American folklore

In the armed services, a military cadence or cadence call is a sort of work song: a chant that is sung by military personnel while running or marching. In the United States, these cadences are sometimes called jody calls or jodies, after Jody, a recurring character who figures in some traditional cadences. Requiring no instruments to play, they are counterparts in oral military folklore of the military march. As a sort of work song, military cadences take their rhythms from the work being done (compare sea shanty.) Many cadences have a call and response structure; one soldier in ...

Including:

• Military cadence - History
• Military cadence - Jody calls
• Military cadence - External link

Read more here: » Military cadence: Encyclopedia - Military cadence

The following compendium includes the lesser known Great Old Ones of the Cthulhu mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. Great Old One compendium - Aphoom-Zhah. Aphoom-Zhah (The Cold Flame) debuted in Lin Carter's short story "The Acolyte of the Flame" (1985)[1]—although the being was first mentioned in an earlier tale by Carter, "The Horror in the Gallery" (1976). Aphoom-Zhah is also mentioned in Carter's "The Light fro ...

Including:

• Great Old One compendium - Aphoom-Zhah
• Great Old One compendium - Atlach-Nacha
• Great Old One compendium - Basatan
• Great Old One compendium - Bokrug
• Great Old One compendium - Cynothoglys
• Great Old One compendium - Dweller in the Gulf
• Great Old One compendium - Eihort
• Great Old One compendium - Mnomquah
• Great Old One compendium - Nug and Yeb
• Great Old One compendium - Oorn
• Great Old One compendium - Quachil Uttaus
• Great Old One compendium - Rlim Shaikorth
• Great Old One compendium - Tharapithia
• Great Old One compendium - Vulthoom
• Great Old One compendium - Vulthoom short story
• Great Old One compendium - The Worm that Gnaws in the Night
• Great Old One compendium - Yibb-Tstll
• Great Old One compendium - Yig
• Great Old One compendium - Zathog
• Great Old One compendium - Zushakon

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The word mythology (from the Greek μυϑολογία mythología, "storytelling" [1]) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. In modern usage, "mythology" is either the body of myths from a particular culture or religion (as in Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology or Norse mythology) or the ...

Including:

• Mythology - Definition
• Mythology - Religion and mythology
• Mythology - Classifications
• Mythology - Related concepts
• Mythology - Formation of myths
• Mythology - Myths as depictions of historical events
• Mythology - Other theories
• Mythology - Modern mythology
• Mythology - Myths by region
• Mythology - Africa
• Mythology - Asia non-Middle East
• Mythology - Australia and Oceania
• Mythology - Europe
• Mythology - Middle East
• Mythology - North America
• Mythology - South America and Mesoamerica
• Mythology - Mythological archetypes
• Mythology - Mythological creatures
• Mythology - Books on mythology

Read more here: » Mythology: Encyclopedia - Mythology

Folklore is the body of verbal expressive culture, including tales, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs current among a particular population, comprising the oral tradition of that culture, subculture, or group. The academic and usually ethnographic study of folklore is known as folkloristics. Folklore - History. The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological goals; on ...

Including:

• Folklore - History
• Folklore - The study of folklore
• Folklore - Categories of folklore
• Folklore - Other usages
• Folklore - For further reading

Read more here: » Folklore: Encyclopedia - Folklore

cat yronwode (born Catherine Manfredi in San Francisco, May 12, 1947 - ) is a writer and editor notable for her extensive career in comic books, in particular for her role as an editor for Kitchen Sink Press and the now-defunct Eclipse Comics company; she now works for Claypool Comics. She invented the name "yronwode" in 1969; it is pronounced "Ironwood". yronwode is also notable in the history of Usenet, for having been directly responsible for the closing of the University of Texas's mail-to-news gateway.

Including:

• Cat yronwode - External site

Read more here: » Cat yronwode: Encyclopedia - Cat yronwode

Patent medicine is the term given to various medical compounds sold under a variety of names and labels, though they were for the most part actually trademarked medicines, not patented. In ancient times, such medicine was called nostrum remedium, "our remedy" in Latin, hence the name "nostrum"; it is a medicine whose efficacy is questionable and whose ingredients are usually kept secret. The name patent medicine has become particularly associated with the sale of drug compounds in the nineteenth century under cover of colourful ...

Including:

• Patent medicine - Patent medicines and advertising
• Patent medicine - Ingredients and their uses
• Patent medicine - What was in them?
• Patent medicine - What did they claim to be good for?
• Patent medicine - What did they actually contain?
• Patent medicine - The end of the patent medicine era
• Patent medicine - Surviving consumer products from the patent medicine era
• Patent medicine - Products no longer sold under medicinal claims

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Champ or Champy is the name given to a reputed lake monster living in Lake Champlain. The creature's existence has never been scientifically verified. Some people believe that Champ is legend, while others believe that perhaps some unknown species of creature does live deep in the lake. The state government of Vermont has put Champ on its Endangered Species List, so that, if an unknown water animal is present, it will be protected by law. Champ has a famous photo (like the Surgeon's photo) of a plesiosa ...

