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EveryJaadu

Folk and village custom: magic in this belief world

Rural and household beliefs that belong to no single organised religion.

Folk and village custom is the large body of belief and practice that belongs to no organised religion: the charm against the evil eye, the cure for warts, the fairy hawthorn, the household spirit, the lucky day. It is passed within families and communities and exists in every society. This page looks at how it is kept, who keeps it, and why it is both valued and dismissed. It is also called popular religion, vernacular religion or lived religion by scholars.

Keepers and settings

Keepers are often older women, farmers, midwives, shepherds and craftsmen. Settings are the house, field, well, crossroads and church porch. European cunning folk offered help for fees and kept charms and books. In many Asian and African villages the specialist is a healer, a diviner or a spirit medium working beside religion. The same grandmother may light a candle at church, tie a thread on a child and say a charm for a burn, and see no conflict between them.

Names and labels

The same thing carries many names: the evil eye is the nazar, mal de ojo and ayin hara. Folklorists collected such customs from the nineteenth century, sometimes as relics of a vanished past and sometimes as living culture. The label folk also marks class, since the term often implies rural, poor or uneducated, a bias that modern scholars try to avoid. Where the village has a wise woman or a bone-setter, the community knows what to ask of her and what she will refuse to do.

Religion, state and reform

Churches, mosques and temples have absorbed, tolerated and condemned folk practice in turn. States have banned it as backward: Chinese campaigns against superstition in the twentieth century closed local temples and shrines, and Soviet policy targeted village healers. At times governments have turned to it as national heritage, as in revived festivals across Europe and Asia. Historians and folklorists note that it often keeps old customs alive within newer religions, such as lighting fires at midsummer within Christian saints' days.

Change and commerce

Urban life and migration thin out folk knowledge, while heritage projects and the internet gather it. Customs reappear as products, such as protective charms in shops and festival tourism. Some folk practice carries harm: village accusation of witchcraft, treatments that delay medical care, and fees charged to relieve fear. Illness needs real medical care. In places with active heritage movements, folk custom has become a source of pride, and young people record songs and cures from grandparents before they are lost.

Folk and village custom on EveryJaadu

The entries written up so far, best known first.

RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
KindTraditionRiteCharmOracleSubstanceBeingFigureTextIllusionBelief
PurposeProtectionHealingSeeing and foretellingLuck and prosperityLove and attractionCursing and harmCleansing and purificationSpeaking with spirits and the deadChange and initiationBinding and oathsPower and authorityWonder and entertainment
WhoShamansFolk healersPriests and ritual specialistsWitches, sorcerers and cunning folkDiviners and readersMediums and the possessedCeremonial magicians and alchemistsHouseholds and ordinary peopleStage magiciansScholars and sceptics
OccasionWeddings and betrothalFestivalsBirth and childhoodDeath and remembranceHarvest, farming and weatherNew yearInitiation and coming of ageIllness and misfortuneJourneys and voyagesEveryday use
StandingLivingRevivedFadingHistoricalLegendaryPerformed
OrderBest knownA to ZNewestLiving first
馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandMerrowmur煤ch A sea creature from Irish folklore, known for its magical cap and singing voice.Figure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary 馃嚝馃嚪 France and 3 moreLes Lavandi猫resKannerez-Noz Supernatural washerwomen who wash shrouds or bloodstained clothes for those about to die.Being 路 Seeing and foretelling Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomBoobrie A shapeshifting loch monster from Scottish folklore that preys on livestock and horses.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚪馃嚭 RussiaShishiga褕懈褕懈谐邪 A female swamp spirit of Russian and Komi folklore that brings misfortune and death.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden and 1 moreSkogsr氓 A forest spirit in Swedish folklore who appears as a beautiful woman but hides a hollow back and animal feet.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaZ芒n膬 A Romanian woodland spirit linked to Diana that guides travelers and blesses children.Being 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚪馃嚫 SerbiaCikavac褑懈泻邪胁邪褑 A winged creature from Serbian folklore that fetches honey and milk for its ownerBeing 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Power and authority Legendary 馃嚠馃嚬 ItalyAnguane Cloven-footed water nymphs from Northern Italian folklore who nurse infants with their backs.Being 路 Love and attraction 路 Healing Legendary 馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaC膬pc膬un A Romanian ogre with a dog head known for kidnapping children and eating peopleBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚪馃嚭 Russia and 1 moreLikhoradka袥懈褏芯褉邪写泻邪 A fever spirit in Slavic myth who brings illness and sicknessBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚠馃嚬 ItalyMonacielloMunaciello A Neapolitan sprite linked to the city's underground waterways and hidden wealth.Figure 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenAskafroa A Scandinavian tree spirit believed to guard the ash and demand appeasement.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Protection Legendary 馃嚠馃嚬 ItalySquasc A small, tawny creature from Eastern Lombardy folklore that frightens children and plays jokes on young girlsBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary 馃嚪馃嚭 Russia and 2 moreSupernatural beings in Slavic religion Mythic entities of nature, death, and fate in Slavic folklore and belief.Being 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚝馃嚪 France and 1 moreDames Blanches Spectral women in French folklore who demand dances or warn of dangerBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Protection Legendary 馃嚘馃嚤 AlbaniaXhindi Invisible spirits in Albanian mythology that appear at night and may help or harm.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Power and authority Legendary 馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandSleih beggey Manx fairies and little people of the Isle of ManBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚪馃嚭 RussiaMeduza袦械写褍蟹邪 A Russian mythic figure with a woman's head and a serpent body, linked to trickery.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomTom Thumb A tiny English folk hero who outwits giants and serves King ArthurFigure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary 馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 3 moreSalige Frau A blissful Alpine spirit who guides farmers and guards mountain gameFigure 路 Protection 路 Healing Legendary 馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandDeath coachc贸iste bodhar A spectral carriage that signals an unavoidable death in European folkloreBelief 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚪馃嚫 Serbia and 1 moreVampire pumpkins and watermelons A Balkan folk tale about ground fruit that turns into vampires.Belief 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚠馃嚜 IrelandChildren of LirOidheadh chloinne Lir An Irish myth about four siblings transformed into swans by a jealous stepmotherFigure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary 馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaMuma P膬durii A forest spirit in Romania who protects nature and punishes those who harm itBeing 路 Protection 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚝馃嚠 FinlandAjatar An evil female spirit of Finnish folklore associated with serpents and diseaseFigure 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚛馃嚜 GermanyWitte Wiwer Subterranean spirits of Low German folklore known for music and child exchangeBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚙馃嚞 Bulgaria and 1 moreIspolin懈褋锌芯谢懈薪 A legendary giant from Bulgarian folklore, said to be the second generation of Earth's inhabitants.Figure Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomCeffyl D诺r A Welsh water spirit that takes the form of a horse to test or harm travellers.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomJoan the Wad A Cornish pixie queen linked to fire and fortuneFigure 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Protection Legendary 馃嚪馃嚧 RomaniaS芒ntoaderi Supernatural beings in Romanian folklore known for causing illness through music and danceBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚚馃嚦 China and 3 moreSwan maiden A folk motif where a man steals a bird-woman's feather cloak to force marriage.Figure 路 Love and attraction 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenYs盲tters-Kajsa A wind-troll from Swedish folklore who danced with the gales of N盲rkeFigure 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomBluecap A blue flame spirit of English mines that guides miners and warns of dangerBeing 路 Seeing and foretelling 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenVittra A forest spirit from northern Sweden linked to livestock and seductionBeing 路 Cursing and harm 路 Love and attraction Legendary 馃嚜馃嚫 SpainXana A water spirit of Asturian myth who offers treasures or madness to those who hear her song.Being 路 Luck and prosperity 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenKnights of 脜lleberg Swedish ghost story about sleeping warriors in a mountainFigure 路 Power and authority Legendary 馃嚘馃嚤 AlbaniaKukudh An undead revenant from Albanian folklore that haunts houses and spreads sickness.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚠馃嚜 Ireland and 5 moreFiddler's Green A maritime afterlife of endless music and rest for veteran sailorsBelief 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomGwragedd Annwngwraig Annwn Welsh lake fairies linked to the origin of black cattle and the Tylwyth TegBeing Legendary 馃嚟馃嚭 HungaryLid茅rc A shape-shifting spirit from Hungarian folklore that brings wealth or illness.Being 路 Cursing and harm 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚝馃嚪 FranceFarfadet Small helpful spirits of French folklore that perform chores for foodBeing 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚨馃嚤 Poland and 1 morePan Twardowski A Polish sorcerer who bargained with the Devil and ended up on the MoonFigure 路 Power and authority Legendary 馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomMaggy Moulach A Scottish brownie known for her hair and fierce protection of her kinBeing 路 Power and authority 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚜馃嚫 SpainGuajona A blood-sucking hag from Cantabrian and Asturian legendBeing 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenSj枚r氓 A Swedish lake spirit that rewards kindness and drowns the disrespectfulBeing 路 Protection 路 Luck and prosperity Legendary 馃嚪馃嚫 SerbiaBauk袘邪褍泻 A bear-like creature from Serbian folklore that lurks in the dark.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary 馃嚪馃嚭 Russia and 1 moreKuma Lisa袣褍屑邪 袥懈褋邪 A trickster fox from Slavic folklore who outwits other animalsFigure 路 Wonder and entertainment Legendary 馃嚛馃嚜 Germany and 1 moreAufhocker A German folklore spirit that leaps on travelers and weighs them down.Being 路 Cursing and harm Legendary
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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Every Monday: seven entries you may not know, what is on the calendar this week, and one rite drawn step by step.