1. American Folklore

2. Folklore What is it? Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales, stories, tall tales, and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group.

3. American Folklore American folklore started after the Europeans came to America It is important to separate American folklore and Native American Folklore Many stories in American folklore borrow ideas from European ancestors

4. Folklore Most folklore starts with some truth and then exaggerates George Washington chopping down the cherry tree Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag Some folklore is completely fictional Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Molly Pitcher

5. Folklore Today Folklore continues to change generation to generation Today it is referred to as “urban legends” What are some urban legends that you know?

6. Legend of Sleepy Hollow The story was first published in 1820 by Washington Irving Irving is considered to be one of the first great American writers He wrote many other folktales such as “Rip Van Winkle”

7. Legend of Sleepy Hollow Legacy The story has been adapted into many movies, cartoons, TV shows, stage plays, and has been referenced in many other mediums The town of North Tarrytown where the story takes place offically changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1997 Their high school mascot is the Horsemen Many other cities throughout the country have named themselves Sleepy Hollow, and many streets are named after the characters from the story