Summary:
1.A legend is a traditional or historical story about people, places, and events of ancient times while a
myth is also a traditional story of how certain customs came into being.
2.A myth is closely linked to religion while a legend is not.
3.A legend is a story of real people with super powers while a myth is a story of gods and divine beings.
4.Both intend to teach a lesson with people relating more with legends than with myths.
5.The word “legend” comes from the Old French word “legende” while the word “myth” comes from
the Greek word “mythos.”
- A legend is presumed to have some basis in historical fact and tends to mention real people or
events. Historical fact morphs into a legend when the truth has been exaggerated to the point
that real people or events have taken on a romanticized, "larger than life" quality. In contrast, a
myth is a type of symbolic storytelling that was never based on fact. Throughout time, myths
have sought to explain difficult concepts (e.g., the origin of the universe) with the help of
common story devices, such as personification and allegories.
These words are commonly used interchangeably to refer to the fictitious nature of something.
Historically and academically, however, there is a difference.
Legend Myth
Evidence that events occurred / Yes, but evidence may be incorrect or insubstantial No
people existed?
When and where did it happen? Typically, in more recent historical past. Usually from a Usually the
specific culture. ancient past
from a
specific
ancient
culture.
Is it fact or fiction? Facts are distorted or exaggerated. Some fiction. No evidence
to prove it
as fact.
Fictional
stories
explaining
Legend Myth
how "the
world was
created" or
some type
of natural
situation
that
occurred on
Earth.
Who are they about? Notable people from history. Gods,
supernatural
realm,
supernatural
creatures.
What are they about? Often about heroic deeds, overcoming obstacles, but Traditional
may also be about evildoing. narrative
that explains
natural
phenomena
through
symbolism
and
metaphor —
often
involves the
gods of
ancient
cultures.
Examples of Myths and Legends
It is a Greek myth that Prometheus stole fire from Zeus, the chief god, and gave it to humans so that
they could keep themselves warm. To punish him, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock where his liver
was eaten by an eagle every day but grew again every night. There is nothing to prove this occurred, and
we do not even have a time frame to work with, so it is considered a myth.
A common contemporary myth is that a cat crossing the road in front of you brings bad luck. This is a
myth, as it not based on any solid evidence.
Stories of heroes like Robin Hood and King Arthur are related to a certian time period and hence they
are legends.
Proof
As myths tend to include supernatural elements in a timeless past, there is no objective proof for them.
Legends are stories based on historical events or figures and hence usually exist within a certain time
frame and can be placed on a real timeline. They can be verified to some degree, though it may only be
to a very minor degree.
Fact or Fiction?
"Myth" is mostly synonymous with fiction due its lack of supporting evidence. The term "fantasy" is also
synonymous in most cases.
Legends may include facts, but they are not entirely factual themselves; the truth in them has been
distorted over time, usually for the sake of a good story. For example, while Pocahontas and John Smith
were real people in American history, their relationship and the events that led up to their meeting have
been deeply exaggerated in many stories, including in Walt Disney's 1995 animated film, Pocahontas.
Myths and superstitions:
Pineapple is a kid who won’t use his eyes and a fairy punished him.
Cant clip nails at night its considered unlucky.
Cant sweep at night also, its believed to be bad luck in finance.
Pasig river is named after lovers who drowned in it.
When you’re having the hiccups you have to tear a piece of paper, lick it and stick it to your forehead for
the hiccups to stop.
Lanzones (fruit) used to be poisonous until lovers sacrificed their lives for each other and the fruit that
grew from where they were buried no longer contained poison.
Every balete tree has some sort of spirit. (Can be bad or good)
Ibong adarna was a bird with a song so sweet it cured any sickness, three brothers were sent to find the
bird and their quest was the backbone of the story.
When youre lost, you need to wear all your clothing inside out. So fairies will let you be.
If you see an unusually large cat or dog, it might be an aswang (vampire witch that can shape shift). You
have to bend down and view the animal thru your legs to see if they have turned upside down too, if
they did, theyre definitely an aswang.
Bakunawa was a moon eating dragon that caused eclipses.
If a dog howls, there is malevolent spirit or being nearby.
If a dog howls, someone is near death.
If you dream about your teeth falling out, someone close to you will die soon.
Bayabas (guava) was named after a rude and shrewd king, he was punished and then turned to a fruit
with a “crown”.
It is not good to sleep with your hair wet. You will turn crazy if you do. Or you will lose your eyesight.
If a black cat crosses infront of you, turn back, what lies ahead is danger.
If your fork falls from the table, a man is soon to visit. If a spoon, a woman.
You cannot move seats when you are already eating, it means you will change husbands frequently, or
never marry.
Mount makiling was named after the goddess Maria Makiling who protected the rainforest and
mountains.
If someone walks over you while youre sitting or lying down you will not grow taller anymore (if youre a
kid.)
If you get pooped on by a flying bird, you will be lucky in gambling that day.
Makihiya (if ur not filipino please google this plant, it closes its leaves when touched - name- shame
plant). Parents hid their only daughter, a very shy girl, in the woods for safety. when they came back to
fetch her, the fairies had already turned her into a plant to protect her from being seen.
