Customer Reviews

Le folklore français (coffret de 4 volumes)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those who read French, this four-volume masterpiece is the most comprehensive work on the folklore of France. Even though it is classed as currently unavailable, I was pleasantly surprised that my Amazon password gives instant access to Amazon France, Amazon Germany or any other branch that may be more likely to stock a paticular title. This major work is in total 3,099 pages!! It is an indispenable tool for any library or for scholars interested in comparative folklore. It contains an excellent record of the disctinct regional versions/forms of every single tradition and also provides the different local dialect names for the various customs. While there are no indeces, the analytical references to the customs are fully annotated with rich footnotes. The first volume deals with rites of passage: customs associated with birth, christening, childhood, adolescence, engagement, weddings, post-wedding rituals such as the 'charivari' and mourning customs. This volume also describes carnival customs, the period of Lent and traditions connected with Holy Week (from Palm Sunday to Easter). The second volume pertains to May day celebrations and festivities that took place on St. John's day (24th June). There are also descriptions of many fascinating agricultural customs of the summer and the autumn. The third volume is rich in Christmas material. Even though the period of Advent is not mentioned, there are interesting descriptions of the various gift-bringers, eg. Le Pere Noel, the Christmas log, festive food, the Christmas tree, Christmas songs and carols, magical rituals and customs connected with Boxing Day. There are also detailed descriptions of New Year customs (it is on New Year's day that the French exchange 'etrennes'[with an acute accent on the first 'e'] which are New Year's gifts). There is also interesting material related to Epiphany or 'Les Rois'(i.e.'The Kings'). This volume is supplemented by some miscellaneous essays about different folklore subjects. The fourth volume constitutes a bibliography which is arranged both regionally and thematically. It also includes a list of the author's major works. This is the ultimate work in French folklore by the most distinguished scholar.