European folklore
Old World legends
European folklore encompasses the traditional beliefs, customs, stories, and practices passed down through generations across Europe's diverse cultures.
This includes fairy tales, legends, superstitions, folk medicine, seasonal rituals, and mythical creatures like fairies, trolls, and vampires.
Much of what's now called "folklore" was simply how people understood the world before modern science: The villagers still observed the old European folklore traditions at midsummer.
Regional variations are vast—Scandinavian, Celtic, Slavic, and Mediterranean traditions differ markedly while sharing certain motifs.
- Snow WhiteGrimm's fairest maiden
- magic mirrorSupernatural reflective surface
- evil stepmotherHostile second wife to father
- RapunzelLong-locked captive
- CinderellaRags-to-riches heroine
Sleeping Beauty · enchanted castle · Little Red Riding Hood · Brothers Grimm · Odin · Wassailing · Freya · Fenrir · Baba Yaga · flying broomstick · William Tell · Vlad the Impaler · Loki · Rumpelstiltskin · three wishes · Lady Godiva · Thor · Wild Hunt
- Folklore Bookstrickster tales, animal fables
- Andersen TalesThe Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina, The Wild Swans, The Nightingale
European folkloreAfrican folklore
Traditional narratives from Africa
Chinese folklore · Japanese folklore · Middle Eastern folklore · Aztec mythology · Arabian folklore