folclore

Folclore, or folklore, is the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, songs, crafts, and performances of a community, transmitted across generations by word of mouth, ritual practice, or imitation. It encompasses both intangible cultural expressions—narratives, proverbs, ritual acts, and stage folk performance—and tangible forms such as artifacts, dress, and built or decorated environments. The concept serves to explain the origins of customs, maintain social norms, reinforce identity, and entertain.

The term folklore originated in the English language in the mid-19th century. The word "folklore" was coined to describe the body of traditional knowledge of common people, in contrast with elite learned culture. The spelling folclore is common in several Romance-language contexts, notably Spanish and Portuguese, where it denotes the same field and is often used interchangeably with folklore in international discourse.

Categories commonly studied in folkloristics include oral folklore (folktales, myths, legends, songs, chants, proverbs), material folklore (traditional crafts, costumes, landmarks, landscapes), and performing folklore (dances, music, theater, street performance). These forms are not frozen relics; they adapt to changing social environments and can mix with popular or mass culture.

Scholars of folclore aim to document, compare, and interpret these expressions, while recognizing regional variation and the dynamic nature of living traditions. Critical perspectives emphasize context, power relations, and questions of ownership and representation, particularly when traditions are commodified or disseminated beyond their original communities.