Chapter 2 Reflection Question

Chapter 2 of Living Folklore discusses the true nature of folk groups. Just like folklore, there exists no universal definition of folk groups. This book simply defines a folk group as any two or more people that share a common folk. Each folk group portrays the many genres of folklore that have been previously discussed in this book as well as in class. The most important folk group in my life is definitely that of family. My family is the single most important thing in my life, and as I begin to understand folklore more and more, I can begin to truly understand the roots and make-up of my own family. My family raised me with certain morals and traditions that make us different from any other folk group. Chapter 2 also says that to be a member of a folk group you must possess special knowledge of its language, behavior and rules. This does not mean that you have to pass a test to get into a folk group, but rather emphasizes that folk groups are based around people with the same interests, traditions, rituals, and much more. For my family, we have many traditions that I have practiced for my whole life that define my family as a folk group. Every year at Christmas my grandmother takes the honor of giving out the first present which is always a Christmas ornament that she has hand selected to give to each child to hang on the Christmas tree. The second most important folk group in my life consists of the people in my social life. Ever since my first day of school in kindergarten, I have been associating myself with people who have similar interests and beliefs as I do. Whether it has been kids I play sports with, kids who laugh at immature jokes as I always have, or just kids who have been labeled into the same groups as me…my whole life can be told in chapters of folk groups I have either been placed in or have placed myself in. I think that folk groups are an essential part of life. No matter who you are or what you see yourself as, human nature always tends to link ourselves into groups with people just like me. I think that going through life with people like yourself makes everything more enjoyable and is essential to living. Chapter 2 closes by saying that it is only within groups that folklore has meaning. Groups bring folklore to life and, in a way, make everything worth while. This entry is my response to the Chapter 2 reflection question.