Folklore from across Europe — fascinating open collections

Digital cultural heritage collections are a great way to preserve and promote folk tales, music and traditional ways of living. Take a look at this selection of open collections exploring folklore from across Europe.

1. Recordings, images and documents from Irish Traditional Music Archive on Europeana

Ireland must be heaven, for my mother came from there
1 score (4 p.) : ill., music in staff notation, Irish Traditional Music Archive, public domain

2. Folk costume photographs by Gösta Florman from Stiefelsen Nordska Museet on Europeana

Two girls of different ages, dressed in folk costumes, Stiefelsen Nordska Museum, public domain

3. Objects from Metsovo Folk Art Museum on Europeana

Sample of geometric Metsovitic motifs, Metsovo Museum, CC BY-SA

4. Music and sounds from the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore on Europeana

Songs, Sutartinės and Instrumental Music from Aukštaitija, Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, public domain

5. Photographs depicting folklore and traditional life in different parts of the world from Ajuntament de Girona on Europeana

Bulgarian Girl in the National Costume, Sofia, Bulgaria, Unknown, Ajuntament de Girona, public domain

6. Objects, clothes, photos and paintings related to maritime history and lifestyle from Zuiderzee Museum on Europeana

Tile panel depicting a merchant ship, Zuiderzee Museum, CC BY-SA

7. Photos from Cluj County Center for the Preservation of Traditional Culture on Europeana

Festivalul Jocului Fecioresc din Transilvania, Cluj County Center for the Preservation of Traditional Culture, CC0

8. Books from National Library of Scotland on Europeana

J. F. Campbell Collection; Popular tales of the West Highlands; Volume 2, National Library of Scotland, public domain

We hope this content will inspire you to create your own stories celebrating folklore from your own country or region. Submit it for our creative competition, receive feedback from the professional jury and the audience, win prizes!

Do you know other interesting openly licensed collections we should feature? Let us know in the comments!