Superstitions, Legends & Folklore Introduction

Scholars define folklore as the body of traditional customs, beliefs, tales, songs and the like that are transmitted by word of mouth from one generation of a small society to the next.

The wisdom, imagination, and spirit of the common people that shine through all our lore, inspired these customs and superstitions of our country.

Americans, more than most other people, have always sought a sense of identity.
Among nations whose origins go back thousands of years, the search for identity is not difficult. But to us it is, for we are a society composed of many national backgrounds, many languages and many customs.
Some American families have been here only a few years. Except for Native Americans, none have been here for much more than three centuries.
Unfortunately, America is too young a country, and its inhabitants too diverse in character and too much on the move, for a folk tradition of the Old World type to have grown up.

These superstitions, legends and folklore are those that our ancestors brought with them from other countries, and they have told and retold these stories, and that made them thrive. That is how folklore, superstitions and legends come to be!