History of folk literature studies in the ribnica valley

This article outlines the history of collecting folk tales in the Ribnica valley. In regard to folk literature, Ribnica is mostly known for its humorous narratives and the characteristic humour of its inhabitants, which constitutes an important part of intangible cultural heritage. The beginning of the systematic collection of ethnographic materials goes back to the pre-Romantic era. The Ribnica valley was home to some of the most important Slovenian representatives and thinkers of the Romantic period. The first collectors of folk materials were the last lords of Ribnica s manor - the Rudež family. During the time of Slovenian national awakening in the nineteenth century, a friend of Jožef Rudež, Polish ethnographer Emil Korytko paid several visits to Ribnica and encouraged Slovenian intellectuals to collect folklore materials. The article mentions researchers who have in any way dealt with Ribnica s oral tradition and various collections of narratives related to the Ribnica valley.