What do a tale, a joke, a fiddle tune, a quilt, a jig, a game of jacks, a country cure, and a Halloween costume all have in common? Not much, at first glance, but all these forms of human creativity are part of our cultural life and experience. They create the wide, rich collection of material we call folklore. Folklore means the cultural traditions that are learned and passed along by ordinary people as part of the fabric of their lives and culture. This series of volumes explores the many faces of folklore throughout the North American continent. By illuminating the many aspects of folklore in our lives, readers will gain a deeper appreciation for the richness of their cultural fabric.