Oral Traditions - Folklore, Myth, and Legend

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Have you ever sat around a campfire sharing stories with friends or perhaps the modern day, grown-up equivalent sharing stories after work at a bar or restaurant? Did you ever sit in wonder listening to your parents or grandparents talk about, “When I was a kid…”

If yes, then you have experienced part of a tradition that has existed for centuries, in fact, long before we had libraries, there was the "Fire Circle." Every culture has used stories to pass down their values, their history, and their warnings. Years ago, it was the fire circle, today it may be through memes, urban legends, or other methods.

However you look at it, folklore is how a community decides what matters. In many Western stories, the "hero" is a lone individual who succeeds through strength. But in many other global traditions, the hero is the person who is the wisest, the most patient, or the most helpful to the group.

By exploring global myths and legends, we help our kids see that "heroism" isn't always about being the loudest or the fastest. Here’s an exercise for you, think about pop culture and see if you can find a show or movie that excels in storytelling and myth building or myth busting.

Show us in a gif or clip. Can you figure out mine?

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