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Author
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Comment
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Kerrie
Moderator
(8/8/03 1:05 pm)
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American Tricksters
Here's an article I just read on tommyknockers:
Knock
knock; Elves part of West's history
It makes me wonder, what other kind of Americanized folk spirits are there? That is, what American tricksters, spirits, elves, etc. have split away from their counterparts in other countries to have new names, new attributes, etc? Are there any purely American (not Native American) folk creatures?
I'm not sure I'm posing the question clearly, but maybe someone else can translate my thoughts above into a better one.
Dandelion wishes,
Kerrie
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Valkith
Registered User
(8/9/03 8:16 pm)
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Re: American Tricksters
Gremlins...I believe are American in nature.
Used to explain away problems in aircraft and other mechanical equipment around WWII.
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gormghlaith
Registered User
(8/10/03 3:24 pm)
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Re: American Tricksters
we have devils, ghosts and monsters, like the Jersey Devil, in plenty...
fairytales re-rooted in places like the Appalacians, and Rip Van
Winkle's Catskills... a lot of the heros and tricksters, i think,
got Tall, like Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett and Brer
Rabbit. Not to forget the aliens, will o' the wisp balls of light
and the modern-day psycho with a hook in the back seat- tricky and
tricky to outwit. theres some neat little stories state by state,
at www.americanfolklore.net/
including the colorado slide-rock bolter, who eats tourists, and a crystal mountain in wyoming that, instead of being an obstacle in a fairytale, baffles those who encounter it, often comically. but i realize thats off topic...have a lovely day!
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Marks
Unregistered User
(8/11/03 9:21 pm)
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then there are the obvious...
...North American Indian tricksters, like Coyote. There are many more, particular to each tribe, which slip my mind. I didn't know about the "Slide Bolter." Sounds interesting - have to look that one up! Bigfoot may fall into the trickster category in the way it interacts with modern day humans. The Jersey Devil was, according to early 20th century reports, as real. It attacked trolley cars (even in town!) and they posted guards with shotguns to keep it from landing on the trolleys!
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Marks
Unregistered User
(8/11/03 10:38 pm)
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Speaking of American folk tales...
Here is a great site I just found regarding American legends and folk tales. I was checking out the Colorado Slide-Rock Bolter here and found a wealth of other stuff as well....
www.americanfolklore.net/ss.html
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