Chapter II russian folklore: forms of russian folklore

CHAPTER II RUSSIAN FOLKLORE: FORMS OF RUSSIAN FOLKLORE
2.1 Types of Russian folklore
The existence of Russian folktales as early as the 12th century suggests that they existed for some time prior to that. However, the Church's suppression of non-Christian narratives is largely to blame for the dearth of early folktale content today. According to Bogdan Bronitsyn's "Russian Folk Tales" (1838), a compilation of authentic Russian folktales was first published in the 19th century. Telling folktales was strictly forbidden at least as early as the 12th century, and in some cases, transgression resulted in death. In the latter half of the 20th century, around the 1960s, the study of folklore gained particular popularity.
Russian folklore is a rich and diverse tradition that has been passed down for generations. It includes a wide variety of stories, songs, and beliefs that reflect the culture, history, and identity of the Russian people. In this article, we explore the different types and forms of Russian folklore and highlight some of the most important works in this genre.
Fairy Tales:
Fairy Tales are the most popular and well-known types of Russian folklore. They are stories of magical creatures, fantastic adventures, and triumph over evil. Popular and well-known fairy tales include The Firebird, The Snow Maiden, and Vasilisa the Beautiful.
Legends:
Legends are stories that are based on real-life events or people, but often include supernatural or mystical elements. Russian legends often feature historical figures such as Ivan the Terrible or Rasputin. They may also include supernatural creatures such as ghosts or spirits.
Epics:
Epics are long narrative poems that recount the heroic deeds of legendary figures. In Russia, there are several epic poems, including the Tale of Igor's Campaign and the Lay of the Host of Igor.
Folk Songs:
Folk songs are another important part of Russian folklore. They are often sung at celebrations and events and reflect the rich musical heritage of Russia. Some popular Russian folk songs include Kalinka and Katyusha.
Forms of Russian Folklore
Oral Tradition:
Russian folklore is primarily an oral tradition, passed down through generations by word of mouth. Stories, songs, and beliefs are often recited or sung at family gatherings or public events.
visual Arts:
Visual arts are another important form of Russian folklore. Traditional handicrafts such as embroidery, painting, and wood carving often depict themes from Russian folk tales.
Performing Arts:
Performing arts, such as theater, dance, and music, are also integral to Russian folklore. Many traditional Russian dances, such as the Troika or the Kazachok, have their roots in folk traditions.
Important Works of Russian Folklore:
The Collected Works of Alexander Afanasyev – Afanasyev was a 19th-century Russian scholar who collected and published several volumes of Russian fairy tales. His works are considered to be among the most important in the genre.
The Tale of Sadko – The Tale of Sadko is an epic poem that tells the story of a musician who travels to the underwater world of the sea king. The poem has been adapted into several operas and ballets.
The Lay of the Host of Igor – The Lay of the Host of Igor is an epic poem that recounts the campaign of Prince Igor against the Polovtsians. The poem is a masterpiece of medieval Russian literature.
Swan Lake – Swan Lake is a ballet that tells the story of a princess who is transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer. The ballet has become one of the most popular and well-known works of Russian folklore.
Russian folklore is a rich and vibrant tradition that has influenced art and literature for centuries. Its stories, songs, and beliefs reflect the unique culture and history of the Russian people, and they continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. Whether through oral tradition, visual arts, or performing arts, the legacy of Russian folklore is one that will endure for generations to come.
There have been a few endeavors to group European fables, and one eminent framework was started by Finnish folklorist Antti Arne, and later created by Leningrad teacher N. P. Andreyev. Themes, plots, characters, and other aspects of the narrative were used to classify the 915 main types of folktales that this system identified. One third of these were found in tales from both Eastern and Western Europe, one third were only found in tales from Western Europe, and one third (296 types) were only found in tales from Eastern Europe.
In the ancient, peasant culture of Russia, magic was primarily divided into two categories: (1) "unclean," or evil, magic and (2) productive, or beneficial, magic The previous is related with Satan, and is for the most part thought to be threatening. The latter either aims to produce good for the user or protects against evil magic. A few wizardry rehearses, for example, divination, which were customarily viewed as useful sorcery, were generally reassigned as messy enchantment by the Christian church once it was in power. The majority of successful magic was "homeopathic," in which a symbolic action was carried out with the intention of evoking a similar response from reality. For instance, a springtime custom of hefting around branches with fake birds (or treats addressing birds on them was remembered to assist with achieving the bird flight related with the approaching of spring. In Moscow, folk magic practices were recorded to have continued as late as 1648.
Rituals associated with holidays Magical rituals are the basis for many of the holiday practices. Caroling at Yuletide and New Year's was originally a way for families to be generous at the beginning of the new year and ensure a prosperous year. Essentially, bounteous devouring and celebrating at Shrovetide was remembered to empower a copious collect. In order to influence the fertility of their livestock on the first night following a wedding, the couple might sometimes place their bed near the animals. Other wedding customs, such as eating eggs, singing off color tunes, and tossing grain over the love birds were initially expected to get fruitfulness and success for the couple in the years to come.
Charms Charms are words that can do a lot of different things. "Sheep's mug, sheep's wool" is one charm that can be used to drive a leshy away [4,12]. In order to ensure the success of a ritual, others might be used to imbue an action with magical power. A common structure for a charm is to say something about an action and what it means so that the person will do it and get the result it promises. One love charm, for instance, begins: I will rise, Ruler's modest worker (name expressed), I will come from the house into the entryway, from the entryway into the door, ..."[4,18] It is normal too for an appeal to conjure God or holy people. An appeal against toothaches peruses:
"Three ways, a tree remains by the street, under the tree a body lies, past the cadaver goes St. Anthony and says: " Why, corpse, do you lie here? Do you have tooth pain? Are your ribs aching? Do worms consume you? "Nothing hurts," "Does the blood flow out of you?" Develop numb you as well, teeth of God's unassuming worker (name expressed), like in a body; Lord, make him stronger than a stone. "[4,30]
One of the most established kept references to Russian charms lies in the Russian Account, dating to the tenth hundred years.