Cloven hoofs appear where there should be feet and he has a very… Growing up, my mother, aunts, cousins, and even neighbourbood children made sure every detail of every story was etched into my brain. He is the old man of the forest and is known by many names, including "Maître Bois" (master of the woods) and "Daddy Bouchon" (hairy man). Folklore is extremely important to our society, because of the diverse functions that these tales serve. This folklore character is one of the most widely known forest protectors. The Africans were not the only group who brought folklore to the Caribbean; the Indian indentured labourers also brought their stories which similarly took their own form in the Caribbean. Jamaica’s very religious population has a hidden religion: Obeah, similar to Haiti’s Vodou (voodoo). Being raised in Trinidad and Tobago, or by Trinidadian parents, you are exposed to the nerve-racking tales of the folklore which has been passed down through generations. Many Caribbean superstitions and folk tales have been modified from European, African or Asian ones, and those of Jamaica certainly fit the bill. He is the old man of the forest who can also appear in alternate forms such as a deer. The cast of Once on This Island. Papa Bois is also known as “Maitre Bois” or “Daddy Bouchon”. Lesson Plans with Anansi the Spider. Jamaican folklore involves many spirits or mythical creatures that haunt people for various reasons. Some of Puerto Rico’s folklore is funny, some very sad, but all the tales are beautiful. The story of Ti Moune may be fictional (in fact a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid), but Caribbean and West Indie culture have a seemingly endless amount of folklore to explore. Folklore is the traditional stories and beliefs that are passed down in a society from generation to generation, mostly through word of mouth. Now scroll down to learn about the Caribbean Folklore, Have Fun!! Join me and explore the spirit and truth of Papa Bwa, Mama Glo, La Jabless, Dwens and all the other folk through my stories and poems. "Papa Bois" is the most widely known of all our folklore characters. These stories acquired uniqueness apart from African tales due to other influences from inhabitants of the islands such as the French, Spanish and English. In this fabulous video, Denzel Washington tells an Anansi story that includes how slaves brought the stories from Ghana to Jamaica. Pirate Lore consists of legends, music, oral history, popular beliefs, fairy tales, stories, tall tales, and customs that were told by pirates and sailors around the world. Photo by Mikki Schaffner. These stories offers many an adventurer a chance to learn more about the world around them while spinning tales of thrill, adventure, and danger with salty old seadogs. For me, the folklore of the Caribbean, like the folklore of any peoples, reflects the true Caribbean, the unique spirit and truth of Caribbean people wherever they live. Source: Salt and roti: Indian folk tales of the Caribbean, a first collection, p.1 Click on the PDF icon to read the story: View the PDF document: The challenge Author(s): Maharaj, Ashram B. Contributor(s): Roopnarine, Vishnu; Sadhwune, Rajo Source: Indo-Trinidadian folk tales in the oral tradition, p. 32 Click on the PDF icon to read the story A couple of wonderful collections to read are Cuentos: An Anthology of Short Stories from Puerto Rico by Kal Wagenheim and Stories from Puerto Rico by Robert L. Muckley and Adela Martínez-Santiago, both of which are side-by-side bilingual books. Folklore in T&T and many parts of the Caribbean is inspired by the influences of the West African and French Creole peoples who came or were brought to the islands centuries ago. PBS Kids has an interactive lesson about Anansi the Spider.. Why Anansi has Thin Legs is an excellent on-line interactive lesson from the British Council.. DUPPIES/JUMBIES Many of their spiritual beliefs and practices were incorporated into the legends and stories we know today.