A common question we hear is “What’s the difference between folklore and fairytales?” Well, family, all fairytales are folklore, but not all fairytales are folklore.
“Folklore” encompasses a broad range of stories passed down by particular groups of people, whether those people are Irish, the children of a neighborhood, or even folks online.
“Fairytales” are also stories particular groups might share, but with the addition of magical or supernatural elements and frequently containing a Happily Ever After (HEA).
Some examples:
Folklore: A white van cruises the streets of Chicago late at night, snatching up all children that are out past dark and are unattended.
Fairytale: With the help of her fairy godmother, Cinderella, a mistreated woman, is able to attend a prince’s ball in disguise and ultimately win his heart.