#folklore

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Aug 9: Have you ever encountered a work uncomfortably similar to one of your own?

No. There have been translations of German folk tales before, but mostly they have focused on singular works instead of trying to survey the entire body of published folk-lore like I do, and few of them bother with explanatory commentary.

I would _love_ it if I became a trendsetter for an entire genre, though - there are plenty of other bodies of which have been collected in different languages and never been systematically made available in English to an international audience!

I just published a new article all about crows in Japanese folklore and culture. It's got mythology, yokai, superstitions, and lots of art.
https://open.substack.com/pub/curiousordinary/p/crows-in-japanese-folklore-and-culture
@folklore @mythologymonday

Four crows on a tree branch. The sky is dark blue fading to pale yellow below.

One hypothetical future German folk tale collection I want to write is for folk tales focusing on the Thirty Years' War - there is certainly enough material out there to fill such a book.

Working title: "Villains On Both Sides"

12 July. How much do themes of transience or permanence appear in your work?

A lot. German folk tales often try to explain the world around the narrators and their audience, and thus is full of ruined or sunken castles, villages, and so forth. Nothing lasts except for Heaven.

Heck, many tales even explain why supernatural entities used to be more common In The Old Days, but are no longer around - the archetypal example of this are "The Dwarves Leave" tales.

🧵 Traditional costumes today divide opinion: some see them as a supposed idyll of the ‘good old days’, others find them old-fashioned and reject them. During summer, we we take a look behind the scenes, scrutinise the history and marvel at the restoration of originals. As always more info in alt texts + thread!
@textilearts

A long designer robe made of a precious fabric with red floral patterns on black ground. It's armless, the top is tight-fitting with a waist, the skirt is wide. Two parallel rows of silver buttons go from the top until the knees, the lapel is buttoned. Pastors would have condemned a woman for such a dress in the 1950s. Because the traditional red fabric and the cut with the buttons were only permitted for men to wear on their waistcoats.
A designer waistcoat that takes up the traditional men's waistcoat shape with a close-fitting parallel row of silver buttons on black and a buttoned lapel. Unlike the old waistcoats, however, the right-hand row of buttons is irregularly reduced to 3 buttons and sthe right side is sewn from red, black and white Kelsch chequered fabric. In older times, Kelsch was reserved for women and household laundry. Crèation by Thibaut Heck.
The back of the bride's head and shoulders showing the plaited hair and the crown formed like a half very wide headband. The scarf is embroidered with silver - in floral patterns. The traditional patterns like the tree of life, flowers, or ears of grain were symbols for fertility. These scarves were the only decoration for robes that was allowed for married women by protestants in that region.
A traditional protestant bride's costume from Northern Alsace, Presented by a woman from the Hunspach folklore group (photographed with permission). The skirt, top and waistcoat, as well as the scarf at the neck are black; silver embroidery was only permitted on the scarf and at the sides. The hair is plaited and pinned up. The bride wears a head-covering ‘crown’ of colourful flowers and glass beads. The same artificial arrangement wraps around the upper arms like a suit of armour. Originally, the flowers were handmade from silk and the beads were mouth-blown. For events, they are replaced by imitations like these made of fabric and coloured plastic, as the real crowns would be too valuable.

Folklore read live!

When you're done screaming, the giant monk in this dark mine would like to give you lamp oil.

Hear Tales of Pagan Gods & Mining Spirits tonight @ 6:30 pm PST/9:30 pm EST: https://youtube.com/live/bVpkEBx47O0

A storybook-style drawing of two shirtless men mining a rock wall with picks while two suited men watch them work. Overlaid text: The Mountain Monk

I'm reading @juergen_hubert 's books, starting with "Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles". His translation of German folklore to English, complete with commentary and footnotes, is utterly fabulous.

As someone who's read a lot of folklore books, across multiple cultures, I highly recommend "Sunken Castles" for writers and lovers of folklore alike. Solid research, notes on where the story is set in modern geography, great context, witty asides all make for a very engaging, inspiring read. The stories come to life from his carefully light, detailed approach.

This book is helping me create myths and folktales for my own fictional world. I'm having a blast reading it!

Print:

https://thescribblinglion.com/product/sunken-castles-evil-poodles-jurgen-hubert/

Ebook:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08CL2HS28/

Random folklore tidbit from the Hungarian collection I'm reading today:

"When popping popcorn, people were told that if they laugh, the corn will pop faster."

🍿