Including:

• Champ legend - External link

Read more here: » Champ legend: Encyclopedia - Champ legend

In the study of mythology, folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, human hero or anthropomorphic animal who breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously (for example, Loki) but usually with ultimately positive effects. Often, the rule-breaking takes the form of tricks (eg. Eris) or thievery. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often very funny even when considere ...

Including:

• Trickster - Tricksters
• Trickster - Modern day tricksters

Read more here: » Trickster: Encyclopedia - Trickster

Mojo (pronounced: 'mO-"jO) originated as a term with a specific meaning, but in the late 20th century became a very fluid term with many different meanings. It originated as a reference to a type of magic charm. The word traces its origins to Africa and entered the English language in the late 19th century or early 20th century through use by African Americans. It reflects the belief, common in many cultures, that some people have the ability to influence others to their ...

Read more here: » Mojo: Encyclopedia - Mojo

In order to consider mythology, it is first necessary to consider what is meant by the term myth. Myths are generally narratives passed down traditionally intended to explain the universal and local beginnings ("creation myths" and "founding myths"), natural phenomena, inexplicable cultural conventions, and anything else for which no simple explanation presents itself. Not all myths need have this explicatory purpose, however. Myths are by definition sacred and usually involve a supernatural force or deity. Many legends and narratives passed down orally from gener ...

See also:

Mythology, Mythology - Definition, Mythology - Religion and mythology, Mythology - Classifications, Mythology - Related concepts, Mythology - Formation of myths, Mythology - Myths as depictions of historical events, Mythology - Other theories, Mythology - Modern mythology, Mythology - Myths by region, Mythology - Africa, Mythology - Asia non-Middle East, Mythology - Australia and Oceania, Mythology - Europe, Mythology - Middle East, Mythology - North America, Mythology - South America and Mesoamerica, Mythology - Mythological archetypes, Mythology - Mythological creatures, Mythology - Books on mythology

Read more here: » Mythology: Encyclopedia II - Mythology - Definition

John the Conqueror was supposed to be an African prince who was sold as a slave in the Americas. Despite his enslavement, his spirit was never broken and he survived in folklore as a sort of a trickster figure, because of the tricks he played to evade his masters. Zora Neale Hurston wrote of his adventures ("High John de Conquer") in her collection of folklore, The Sanctified Church. In one traditional John the Conqueror story told by Virginia Hamilton, John falls in love with the Devil's daughter. The Devil sets John a number ...

See also:

John the Conqueror, John the Conqueror - Who is John the Conqueror?, John the Conqueror - What is John the Conquer root?, John the Conqueror - Other herbs related to the legend, John the Conqueror - Blues lyrics, John the Conqueror - External link

Read more here: » John the Conqueror: Encyclopedia II - John the Conqueror - Who is John the Conqueror?

Folklore in Hawaii - Night marchers. According to Hawaiian legend, night marchers (huaka‘i po in Hawaiian) are ghosts of ancient warriors. They supposedly roam large sections of the island chain, and can be seen by groups of torches. They can usually be found in areas that were once large battlefields (the Nuuanu Pali on the island of Oahu is a good example.) Contact with the night marchers is said to result in instantaneous death. However, it is said that they can be fooled if one "plays dead."

See also:

Folklore in Hawaii, Folklore in Hawaii - Ancient Hawaiian folklore, Folklore in Hawaii - Night marchers, Folklore in Hawaii - Carrying pork over the Nuuanu Pali, Folklore in Hawaii - Modern urban legends, Folklore in Hawaii - Morgan's Corner, Folklore in Hawaii - Seven Bridges of Manoa, Folklore in Hawaii - The Kahala Graveyard

Read more here: » Folklore in Hawaii: Encyclopedia II - Folklore in Hawaii - Ancient Hawaiian folklore

The real Holliday was more complex than Wyatt's summary. Holliday may have been quick with a pistol, but his accuracy was not perfect, and in his four known pistol uses in single combat, he shot one opponent in the arm (Billy Allen), one across the scalp (Charles White), and missed one man (a saloon keeper named Charles Austin) entirely. In an incident in Tombstone in 1880, a drunken Holliday managed to shoot Oriental Saloon owner Milt Joyce in the hand, and his bartender Parker in the toe (neither was the original intended target). For this ...

See also:

Doc Holliday, Doc Holliday - Genealogy and Education, Doc Holliday - Health, Doc Holliday - Early Travels and Dentistry, Doc Holliday - The Dedicated Gambler, Doc Holliday - Tombstone Arizona Territory, Doc Holliday - Vendetta, Doc Holliday - Final Illness, Doc Holliday - What Those Who Knew Him Said Of His Character, Doc Holliday - Doc's Record of Violence, Doc Holliday - Doc Holliday Mythology, Doc Holliday - Sources, Doc Holliday - Doc Holliday in Popular Culture

Read more here: » Doc Holliday: Encyclopedia II - Doc Holliday - Doc's Record of Violence

The last days of Hickok's life are a subject of the Deadwood TV series, in which he is portrayed by Keith Carradine. He also appeared as a character in the Dustin Hoffman movie Little Big Man. He also was a model for Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit", and appears as himself in Richard Matheson's novel The Memoirs of Wild Bill Hickock. Hickok was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979. Hickok's supposed death chair is now in a glass case above the saloon entrance, though the saloon itself was moved after the original 10 burned down; the original site is down t ...

