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Native American cultures are rich in myths and legends that explain natural phenomena and the relationship between humans and the spirit world. According to Barre Toelken, feathers, beadwork, dance steps and music, the events in a story, the shape of a dwelling, or items of traditional food can be viewed as icons of cultural meaning.
American mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to America's most legendary stories and folktale, dating back to the late 1700s when the first colonists settled. "American mythology" may also refer to the modern study of these representations, and to the subject matter as represented in the literature and art of other cultures ...
There are numerous different mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of South America. [50] Brazilian mythology – the subset of Brazilian folklore with cultural elements of diverse origin found in Brazil, comprising folk tales, traditions, characters and beliefs regarding places, peoples, and entities.
Folklore lets people escape from repressions imposed upon them by society. Folklore validates culture, justifying its rituals and institutions to those who perform and observe them. Folklore is a pedagogic device which reinforces morals and values and builds wit. Folklore is a means of applying social pressure and exercising social control.
Today, North America hosts a diverse array of beliefs about witchcraft. [1] [2] Indigenous communities such as the Cherokee, [3] Hopi, [4] the Navajo [5] among others, [6] included in their folklore and beliefs malevolent figures who could harm their communities, often resulting in severe punishments, including death. [7]
Folklore is the expressive body of culture shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture, or group. These include oral traditions such as tales , proverbs and jokes .
Supernatural animals, often hybrids, sometimes part human, whose existence has not or cannot be proved and that are described in folklore, but also in historical accounts written before history became a science. For fictional creatures of the United States created with sardonic intent, see Category:Fearsome critters.
The haunted highway is a recurring theme in many folklore tales from all over the globe. One of the best examples from the United States of America is Clinton Road in New Jersey, [51] but there are many others. [52] In more rural areas the haunted highway will take on the form of a haunted street, road, or even trails. [53]