What does "folklife" encompass?

"Folklife" encompasses the everyday traditions and expressions of a community, which includes various forms of cultural practices such as storytelling, crafts, music, food, rituals, and social customs that are passed down through generations. It highlights how communities express their identity, values, and experiences in ordinary life. This concept helps scholars and practitioners understand the nuances of culture as lived by people in their daily routines, reflecting both continuity and change over time.

The focus on everyday traditions emphasizes the importance of grassroots culture, as opposed to elite or formal cultural expressions. This understanding situates folklore within real-life contexts and illustrates how cultural practices are essential to community cohesion and identity. By studying folklife, anthropologists are better able to grasp the richness of human experience as it manifests in routine behavior and social interactions.