The Importance of Folk Tales

        Folktales have been shared in every society to entertain, educate, and preserve culture. As emphasized in UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), folktales play an invaluable role, along with other cultural traditions, in bringing people closer together and “ensuring exchange and understanding among them.” As globalization and social transformation demand renewed dialogue among communities, educators and artists are more motivated to protect and promote oral traditions and related cultural heritage. ( Dr Hae-ri Kim, The Role of Folk Tales Today) 

Here are ways in which folk tales are different from contemporary literature:

        First, folktales transcend the generations of people who passed on these stories. The original tales were transmitted orally from storyteller to storyteller and were eventually written down. Folktales continue to evolve, and are shaped according to the conditions of the times. Therefore, folktales never cease to be relevant even today and will remain so in the future. Moreover, the indigenous knowledge and wisdom found in the folktales keep us connected to our traditions and indeed help shape our culture. 

        Second, folktales take place long ago in a faraway place. Talking animals, giants and fairies, prince and princesses, as well as peasants and ordinary folks are featured characters that give life to stories. Through folktales, children are given a glimpse into a world where fantasy and reality meet. 

        Third, folktales have obvious and recurrent themes. Goodness is always rewarded, heroes and heroines live happily ever after, while villains are suitably punished. Throughout the generations, the story may change, but its core message remains the same. We, teachers and parents, do not need to try to teach values explicitly. Instead, we just tell tales, thus maintaining folktales as a tool to educate children on how to live with integrity and peacefully with others. 

        Fourth, folktales reflect society’s attempt to give form and shape to its hopes and fears, and answers to its questions. Folktales provide order to seemingly random experiences, as well as express the culture’s belief system. Today, many of these old tales are regarded as flights of fancy, but they live on because they capture our sense of wonder and aspirations. Moreover, we recognize their visions which are often more powerful than the explanations science provides. 

        Fifth, folktales allow children to experience adventures they cannot attain in real life. For example, when heroes from folktales are facing monsters, giants, dragons, and other evil forces, the stories impart courage and wisdom in overcoming problems. Folktales may sometimes frighten children, but at the same time the stories excite and then comfort them. 

        Finally, the language of folktales is an important part of children’s literary heritage. Because of the oral tradition, the language in a folktale is musical, rhythmic and melodic. In addition, the characters’ direct dialogue punctuated with quick action excites readers’ and listeners’ interest. By listening to and reading these tales, children acquire language. Moreover, folktales provide them with writing models. 

( Dr Hae-ri Kim, The Role of Folk Tales Today) 

Attached is an example of a Philippine Folk Tale: The Sun and the Moon - a Mandaya folk tale from Mindanao