Folklore, Myths & Legends
Folklore is the written and oral stories from a culture. These narratives often have extraordinary people or animals who overcome some obstacle. Myths are stories that a culture uses to explain the origin of the world, unexpected events, and the mysteries of the natural world. Legends are stories that are presented as fact but have no factual support.
The Book of Hallowe’en was published in 1919 and described Halloween customs around the world. This passage is about how the holiday was celebrated then. —————————————————- While the original customs of Hallowe’en are being forgotten more and more across the ocean, Americans have fostered them, and are making this an…
This story from Greek mythology uses many of the Roman names for the gods. Zeus is called Jupiter, Hera is called Juno, and Neptune is the Roman name for Poseidon. —————————– Long before you or I or anybody else can remember, there lived with the Mighty Folk on the mountain…
Prometheus is the son of a Titan, one of the early gods of Greek mythology. The Titans fought Zeus, called here by his Roman name, Jupiter. The king of the Titans was Cronus, called here by his Roman name, Saturn. ———————————- In those old, old times, there lived two brothers…
The Possum used to have a long, bushy tail, and was so proud of it that he combed it out every morning and sang about it at the dance, until the Rabbit, who had had no tail since the Bear pulled it out, became very jealous and made up his…
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugarplums…
“Johnny,” yelled Mr. Crawford, “load those apples in the cart.” Johnny wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. “Yes, sir.” He picked up a green one and took a bite. “Yuck. I keep forgetting these aren’t eating apples, they’re for making apple cider.” Mr. Crawford laughed. After work,…
In this version of a Greek myth, Daedalus is a great builder employed by King Minos. He became famous for designing and building the Labyrinth of Crete which held the Minotaur, a great monster. —————————————– Daedalus was guilty of a deed which angered the king very greatly; and had not…
King Arthur yelled from atop his trusty steed, Llamrei. “Sir Galahad! Call the knights together. Messengers just alerted me that we will be attacked in a fortnight.” Sir Galahad waved to King Arthur and rode off. The next day all the knights were assembled at the round table. “Men,” said…
The little girl reached high up on her tip toes. She opened the mailbox and carefully put her letter inside. Happy, Lucy skipped back home, sure that Santa would be able to help her. **************** At the North Pole, it was getting very busy. All the elves were working…
Jupiter and his Mighty Folk had not always dwelt amid the clouds on the mountain top. In times long past, a wonderful family called Titans had lived there and had ruled over all the world. There were twelve of them-six brothers and six sisters-and they said that their father was…