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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Folktales - What's your favorite story?

Folktales - What's your favorite story?



We all grow up hearing stories. Our parents pass on folktales that their parents passed on to them. The cycle goes on and on, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Many of those stories make us who we are today. They teach us to overcome obstacles. They teach us love, they even teach us about some of the evils that we might face as we grow older. All-in-all they teach as much as they entertain.


Here's a few of my favorites.

Little Red Riding Hood:

We all know this story. Little Red Riding Hood goes to grandmother's house with a basket of goodies. When she arrives she finds the Big Bad Wolf in her grandmother's place. "What big eyes you have." "What big ears you have." "What big teeth you have." They are all phrases we know by heart. This is one of my favorite stories and I would love to one day make my own version of this folktale.

Rumpelstiltskin: 

This is a story that comes in various different versions. I've heard a few different ones but they all basically come down to someone making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin. One of the reasons that this makes my favorite list is thanks to the TV show Once Upon a Time. I love the character portrayed there which in turn makes me love the background story so much more.

Hansel and Gretel: 

Ah, this one. This is the one our parents told us to keep us from eating junk food. We know it, they know it. It scared us into not going into the woods, and we certainly learned never to look at a gingerbread house the same way. I'll admit it every season when the gingerbread houses make their appearances this is the story I think about. This is why it's one of my favorites. While I haven't like the spin-off movies they've done of it that doesn't stop me from enjoying it and passing it onto my kids. 

Jack and the Beanstalk: 

The story of overcoming obstacles no matter how big they are. This one was one of my favorites as a child. It reminded me that little people could do big things too. As the story goes Jack trades a cow for some magic beans. Even when things seem dire those beans grow into a beanstalk rising into the sky. Jack then climbs up the beanstalk to take on the Giant. Jack must have been one brave little boy because I don't think I could stand up to a Giant, even as a grown up.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears: 

My girls love this one. Of course the way I tell it adds to its affect. Naughty little Goldilocks. In my version the bears kick her butt which my kids seem to love. My girls are funny that way, they love action packed stories. Someday I might have to write a version of this story for my girls. While I love the old version I enjoy telling my humorous version to my children. More than likely my version will be passed down to their children which excites me. The story will go on :)

The Pied Piper: 

This one kind of makes my skin crawl. Don't get me wrong I love little critters but to have a bunch of rats following me would give me nightmares. The story does intrigue me because it has real history. I love stories that have truth behind them. It may make my skin crawl but that's why it makes my favorite list. Inciting any reaction makes a good story.


So, those are a few of my favorites. There are so many more I could list but not enough time in the day. What are some of your favorites? Feel free to share them and what makes them special to you. 


The Image used above is from Deviant Art. The link to the artist is below the photo. I love the unique images he has created. You should check out his other work. 

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Happy Reading!!

Raven K. Asher