Folklore Day – August 22, 2024

History of Folklore Day

The term ‘folklore’ was first coined on August 22, 1846, when William John Thoms combined the words ‘folk’ and ‘lore.’ He defined the word as the “traditional knowledge of a people.” Because of this, countries worldwide chose to celebrate their folklore and folk traditions on August 22 every year.

The Brazilian Folklore Day was established through a decree in 1965 by then military leader Humberto de Alencar Castello Branco. The decree placed immense importance on the teaching of folklore to the country’s culture. Thus, Folklore Day was established as a means to preserve the cultural traditions of the Latin American country and encourage Brazilian folklore as a subject of study. Folklore is considered a topic of great importance within the education sphere, especially in a child’s early years of schooling.

On this day, the people of Brazil remember aspects of their folklore, ranging from dance to characters. The traditional legends of Brazilian folklore include the ‘Saci’ and the ‘Curupira.’ Brazilian folklore is a rich tradition that arose from indigenous, African, and Asian peoples’ cultures and a few European influences. The importance of folklore has even been enshrined in the Brazilian constitution. Articles 215 and 216 of the Federal Constitution guard the right of all Brazilians to “exercise cultural manifestations and define that Brazilian popular culture must be encouraged and that its preservation must be defended.”