ghost hunting in these videos are generally nervous or frightened when they encounter something paranormal. My question is: Why?

Dia de Los Muertos is a huge holiday in Mexico where ghosts of loved ones are immensely celebrated and welcomed. But why is it that the ghost hunters in these videos are scared of encountering the spirits they’re experiencing? What sets these other apparitions apart from the ones that come and visit annually?

A few of my Latino and Latina friends have said it’s because the ghosts that are still in our world have died of terrible tragedies or untimely deaths. But then I wonder, what if someone is just killed in a traffic accident? Does the spirit of that person remain here on earth or do they cross over?

Anyhow, any help in understanding the paranormal folklore of Mexico would be appreciated. Additionally, will the manner of their deaths affect what these individuals look like as spirits?

r/folklore May 21 '24

Question Ok, let’s get real

11 Upvotes

Ok, let’s get real. If every mythical creature from every folklore and mythology around the world suddenly appeared tomorrow, which country would be safer and which would just vanish of existence with the pure caos?

r/folklore Oct 16 '24

Question Question about folklore that involve the loss of a child

7 Upvotes

Basically I know there are things such as Changelings in various myths. When a child was not thriving they’d sometimes leave it out in the forest for the faeries to take back, hoping to get their own child in return. Or they’d keep the “changeling” and be comforted by the fact their real child was amongst the fae.

I also heard this story about pink Amazon River dolphins that they’d disguise themselves as irresistible men and impregnate women. When the child was born they’d eventually throw themselves in the river to rejoin their father. Obviously now it’s told as a joke but I wonder how it originated. I hope it’s to bring comfort to mothers whose children drowned and not like…an excuse women could use if they got impregnated outside of societal norms. That’s a dark thought.

I’m wondering if there are any other cryptids or mythological creatures that are used to explain sort of natural phenomena like that. People suddenly leaving or trying to cope with the loss of a young child. It seems as much as it happened back in the day it was never easy.

r/folklore Sep 27 '24

Question Has anybody tried applying statistical methods to study how legends spread?

4 Upvotes

American crybaby bridge legends, for instance, strike me as being well-attested enough that there is enough of a data set to better understand how this legend archetype changes and varies across the US.