Serbian folklore is the folk traditions among ethnic Serbs. The earliest examples of Serbian folklore are seen in the pre-Christian Slavic mythology customs transformed into Christianity.
Roots and characteristics
Folklore
The
Apostles of the
Slavs, Cyril and Methodius, have been venerated by Serbian
Eastern Orthodox since their
Christianization in 867.
In Krajište and Vlasina there are epic stories of the extermination of Ancient Rome in a battle, and of the settling of Serbs (Antes)[Николић 1912: 165-167]
Unlike mythology, south slavic mythology distinguishes between two different slavic dragon: the benevolent zmej and the malevolent ala.
Serbian Epic poetry
Serbian epic poetry is a form of
epic poetry written by
Serbs originating in today's
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and
Montenegro. The main cycles were composed by unknown Serb authors between the 14th and 19th centuries. They are largely concerned with historical events and personages.
The corpus of Serbian epic poetry is divided into cycles:
-
Non-historic cycle
-
Pre-Kosovo cycle - poems about events that predate the Battle of Kosovo - songs about royal family-Nemanjići and folk songs
-
Cycle of Prince Marko
-
Kosovo Myth - poems about events that happened just before and after the Battle of Kosovo (no poem covers the battle itself)
-
Post-Kosovo cycle - poems about post-Battle events
-
Poems about the liberation of Serbia
-
Poems about the liberation of Montenegro
See also
External links
