Welcome To The World Folklore Collection, An Archive Of Traditional Folk Tales And Legends From Around The World
This publication seeks to explore different world cultures through their stories — and explore their relevance in the modern age.
Hello,
Here’s hoping this post finds you well. You are currently reading the first of (hopefully) many posts from The World Folklore Collection, a newsletter that explores lore, legends, and stories from different parts of the world, all compiled here for the history-curious and those interested in the origins of some of our most beloved stories.
Every other Friday, we’ll be exploring a different folk legend — some popular, some obscure — its origins, and how it has impacted modern life.
For example, did you know that Christmas trees harken back to the old Pagan traditions of Yule? Or that Halloween, the contraction of All Hallow’s Evening, can be traced back to the Celtic pagan festivals of Samhain in Ireland and Calan Gaeaf in Wales?
There are, in fact, numerous historical examples of Pagan customs being reinterpreted to align with Christian beliefs, their original meaning largely obscured by the (relatively) new religion that swept across much of the Western world.
But, if you look hard enough, these stories never die, and traces of their origins can be felt in all aspects of modern life — though some are more hidden than others.
In Eastern regions of the world, too, folklore has continued to be a relevant point of discussion. In Japan, yokai are equal parts a pop-culture phenomenon and an oral tradition, long predating the various works of ancient art in which they appear. India, too, where Hinduism is practiced by the majority of the population, has a diverse array of folk tales, many of which are region-specific and serve as an explanation for the local customs.
Even among various groups that occupied the same geographic space — the Native Americans, for example — the diversity of folklore serves as a reminder that people who are often lumped together were in truth equally unique and diverse.
Likewise, the similarities between stories from different parts of the world — say, Britain and China — show that despite our perceived differences, there are elements of humanity that are consistent across time and space.
The ultimate goal of this collection is to illustrate each of these concepts: the uniqueness and the sameness of human cultures throughout history. In doing so, my hope is that we can gain a better cultural understanding of one another and, ideally, have a bit of fun along the way.
After all, many of these stories have been told for generations — and who doesn’t love a good story?
A Little Bit About Me
Currently, I’m a staff writer for All That’s Interesting, a digital publisher focusing on history and science. In my spare time, I also write for the sexual health publication, Giddy, and I’ve had work featured in Discover Magazine.
Folklore has always captivated me, and I believe that by exploring traditional tales from around the world, we can become better storytellers and better people.