Folklore is a set of traditions, beliefs, legends, myths, customs, and popular stories passed down from generation to generation within a community. These cultural manifestations reflect the social identity of a people and can be expressed both individually and collectively. Folklore encompasses a wide variety of expressions, including dances, tales, rhythms, proverbs, songs, fables, riddles, music, and poetry.

Transmission occurs primarily orally, and the original author is generally unknown. The factors that identify a folkloric manifestation are:

  1. Collective acceptance: The cultural manifestation is widely recognized, practiced, and valued by a community or people.
  2. Traditionality: The manifestation is transmitted over time, maintaining essential elements.
  3. Dynamicity: The capacity of folkloric manifestations to adapt and evolve over time.
  4. Functionality: Folkloric practices transmit teachings, reinforce cultural values, promote social cohesion, or serve as a form of expression of collective identities.

    5. The word "folklore" originates from the English neologism folk-lore, which means "knowledge of the people." It was created by William John Thoms in 1846 to define a field of study previously known as "popular antiquities" or "popular literature." Folklore studies gained prominence in Europe in the second half of the 19th century. In 1878, Andrew Lang and William Thoms founded the Folklore Society in London, with the aim of promoting debates on folkloric issues. Dissatisfied with existing definitions, the association initiated new discussions about the meaning and scope of the term "folklore." These reflections reached the Americas, where, in 1888, the American Folklore Society was founded. This inspired researchers and folklorists around the world, including in Brazil, to recognize folklore as a legitimate area of knowledge and study.

    The Study of Folklore in Brazil

    Folkloric studies in Brazil have their roots in European intellectual debates of the 19th century. The Modern Art Week of 1922 marked a crucial point in this field in the country. During the event, artists and intellectuals sought in Brazilian folklore the foundation for national art, emphasizing the need to preserve and disseminate popular cultural manifestations. This drove systematic interest in the subject.

    In 1947, following UNESCO recommendations, Renato Almeida founded the National Folklore Commission, centralizing efforts to protect folkloric expressions. Key figures in this movement included Mário de Andrade, Luís da Câmara Cascudo, and Cecília Meireles. The Commission organized important meetings, culminating in the approval of the Brazilian Folklore Charter in 1995, during the VIII Brazilian Folklore Congress in Salvador. This document established guidelines to preserve and promote popular culture as an essential part of Brazilian identity, as we can see in the following excerpt:

"Folklore is the set of cultural creations of a community, based on its traditions expressed individually or collectively, representative of its social identity. The factors identifying folkloric manifestation are: collective acceptance, traditionality, dynamicity, functionality. We emphasize that we understand folklore and popular culture as equivalent, in line with what UNESCO advocates. The expression popular culture will remain in the singular, although understanding that there are as many cultures as there are groups that produce them in specific natural and economic contexts."

Folklore encompasses a rich variety of traditions, beliefs, legends, music, dances, games, crafts, and other knowledge transmitted orally or in practice. These cultural expressions reflect the collective mentality and characteristic customs of each region. Often called the "unwritten history" of a people, folklore represents an invaluable intangible cultural heritage. Recognizing its significance, the 1988 Federal Constitution ensures its legal protection.

Art. 216. Brazilian cultural heritage consists of material and immaterial assets, taken individually or as a whole, which bear reference to the identity, action, and memory of the different groups that form Brazilian society, including:I - forms of expression;II - ways of creating, making, and living;III - scientific, artistic, and technological creations;IV - works, objects, documents, buildings, and other spaces intended for artistic-cultural manifestations;V - urban complexes and sites of historical, landscape, artistic, archaeological, paleontological, ecological, and scientific value.Therefore, beliefs, legends, traditions, and customs are immaterial assets that compose cultural heritage, legally protected by the cited constitutional text. These are diffuse immaterial assets for common use by the people and can be protected by public civil action (Law 4.3/85).Folklore includes mythology, beliefs, legends, revelries, regional dances, popular songs, popular customs, popular stories, popular religiosity, typical language of a region, popular medicine, crafts, among others.

In 2003, the National Center for Folklore and Popular Culture (CNFCP) became part of the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan). Its structure houses: the Edison Carneiro Folklore Museum, the Amadeu Amaral Library, and the Research and Cultural Diffusion sectors, in addition to the administrative area.

Creation of Folklore Day

In 1965, President Humberto Castello Branco officially established August 22 as Folklore Day in Brazil, a date that celebrates the cultural expressions of the people. This date was chosen to honor the day when English writer William John Thoms coined the term "folklore" in 1846 to describe popular cultural manifestations.

The preservation of Brazilian folklore involves various actions aimed at valuing and promoting cultural manifestations and popular traditions, as well as protecting cultural heritage. These actions include:

  • Holding folkloric festivals and celebrations: These promote and value traditions and popular culture.
  • Education and awareness: It is essential to educate the population about the importance of cultural heritage and its preservation for future generations.
  • Protection of historical and cultural heritage: This includes museums, libraries, archives, and research centers dedicated to folkloric manifestations.

Brazilian folklore constitutes a valuable cultural heritage, representing the traditions and history of the diverse peoples that form Brazil. Folkloric manifestations, rich in culture, strengthen national identity. Therefore, their preservation and appreciation are fundamental to keeping the country's memory and cultural diversity alive.

References

  • ALMEIDA, Renato. Folclore. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização brasileira, 1976.
  • AZEVEDO, Ricardo. Armazém do folclore. São Paulo: Ática, 2000.
  • BRASIL, Constituição da República Federativa: promulgada em 5 de outubro de 1988/
  • CAGLIARI, Luis Carlos. Alfabetizando sem o bá-bé-bi-bó-bu. São Paulo: Ática, 1999.
  • CASCUDO, Luis da Câmara. Dicionário do folclore brasileiro. 10°. Ed. São Paulo: Editora Global, 2001.
  • BRANDÃO, C.R. O que é folclore. São Paulo: Editora Brasiliense, 2000.
  • FERNANDES, F. O folclore em questão. 2.ed. São Paulo: Martins Fontes, 2003.
  • IPHAN. Carta do folclore brasileiro. Salvador: CNF. Rio de Janeiro, 1951. Available at: https://www.gov.br/iphan/pt-br/unidades-especiais/centro-nacional-de-folclore-e-cultura-popular/CartadoFolcloreBrasileiro1951.pdf. Accessed: Nov 8, 2024.
  • IPHAN. O Centro Nacional de Folclore e Cultura Popular comemora 50 anos. Available at: http://portal.iphan.gov.br/noticias/detalhes/2079/o-centro-nacional-de-folclore-e-cultura-popular-comemora-50-anos Accessed: Nov 8, 2024.
  • IPHAN. Constituição da República Federativa: promulgada em 5 de outubro de 1988. Available at: http://portal.iphan.gov.br/uploads/legislacao/constituicao_federal_art_216.pdf. Accessed: Nov 8, 2024
  • NAKAMURA, A.L. Evolução do conceito de folclore. Anuário do 38º. Festival do Folclorede Olímpia (SP), 2002.