Some Stray Folklore Notes

This article uses ideas developed in the philosophy of science to examine two concepts of culture used in contemporary folkloristics. One of them appears mainly in the context of archival work, while the other occurs chiefly in discussions on themes such as identity politics and ethnic minorities. The main difference between the two concepts is that one is used when formulating ‘substantial theories’ related to ‘kinds’, whereas the other is a bone of contention in ongoing debates on the level of ‘grand theories’. Theoretical tools developed in earlier cultural research are taken into use in contemporary cultural movements, and this affects theoretical debates on the level of grand theories.     

Some Notes on Homeric Folk-Lore

SHAMANISM IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. By WILLARD Z. PARK. Northwestern University Studies in the Social Sciences, No. 2. Evanston and Chicago. 1938. 166 pages. Reviewed by John Layard.

SOME FORMER CAMBRIDGESHIRE AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS. By R. C. LAMBETH. Published by the Cambridge and County Folk Museum. 1s. Reviewed by L. F. Newman.

HOLY WELLS IN DERBYSHIRE. Reviewed by P. B. G. Binnall.     

Some Notes from North-Western India

The Aborigines of Tasmania. By H. Ling Roth. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Halifax: F. King &; Sons. 1899. 21s. nett. By A. C. Haddon.

Archæological Report, 1898: being part of Appendix to the Report of the Minister of Education, Ontario. Printed by order of the Legislative Assembly. Toronto: Warwick Brothers &; Rutter, 1898. By E. Sidney Hartland.

Archæological Report, 1899: being part of Appendix to the Report of the Minister of Education, Ontario. Printed by order of the Legislative Assembly. Toronto: Warwick Brothers &; Rutter, 1900. By. Sidney Hartland.

The Saga of King Sverri of Norway. Translated by J. Sephton, M.A. London: D. Nutt. 1899. (Northern Library, Vol. IV.). By W. A. Craigie.

Studies on Biblical Subjects, No. II. Jacob at Bethel : The Vision—The Stone—The Anointing. By A. Smythe Palmer, D.D. London: David Nutt. 1899. By A. H. Sayce.

The Homeric Hymns. A New Prose Translation, and Essays, Literary and Mythological. By Andrew Lang. With illustrations. George Allen.

Dr. M. Rosenfeld : Der Midrasch Deuteronomium Rabba, Par. IX. und XI. 2-10, ueber den Tod Moses. Berlin, 1899. By M. Gaster.

Die Krankheit im Volksglauben des Simmenthals. Ein Beitrag zur Ethnogrâphie des Berner Oberlandes. Von Dr. Hans Zahler. Bern: Hallersche Buchdruckerei. 1898. (Arbeiten aus dem Geographischem Institut der Universität Bern. Heft IV.)

Rügensche Skizzen. Herausgegeben von Dr. A. Haas. Greifswald, Julius Abel, 1898. By E. Sidney Hartland.

Naturgeschichtliche Volksmaerchen aus nah und fern. Gesammelt von Oskar Daenhardt. Leipzig, 1898.By Mabel Peacock.

Literatura Kulturne-historická a ethnografická. 1897-8. I. By Cenke Zibrt. (Reprinted from the “Cesky Lid.”)

Merry Suffolk, Master Archie, and other Tales : a Book of Folklore. By Lois A. Fison. With which is included “Tom Tit Tot” and Sequel, by Mrs. Walter Thomas. London: Jarrold &; Sons. 1899. By E. Sidney Hartland.

American Indians. By Frederick Starr. Boston: D. C Heath &; Co. 1899. By E. Sidney Hartland.

The Races of Man : an Outline of Anthropology and Ethnography. By J. Deniker, Sc D. (Paris). London : Walter Scott, Limited. 1900. By. Sidney Hartland.     

Some Notes on the Huculs

Salpassa denotes the blessing of houses, land, and other belongings, carried out during Easter week and Resurrection (Easter) Sunday in the Valencia–Catalonia linguistic region of north-eastern Spain. Although it is now remembered mostly as a consecrating ceremony or a religious rite, recent field research has shown that a playful element, carried out by children through their songs and other activities, was also an important aspect of the traditional Salpassa.     

Introductory statement

Introductory statement