22nd August: World Folklore Day

World Folklore Day is celebrated every year on August 22nd. It was established in 1960 by UNESCO, with the aim of promoting and presenting the cultural diversity and folkloric traditions of different communities around the world.

Folklore encompasses a wide range of cultural expressions, such as stories, legends, dances, music, crafts, customs and festivals. These manifestations are passed from generation to generation and reflect the identity, values and beliefs of a people or community.

Expressions of folklore

The main expressions of folklore are the following:

– Material: referring to the physical objects that identify a culture, such as crafts, works of art, architecture.

– Verbal: related to the sayings, expressions, fables, stories told and songs transmitted generationally.

– Customs: stipulated by clothing, culinary habits, leisure activities and popular art.

Each country celebrates this world day in different ways, although the essence is the same: to exalt and preserve the traditions and customs of each people and nation.

Veracruz folklore

The folklore of Veracruz is a rich and diverse cultural expression that represents the identity and tradition of the State of Veracruz, located in the eastern region of Mexico. Veracruz folklore encompasses a wide range of artistic and musical manifestations, dances and festivities that reflect the history, beliefs and customs of its people. Some outstanding elements of Veracruz folklore are:

Son jarocho: Veracruz’s most emblematic traditional music is the son jarocho, a musical genre that combines instruments such as the harp, the jarana (a small wooden guitar) and the leona (a deeper-sounding guitar).

Folkloric dance: Veracruz has a great variety of folkloric dances, each with its own meaning and symbolism. Some of the best known are the dances of the negritos, the dance of the devils, the dance of the parachicos and the dance of the voladores, among others.

The celebration of World Folklore Day is an invitation for people to become interested in the traditions and cultural expressions of their own countries and other parts of the world. By valuing and preserving folklore, we contribute to enrich the cultural heritage of humanity and promote diversity and respect for cultural differences.