In folkloristics, folk belief or folk-belief is a broad genre of folklore that is often expressed in narratives, customs, rituals, foodways, proverbs, and rhymes. It also includes a wide variety of behaviors that are influenced by folk belief through literature and theater. Examples of concepts included in this genre are magic, popular belief, folk religion, planting signs, hoodoo, conjuration, charms, rootwork, taboos, old wives' tales that inspire fear and awe among those that practice folk traditions. In addition, there are omens, portents, the supernatural and folk medicine.Green (1997:89).
Folk belief and associated behaviors are strongly evidenced among all elements of society, regardless of education level or income . Folk belief is found in an agricultural, suburban, and urban environments alike.Green (1997:97). Folk belief can appear in many different ways within a culture. Kuusela (2020:165). Folk belief is a common practice across the globe, embodying culturally distinct features dependent upon geographic location.
Terminology One of a variety of compounds extending from the coinage of the term folklore in 1846 (previously popular antiquities), the term folk-belief is first evidenced in use by British folklorist Laurence Gomme in 1892."folk, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2016. Web. 3 November 2016. See also "folklore, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, September 2016. Web. 3 November 2016.
Common parlance employs the word superstition for what folklorists generally refer to as folk belief.For example, see discussion in Georges & Jones (1995:122).
See also
- Influenced by religion, but developed outside of established religious institutions
Old wives' tales- Supposed truth that is actually a superstition Folk religion- Religious expression distinct from organized religious doctrines
Notes
References Georges, Robert A. & Jones, Michael Owen. 1995. Folkloristics: An Introduction. Indiana University Press. . Green, Thomas A. 1997. Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, and Art. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. Kuusela, Tommy. 2020. Spirited Away by the Female Forest Spirit in Swedish Folk Belief Vol. 1. Pages 159–179 doi:10.1080/0015587X.2019.1701280. Abney, Lisa. 2019. The Linguistic Survey of North Louisiana. Language in Louisiana, University Press of Mississippi, pages 203-226. Zhao, X. 2022. Religion and Folk Belief in Chinese Literature and Theater. MDPI- Multidisciplinary Publishing Institute. Chong, SZ. 2024. Spiritual Life and Folk Beliefs in Vietnam: An Anthropological Approach. Pakistan Journal of Life and Scienceshttps://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.001091. Lax, Maria. 2026. A Constant Quiet Terror: Getting Lost in Irish Folklore- in Pictures. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media.