See also:

Wild Bill Hickok, Wild Bill Hickok - Trivia

Read more here: » Wild Bill Hickok: Encyclopedia II - Wild Bill Hickok - Trivia

The various rituals suggested by the sources, though they widely differ one from another, share a common element of the uncanny, and the reverse of what is considered good-omened and auspicious. A rabbit is an animal that shapeshifting witches such as Isobel Gowdie claimed to be able to transmogrify themselves into. Witches were said to be active at the times of the full and new moon. Silver bullets, of cour ...

See also:

Rabbit's foot, Rabbit's foot - The left hind foot of a rabbit, Rabbit's foot - A substitute for bones from a human corpse?, Rabbit's foot - A widely available charm, Rabbit's foot - Reference

Read more here: » Rabbit's foot: Encyclopedia II - Rabbit's foot - A substitute for bones from a human corpse?

The trickster deity breaks the rules of the gods or nature, sometimes maliciously (for example, Loki) but usually with ultimately positive effects. Often, the rule-breaking takes the form of tricks (eg. Eris) or thievery. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often very funny even when considered sacred or performing important cultural tasks. In many cultures, (as may be seen in Greek, Norse or Slavic folktales, along with Native American/First Nations lore), the trickster and the culture hero are often combined. To i ...

See also:

Trickster, Trickster - Mythology, Trickster - Tricksters, Trickster - Archetype, Trickster - Modern day tricksters

Read more here: » Trickster: Encyclopedia II - Trickster - Mythology

Geronimo was born on Turkey Creek, a tributary of the Gila River in what is now the state of New Mexico, then part of Mexico, but which his family considered Bedonkohe Apache land. Geronimo himself was a Bedonkohe Apache. He grew up to be a respected medicine man and, later, an accomplished warrior who fought frequently with Mexican troops. Mexican soldiers massacred his first wife and three children during a supposedly peaceful trading session in 1858, and as a result he hated all Mexicans for the rest of his life. His Mexican friends gave ...

See also:

Geronimo, Geronimo - Biography, Geronimo - Geronimo as Medicine Man, Geronimo - Geronimo in popular culture, Geronimo - Bibliography

Read more here: » Geronimo: Encyclopedia II - Geronimo - Biography

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden discovered the body of her father at the home at 92 Second Street in Fall River. She called to the family's maid Bridget Sullivan (who had been resting in her third floor room) to "come downstairs...father is dead...somebody got in and murdered him." After the arrival of family friend Alice Russell and "Dr. Bowen", neighbor Adelaide Churchill asked Lizzie where her mother was. "I don't know," Borden replied, continuing on "but what's she's been killed, too, for I thought I heard her come in." Russell suggeste ...

See also:

Lizzie Borden, Lizzie Borden - Before the murder, Lizzie Borden - The murder and the trial, Lizzie Borden - Later life, Lizzie Borden - Legacy, Lizzie Borden - Artistic depictions, Lizzie Borden - Adoptions of the name

Read more here: » Lizzie Borden: Encyclopedia II - Lizzie Borden - The murder and the trial

A number of books expounding different theories have been written about the crime. These include: Brown, Arnold R. Lizzie Borden: The Legend, the Truth, the Final Chapter. Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 1991. ISBN 1558530991 de Mille, Agnes. Lizzie Borden: A Dance of Death. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1968. Kent, David Forty Whacks: New Evidence in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden. Yankee Books, 1992. ISBN 0899093515 Kent, David The Lizzie Borden Sourcebook. Bost ...

See also:

Lizzie Borden, Lizzie Borden - Before the murder, Lizzie Borden - The murder and the trial, Lizzie Borden - Public reaction, Lizzie Borden - Later life, Lizzie Borden - Legacy, Lizzie Borden - Artistic depictions, Lizzie Borden - Adoptions of the name

Read more here: » Lizzie Borden: Encyclopedia II - Lizzie Borden - Artistic depictions

The word "cadence" was applied to these chants because of an earlier meaning, in which it meant the number of steps a marcher or runner took per minute. The cadence was set by a drummer or sergeant, and discipline was extremely important as keeping the cadence directly affected the travel speed of infantry. There were other purposes: the close-order drill was a particular cadence count for the complex sequence of loading and firing a musket. In the Revolutionary War, Baron von Steuben notably imported European battlefield techniques which persist, greatly modified, to this day. Cad ...

See also:

Military cadence, Military cadence - History, Military cadence - Jody calls, Military cadence - External link

Read more here: » Military cadence: Encyclopedia II - Military cadence - History