I have always been fascinated by Folklore, but I must admit I wasn't exactly sure what Folklore was. I am just beginning to explore the realm of Italian Folklore & Oral History and I would like to share with you part of Our Italian Culture that is a vital part of researching our Italian Ancestors. If one were to ask the "Definition of Folklore," I imagine you would find several variations of this definition I found. The one I like the best is from an Englishman named William J. Thomas who described it as "traditional culture." And, a Mr. George W. Boswell expanded on this definition and went on to say that "Folklore is traditional belief, literature, exaggeration, knowledge and skills orally conceived or transmitted from one generation to the next disseminated among the members of the same generation. It is preserved in the memories of the people. It's indispensability is unwritten tradition." * Folklore then is many things. From handed-down recipes to songs that were sung in the small towns and villages - and the colorful costumes commemorating a special event to stories and proverbs we heard as children...these are just a few things that are part of our Italian Ancestry. Our Italian Culture is rich in Folklore and I hope thru this page you will have the chance to learn more about the Folklore of your ancestors. I will begin by showing you through the links immediately following this introduction websites that will introduce you into the world of Folklore. The first few sites contain information that would apply to all ethnic groups and will provide you with excellent background information on the History of Folklore. Then you will see how to proceed in obtaining folklore of interest to you and your family. These websites provide abundant material and I believe you will find yourself bookmarking these pages for reference. Finally, I will list websites focusing on Italian Folklore. It is my hope this list will be extensive as time goes on, but for now I hope you will enjoy what I have collected for you thus far. This is one area of our Italian Ancestry that must not be overlooked as it is one of our most important aspects in our Italian genealogy research. * (Guide to Collecting Folklore - Website listed below and gives a lot of GREAT information). "To Discover Our Italian Heritage of the PAST...in the PRESENT, Is The Greatest Gift We Can Give To Our FUTURE Generations." © Deborah K. Millemaci |
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