Category Archives: oral tradition

Something is happening here…

Posted on January 1, 2013 by

Readers of a certain age will recognize the title of this post as part of the chorus of one of Bob Dylan’s iconic songs of the ’60′s, “Ballad of a Thin Man.” And something is happening here But you don’t … Continue reading →

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Posted in Books, Culture, Current Events, Folklore, oral tradition, Stories | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Yule Lads: Icelandic Christmas folklore.

Posted on December 10, 2012 by

Christmas was slower to catch on than other major church holidays.  The clergy may have been wary of pagan solstice celebrations which happened at the same time of year and included serious revelry.  Some early Christmas festivities mimicked the custom. … Continue reading →

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Posted in art, Authors, Book Reviews, Books, Folklore, Holidays and Festivals, Imagination, oral tradition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tales of the Elves: Icelandic Folktales for Children

Posted on December 2, 2012 by

One day God decided to visit Adam and Eve.  They welcomed him and introduced  their children – all except the ones Eve had not finished bathing.  After all, you want your kids to be clean when the Supreme Being drops … Continue reading →

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Posted in art, Authors, Book Reviews, Books, Folklore, oral tradition | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

More on the Brothers Grimm bicentennial

Posted on October 29, 2012 by

Earlier this month, I posted a piece on the 200th anniversary of first edition of the Brothers Grimm’s collection of German fairytales: http://wp.me/pYql4-2sw. Yesterday the Sacramento Bee printed an article on this treasure trove of folklore and some of the … Continue reading →

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Posted in oral tradition, History, Books, Folklore | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Njal’s Saga, part 2

Posted on October 12, 2012 by

A man named Hrut had a stepbrother named Hoskuld.  One day Hoskuld held a feast and Hrut was there.  Hoskuld called to his daughter, Hallgerd, who was playing on the floor with other girls.  Hallgerd “was tall and beautiful, with … Continue reading →

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Posted in Books, Folklore, History, Myth, oral tradition | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two hundred years of The Brothers Grimm

Posted on October 8, 2012 by

In honor of the bicentennial of Children’s Household Tales (1812) by the Brothers Grimm, the University of Florida presents Grimmfest this month and next.  The university is home to the Baldwin Collection of Historical Children’s Literature, which features 2500 digitized children’s … Continue reading →

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Posted in Culture, Folklore, Myth, oral tradition, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments