On February 26th, have a happily ever after kind of day. It is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day!
What were once oral histories, myths, and legends retold around the fire or by traveling storytellers, have been written down and become known the world over as fairy tales.
Origins of Fairy Tales
The origins of most fairy tales would fail today's standards of the Association of Fairy Tales. They told unseemly tales and would be rated as inappropriate for children. Most traveling storytellers told fairy tales with dramatic detail to make children behave, teach a lesson or pass the time much like ghost stories around a campfire today.
Many of the stories have some basis in truth. For example, some believe Margarete von Waldeck, the daughter of the 16th century Count of Waldeck, inspired the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The area of Germany where the family lived was known for mining. Some of the tunnels were so tight they had to use children - or small people such as dwarfs - to work the mines.
Margarete's beauty is well documented, and her stepmother sent her away. Margarete also fell in love with a prince but mysteriously died before she could have her happily ever after.
As the stories evolved, they took on a more magical quality with fictional characters such as fairies, giants, mermaids and gnomes, and sometimes gruesome story plots.
Toes cut off to fit into a slipper, a wooden boy killing his cricket, or instead of kissing that frog prince his head must be cut off, but those are the unrated versions.
Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen
The brothers Grimm collected and published some of the more well-known tales we are familiar with today. Jakob and his brother Wilhelm set out on a quest to preserve these tales at a time in history when a tradition of oral storytelling was fading. In 1812, they published their first volume of stories titled Household Tales. Their stories' darker qualities were clearly meant for an adult audience.
Rumpelstiltskin is one of the tales they collected. Several other versions exist and the little man claimed many different names across Europe. From Trit-a-trot in Ireland to Whuppity Stoorie in Scotland, Rumplestiltskin makes it difficult for historians to identify him.
While some storytellers have a long and sometimes ancient history such as Aesop (The Fox and the Goose, The Ant and the Grasshopper), others are more recent like the Grimm brothers.
First published in 1829, Hans Christian Andersen brought to us written versions of the Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, and many more. Where Grimm's tales could take on a darker cast and unmistakably written with adults in mind, Andersen's stories are sweet and warm.
HOW TO OBSERVE TELL A FAIRY TALE DAY
National Tell A Fairy Tale Day encourages you to tell a fairy tale or two. If you think you don't have a fair tale to tell, you might be wrong. We've told a few in our day, so we have a few tips to share with you.
Engage your audience. Children like to participate. Have them quack every time you mention the Ugly Duckling or make the motions of climbing Jack's beanstalk.
Use repetition. Repeated stanzas, syllables, or movements will keep the kids engaged. It not only helps them to remember the story but sets them up for the next round of the repeated phrase or stanza.
Give your characters a voice. Nobody likes a monotone storyteller. Buehler, Buehler, Buehler. No, not even children like the monotone. Varying your voice for each character and inflecting excitement, sadness and disappointment will create drama and stimulate the imaginations of the little minds listening to you.
Ask questions as you go. It's an excellent way to keep your story flowing and to gauge the children's listening skills.
Find out if someone has a story of their own. You might be in the presence of a great storyteller!
Share your favorite fairy tale with friends and family. Try relating them from memory as this has long been a tradition. Visit a library or local bookstore for story time. Use #TellAFairyTaleDay to post on social media.
You can also learn more about your favorite fairy tales in 5 World-Favorite Fairy Tales and the Stories Behind them.
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