Sagen#

Legends and Sagas, short narratives based on oral tradition derived from real events (as opposed to the fairy tale). The basis for these legends was inexplicable natural phenomena or mysterious incidents, which people related to such fantasy creatures as elves, dwarves and gnomes, giants, water sprites, etc., witches or even the Devil. Thus many legend motifs are found at different places ("itinerant legends"). "Heroic legends", which contain mythical elements, are the oldest form of legends ( Courtly Epics); later on, "historical legends" were based on figures of history (e.g. Emperor Maximilian I), "local legends" on specific places (history of the origins of Klosterneuburg, the Tyrolean legend of Frau Hitt, etc.). Research into legends and sagas, which are an important source for cultural history, forms part of folklore studies ( legends).

Ed: L. Petzoldt, Sagen (aus allen oesterreichischen Bundeslaendern und Salzburg-Tirol), 1992ff. - Earlier collections of Austrian legends: T. Vernaleken, Alpensagen, 1858; J. Gebhardt, Oesterreich Sagenbuch 1862; Die heiligen Sagen in Oesterreich, 1866; A. Pischinger, Sagen aus Oesterreich, 1949/1950; H. Pezold, Sagen aus Oesterreich, 2 vols., 1950; F. Braumann, Unser Bergvolk erzaehlt, 1953; J. Poettinger, Volkssagen aus Oesterreich, 1954; M. Pacolt, Sagen aus Oesterreich, 1955; M. Stebich, Alpensagen, 1958; H. Strutz, Das Netz des Wassermanns, 1959; K. Haiding, Oesterr. Sagenschatz, 1965.

Literature#