If you’ve read much historical fiction set in Great Britain, you may have run across the word Michaelmas—there’s Michaelmas term at Oxford and Cambridge (and Eton, for that matter), and Michaelmas fairs, and Michaelmas geese…so just what is Michaelmas? Michaelmas, … Continue reading
Have you ever crossed your fingers for something you really, really wanted? Most of us probably have. The gesture is said to have originated with early Christianity, as a secret signal between believers. You don’t have to see it as … Continue reading
Listen up: I’m going to tell you how to cast a spell. Take one apple. (Doesn’t matter what kind.) With a knife, peel the skin off the apple, in one long unbroken strip. (This may take you several tries.) Once … Continue reading
If fantasy in general is like the folkloric mode of legends, then urban fantasy is even more so. Because legends don’t take place at the dawn of time or in a fairy-tale kingdom far, far away; they take place in … Continue reading
We’ve been through folktales (from several different angles), legends, and myths. Where does fantasy fit into this? Anywhere it wants to, really. A short story or novel can retell a specific folkloric story (e.g. the tale of Cinderella or the … Continue reading
There are a lot of types of narrative in folklore — fables, tall tales, anecdotes, and so on — but the three core ones, from an etic perspective, are folktale, legend, and myth. We’ve already talked about the first two … Continue reading
All right, we’ve talked folktales into the ground (at least for now). Time for legends! I went at them in this order because it’s easier for me to define legends in contrast with folktales. (Here again I’m drawing from Max … Continue reading
I’ll get back to the more academic folklore-blogging in a bit, but first I have to ask you all to pardon me for being distracted and going on a semi-tangent. See, I have a new book out. As in, this … Continue reading
Welcome back, everyone, to the return of the folklore blogging! So last year (yikes), we were discussing the characteristics that mark a folktale out: plot grammar, aesthetic style, and so on. As I said at the time, modern retellings may … Continue reading
It being a holiday season for many religions, I figured I’d take a break from picking my way through the folkloric roots of the fantasy genre, and talk a bit about the death and rebirth of light. Powerful symbol, ain’t … Continue reading
