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We are surrounded by different cultures, myths, and folklore.
We see them in movies, books, video

games, and much more. But what about these epic stories and tales that are so magnetic and relevant to
people? Why are we so fascinated by Thor's Hammer? Why is the power of Ra have us so captivated?
Why are people so mesmerized by Mort from Shang-Chi? Why have werewolves been held such a
fascination for teens in pop culture? We will explore the similarities of other epics across cultures and how
our stories bind us together. At the end of the day, are our stories what bind us together?
So before we begin our dive, what are folklore and mythology? The following video will give an in detail
explanation of what they are. Once we have an understanding of what they are, we will look at similar
stories from different cultures.
Mythology is "a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining
some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events"
Folklore is "the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the
generations by word of mouth."
The most definable difference between myths and folklore is that myths are generally passed
through the written word, whereas folklore is shared through word of mouth. Myths tend to be more
universal across cultures whereas the stories in folklore tend to have more discrepancies as the
story will change over time and will often change with shifts in understanding, culture, and the fact
that folklore is more difficult to understand as it is harder to access and document.
Gods of the Sun
Apollo is the Greek god of the sun, he is known for his magical chariot and how the sun rises and sets
while he soars across the sky. Ra is also known for being the god of sun and light, however, he is
pictured in Egyptian mythology. Both of these gods vary in appearance, power, and story but the ultimate
creation of these gods was to explain the unexplainable. The power of the sun and the light and life it
gives to the earth. So while these cultures are very different their need for an explanation for the
inexplicable is universal.
Goddesses of Motherhood
Guanyin and Frigg
Guanyin is commonly found in East Asian Folklore, she is the goddess of compassion, and a patron saint
of motherhood, she is worshipped often for her ability to bestow children upon people. Frigg is depicted in
Norse mythology, she is the goddess of motherhood and marriage. She is worshipped for bringing about
strong children much like Guanyin. Both of these goddesses have been turned to throughout history to
provide healthy children, especially earlier on in history when healthy children and childbirths were
difficult.
Outside of deities and gods, there are characters in different cultures' stories to teach lessons and explore
the themes we may come across in our human experience. In African folklore, there is Anansi. Anansi is
the story of the mischievous spider that causes trouble for all the people he crosses paths with. In Native
American culture, there is the story of Old Man Coyote. Old Man Coyote is also a character of mischief
and causes things to go awry in the lives of those paths he crosses.
Shapeshifters
Nagual and Werewolves

These creatures are often still depicted in modern entertainment. They are creatures of the night that
possess the ability to shapeshift from human to animal. Nagual is found in Mesoamerican folklore and can
be wolves, birds, deer, jaguars, and much much more. Werewolves are depicted as men that shapeshift
strictly into wolves. Werewolves are found in Western European mythology. The story of these creatures
was to help explain odd behavior in man as well as stem from a fear of the strangeness of the dark. Many
modern historians think that disease could have caused people to act abnormally as their normal brain
functions were impacted by a given disease, thus being given the identity of animal shifters.
These are just a few similar stories in different cultures worldwide. Our cultures are grounded in the
stories told to us by those who came before. Our understanding of the inexplicable becomes tangible in
these fantastic tales. Although these stories vary in appearance, lessons, culture, and history. They are all
told because of the same need for human understanding. Humans are not so different from one another
and these tales do a great job of showing us exactly that.

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We are surrounded by different cultures, myths, and folklore.

We see them in movies, books, video

Guanyin and Frigg

Nagual and Werewolves

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