The Folktale Project

Another Canadian origin tale from Cyrus Macmillan's "Canadian Fairy Tales'", 'The Songbird and The Healing Waters' is the story of a loving and devoted husband who makes a discovery.

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'Rainbow and The Autumn Leaves' is a very special Canadian folktale. It's the source of two completely different origins.

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'Salman and Rostom' is an origin story hidden in a tale of a great warrior and a warlord.

From: The Golden Maiden and other folk tales and fairy stories told in Armenia

Author: A. G. Seklemian

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The nursery tale of 'The Old Woman and The Cat' is a familiar progressive folktale with a truly surprising ending, complete with a moral worthy of Aesop.

From: The Golden Maiden and other folk tales …

The Armenian folktale of 'The Dreamer' is a story whose pieces we've heard before, but when put together makes a fascinating tale to say the least!

From: The Golden Maiden and other folk tales and fa…

In the final Halloween folktale this week of 'The Courteous Prince' we have a love story that takes place on Halloween eve and features the kindest Prince in folklore.

From: The Topaz Story Book: Sto…

'Twinkling Feet's Halloween' is the perfect story to start our week of Halloween folklore this year. It's an adorable tale of a pixie who loses his laugh on Halloween and looks to a jolly witch and J…

The best way I can describe 'The Lord, St. Peter and The Apostles' is as the original, Italian folklore version of "Buddy Christ" and shows Jesus as your friend who plays bad practical jokes.

From: I…

'The Ingrates' tells us about the ways of the world as it is, and not at all as we'd like it to be. And it's not the best reflection of ourselves.

Title: Italian Popular Tales Author: Thomas Frederic…

In the Italian folktale of 'Vineyard I Was and Vineyard I Am' three people handle a misunderstanding in the most adult way possible, talking through the issue at hand and not overreacting (too much).

'The Half-Chick' is the perfect cautionary tale about being rude and dismissive to those you meet along your journey. Because everyone needs a little help sometimes.

From: The Green Fairy Book Editor…

In 'Elivra, the Sainted Princess' we see the conflict between the historical King Wamba and his secretly Christian daughter, Elvira.

From: Tales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes Author: Charles Sell…

In 'The Wicked King' the King is truly wicked, but the more interesting character (in my opinion) is his enabler, the executioner.

From: Tales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes

Author: Charles Seller…

'The Three Ruling Gods' tells us the story of how the Gods of the Water, Earth and Heavens came to be, and why they appear the way they do.

From: The Chinese Fairy Book Editor: R. Wilhelm

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In the Chinese tale of 'The Silkworm Goddess' we learn about the origin of the Goddess who is tasked with protecting the silkworm. And it's quite the story.

From: The Chinese Fairy Book Editor: R. Wi…

In the first of three new stories from China we have 'The Great Flood' a story that has familiar elements from the Judeo-Christian tradition, Russian folklore and others.

From: The Chinese Fairy Book…

'The Knave of Bergen' is the tale of an executioner who was, thankfully, able to think on his feet.

From: Legends of the Rhine Author: Wilhelm Ruland

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The magistrates in 'The Cathedral Clock' are some of the most shortsighted rulers to have ever come into power. No pun intended.

From: Legends of the Rhine Author: Wilhelm Ruland

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The German folktale of 'The Toy of the Young Giantess' is all about remembering to keep perspective in mind.

From: Legends of the Rhine Author: Wilhelm Ruland

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