Our beliefs and faiths stem from deeply emotional grounds rather than cognitive considerations. Since the beginning of the human race, mankind has fought to survive and struggled against the uncertainty of nature. Belief in the supernatural or a higher power was a way for people to accept their hardships and heartbreaks, thus finding solace in the idea that their lives were part of a bigger picture. From mythology about how Odin lost his eye to folklore about the boy who cried wolf and religious parables like the Good Samaritan, much of our historical values are contained in these stories. With the development of science and technology, longer life expectancy, and economic security, do we still need folklore and religion?
Losing My Religion
Although they are often lumped together, religion is significantly different from folklore. While some religions may have been based on mythology or folklore at the beginning, they generally come with a system of designated behaviors and practices. The establishment of a virtue system based on the deference to a higher power allows people to feel a sense of security in a turbulent world—just follow the rules and everything will be fine in the end. Religion also acts as a form of tribalism whereby people honor their culture and community by adopting the rituals and moral codes that are passed down by their ancestors.
As per the predictions of prominent intellectuals and socialists such as Max Weber, the end of religious conviction would come with the spread of science. Indeed, this is one of the major reasons why religious subscription is declining among Americans. According to research, almost 40 percent of people surveyed in the United States considered religion not very important or not at all important. As people become less dependent on religion for their psychological and emotional needs, they are developing more of a focus towards secular humanism and inherent virtue and morals.
A big factor in this move is that certain constraints of religion have been clashing with the values of the progressive individual. From portrayals of the traditional family to gender roles and sexual identities, many religions have fallen behind as society moves towards the acceptance of a more diverse population. With more than half of the kids in America living in a ‘modern family’ with single parents, divorced parents, or same-sex parents, the revered traditional family model is more alienating than empowering. Add to this the aggressive melding of right-wing politics with religion to erase the rights of women and LGBTQ+, and many millennials are simply put off by the idea of religion as a vehicle to righteousness.
A Jolly Good Time
Although mythology and folklore are mystical in nature and often have an underlying moral to the story, they do not impose beliefs or practices on the reader. These fictional tales of people or animals generally deal with relatable conflicts that occur in everyday life whereby a hero character has to overcome obstacles and save the day. Mythology and folklore are deeply intertwined with the cultural history of countless people and provide a backdrop for the contextualization of life and how to cope with it. The fact that many of these ancient stories still provide relevant wisdom is the reason why many schools in the US continue to teach mythology as part of their curriculum today.
Christmas is the most important holiday of the year for most of the Western world. The first recorded Christmas celebration took place in ancient Rome during the 4th century and was rather similar to the festival of Saturnalia that honored the Roman mythical god Saturn. Meanwhile, a Greek bishop in ancient Rome named Nicholas became known as a patron of good little children and the magical bringer of gifts, gradually adopting the lush white beard of European deities. This all came to a head in 1822 when Clement Clarke Moore wrote ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ and cemented the jolly image of the ubiquitous Santa Claus that we know and love.
Today, some American households celebrate both versions of Christmas at the same time while other non-religious households partake in the gift-giving tradition laid down by ol’ St. Nick. As families gather to feast and spend time together, children enjoy receiving presents and a letter from Santa. Through believing in Santa Claus, the younger generation can develop empathy and generosity as well as a sense of belonging and community. They also learn to reap what they sow, because nobody wants to get a lump of coal instead of a new toy.
The timeless world of mythology and folklore persists despite the advancement of science because it revolves around the human experience. There is enough segregation and injustice in the world and people these days seek a sense of acceptance and equanimity. This focus on caring and sharing is perhaps why certain folklore figures have endured despite the recession of religious beliefs. Folklore gives us a sense of time and place and imparts nuggets of ancient wisdom that—more often than not—resound with our modern values. In this sense, it is an absolutely essential part of our lives.