The Greek and Roman world is often noted for the rationalism of a few outstanding thinkers. This book is about the traditional superstitions, beliefs, taboos, folk-remedies, ghost stories, and folk tales that haunted the rest. Along the way it considers such questions as, Do modern approaches help or hinder our attempts to see ancient superstition from the inside? Can we break down the barriers between folk tales and myths? Did it really matter whether a healing herb was picked by moonlight or not? Was there a Cinderella tale in the ancient world?
The volume begins by asking how we can...
The Greek and Roman world is often noted for the rationalism of a few outstanding thinkers. This book is about the traditional superstitions, belie...
Accessible to students and general readers, this book is a concise but thorough introduction to Caribbean folklore. Included are chapters on the many different types of folklore, a selection of examples and texts, a survey of scholarship and criticism, and a look at Caribbean folklore in literature and contemporary culture. The volume closes with a glossary and a bibliography of print and electronic resources suitable for student research.
The Caribbean is a world of great historical and cultural importance. It has produced numerous literary, artistic, and musical works and has...
Accessible to students and general readers, this book is a concise but thorough introduction to Caribbean folklore. Included are chapters on the ma...
Slavic folklore has great cultural significance and international influence. Written for students and general readers, this book offers a brief but thorough introduction to Slavic folklore. Included are explanations of the different types of Slavic folklore, the role of Slavic folklore in literature and popular culture, and the state of criticism and scholarship on this field of interest. The volume provides numerous examples and cites print and electronic sources for further reading.
The people of Eastern Europe have a long and rich cultural history. Central to that history...
Slavic folklore has great cultural significance and international influence. Written for students and general readers, this book offers a brief but...
In every land, various traditions, customs, and legends have developed around food. And because these diverse traditions are central to the multicultural character of the United States, ethnic foodlore permeates American society. From early Native American cultures to the modern influx of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants, this book is an accessible introduction to foodlore and foodways. Culturally and ethnically inclusive, from soul food to Navaho fry bread, the volume looks at basic Jewish and Islamic food traditions and Asian, Latin, and European influences on the foods of America....
In every land, various traditions, customs, and legends have developed around food. And because these diverse traditions are central to the multicu...
Hoodoo, voodoo, and conjure are part of a mysterious world of African American spirituality that has long captured the popular imagination. These magical beliefs and practices have figured in literary works by such authors as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Ishmael Reed, and they have been central to numerous films, such as "The Skeleton Key." Written for students and general readers, this book is a convenient introduction to hoodoo, voodoo, and conjure.
The volume begins by defining and classifying elements of these spiritual traditions. It then provides a wide range of examples and...
Hoodoo, voodoo, and conjure are part of a mysterious world of African American spirituality that has long captured the popular imagination. These m...
Children have their own games, stories, riddles, and so forth. This book gives students and general readers an introduction to children's folklore. Included are chapters on the definition and classification of children's folklore, the presence of children's folklore in literature and popular culture, and the scholarly interpretation of children's folklore. The volume also includes a wide range of examples and texts demonstrating the variety of children's folklore around the world.
Children have always had their own games, stories, riddles, jokes, and so forth. Many times, children's...
Children have their own games, stories, riddles, and so forth. This book gives students and general readers an introduction to children's folklore....
Since the earliest days of universities, students have told stories about their daily lives, often emphasizing extraordinary, surprising, and baffling events. This book examines the fascinating world of college and university legends. While it primarily looks at legends, it also gives some attention to rumors, pranks, rituals, and other forms of folklore. Included are introductory chapters on types of campus folklore, a collection of some 50 legends from a broad range of colleges and universities, an overview of scholarship, and a discussion of campus legends in movies, television, and...
Since the earliest days of universities, students have told stories about their daily lives, often emphasizing extraordinary, surprising, and baffl...
