Welcome to the online folktales page!
The folktale is a story passed down verbally from generation to generation. Each storyteller added something new to the stories, making them more interesting and fascinating as the ages passed. Different folktales bear the characteristics of the culture, folklore and customs of the people from which they originated.
Africa is the second largest continent in the world.
The people from Africa included unique characteristics in their folklore, showing their way of life and the animals and plants that surround them. African stories sometimes include trickster animals and spirits.
The collection of folktales from Africa consists of four books with 88 stories: 28 South African folktales, 40 Nigerian folktales and 10 Tanzanian folktales.
Nigerian folktales
South African folktales
Tanzanian folktales
Asia is the world's largest continent. A place with unique cultural heritage, Asia is home to more than 3.8 billion people, making it the most populous continent on Earth. Even today people around Asia hold festivals celebrating the deeds of heroes and animals from ancient folklore.
The collection of folktales from Asia consists of fourteen books with 353 stories: 55 Arabic folktales, 104 Chinese folktales, 69 Indian folktales, 69 Japanese folktales and 61 Filipino folktales.
Arabic folktales
Chinese folktales
Indian folktales
Japanese folktales
Filipino folktales
Australia is a country that includes the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and other smaller islands. Indigenous people are living in Australia for over 40000 years. Their stories are tightly connected to the Australian outback and its plants and animal inhabitants.
The collection of folktales from Australia consists of one book with 31 stories.
Australian folktales
Europe is the second smallest continent on Earth. The birthplace of western culture, Europe is a land with tremendous cultural and ethnic diversity.
The European stories are divided into four groups: the Celtic, the Germanic, the Romanic and the Slavic.
North America is the third-largest continent on Earth. The first contact between Europe and North America was made while Christopher Columbus was looking for a route between Europe and the Orient. Prior to the European settlers there were numerous indian nations living on the continent.
The collection of folktales from North America consists of six books with 136 stories: 50 Native American folktales, 60 US folktales and 26 Canadian folktales.
Canadian folktales
Native American folktales
US folktales
South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth. Before Europeans discovered it, South America was the home of many ancient civilizations numbering millions of people.
The collection of folktales from South America consists of two books with thirty Brazilian stories.
Brazilian folktales
