Yule Know When You See it
What is Folklore?
Folklore is defined as the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth, however this definition doesn't do it the proper justice. Sims and Stephen provide a more nuanced explanation of the word claiming it be almost impossible to define succinctly.
Folklore goes much deeper than a simply a repeated song and dance, part of folklore is why a tradition is even done in the first place. "The discipline of folklore has evolved in a way of thinking about how people learn, share knowledge, and form their identity" (Sims and Steven 2011, 3). Holidays and rituals weren't created out of boredom, they have purpose and intent behind them. For Yule, it is a celebration of rebirth and renewal.
Traditions tend to be the backbone of many culture's folklore. "Tradition refers to an interpretive process that embodies both continuity and discontinuity." (Handler and Linnekin, 1984). This can be seen in the reason for Yule celebrations as well as many other folklore groups. Traditions are subject to influence and have the unique characteristic of being able to be both "new" and "old."