Bamboo Hats and a Rice Cake, Japanese Folktale

Long time ago in the mountains buried by snow, there lived an old couple. They didn’t have much, but they always managed to get by. Unfortunately, one year the winter came early and there was not enough wood to keep them warm and not enough rice to keep them full. The New Year was just around the corner and the New Year celebration without a rice cake was almost unimaginable. The wife found her wedding kimono and handed to her husband, “We don’t have another choice as to sell it.”

“But this kimono was passed from one generation to another, we can’t sell it,” protested the husband.

“We don’t have kids, so we don’t have anybody to pass it on,” insisted the wife. The husband was hesitant, but he knew that there was nothing else he could trade for food. So he packed the kimono and headed to the market in the nearby village.
 

Between the two villages, there was a shrine with six statues standing outside and covered in snow. The old man bowed and was very apologetic, “Forgive me, I have nothing to offer, but to pay my respect.” He went on.

On the small bridge, he met his neighbor, who was already coming back from the market. “Did you sell any fans today?” asked the old man.

“No” said the neighbor “It’s hard to sell fans during the winter. But I was hoping to sell few in order to buy a kimono.”

The old man thought for a moment and said, “I was planning on selling a kimono. We could as well trade.” The young woman was mesmerized by the red kimono, “It would make me very happy.” The old man traded the kimono for fans and continued to the market.
 

By the time he reached the market, it was busy with people; some selling the goods, others buying them. The old man tried his best to sell the colorful fans, but nobody was paying any attention to him. He was so upset that another seller took pity of him and traded a gold bell for the fans. “I should have no problem selling a gold bell,” thought the old man. “It’s just in time for the New Year.” It was already late afternoon and a lot of people already left. The discouraged man decided to return home.
 

Right when he was exiting the market, a young man approached him to buy some bamboo hats. “I don’t have any money, but I can trade my gold bell for some bamboo hats,” said the old man.

“I can give you five bamboo hats in exchange for this bell,” said the young man. They both agreed and the old man continued his journey back home. He again stopped by the statues. He was sad that he didn’t have anything to offer them, but then he remembered, “I have the bamboo hats, which at least will cover your heads and protect you from snow.” One by one he put the hats on. When he got to the last one, he realized that he needed one more. So he took off his hat and put it on the statue.
 

By the time he got home, he was covered in snow himself. He was sad that he took his wife’s kimono and didn’t bring any rice cake back. “You didn’t bring the rice cake, but you achieved much more by showing kindness to the statues,” said the wife.

“You think so,” said the husband.

“I know so,” answered his wife.
 

During the night, when the couple was deep in sleep, a loud thump awakened them. They peeked out and couldn’t believe their own eyes. Right in front of their door, there was a gigantic rice cake on a straw mat. They looked around and saw the statues in a distance. The statues stopped and bowed to the couple from the distance.
 

The couple had a wonderful New Year’s celebration and with the amount of rice they received, they were well fed to the rest of their years.

 

The Ruby, Hindu Tradition

In the land of India, there was an old man, who gave all his possessions away to practice the wisdom of nonattachment. One morning as he was practicing his meditation in a small garden, his peacefulness was disturbed by a voice “Master, do you have something for me?” The holy man turned and saw a young man, dressed in rags and asked him “What is it that you’re looking for?” The young man quickly explained “Last night I had a dream that I met a holy man in a small garden, who gave me a precious jewel.” “Oh, yes. I almost forgot” said the Master. “I found this ruby and I don’t have any use for it.” The Master handed the stone to the peasant. The young man couldn’t understand how easy it was for somebody else to give it away. He spent the day admiring his treasure. However at night, he couldn’t sleep. What came to his mind in the morning surprised even him. The young man traveled back to the old man and handing the stone back said “I do not want this. I want what you know that made it so easy to give it away.”

 

What about me? Middle Eastern Folktale

In a far land, there was a boy, who wanted to have a knowledge, but wasn’t sure how to acquire it. So one day, he went to the Grand Master, who was a very smart guy and asked him “How do I gain the knowledge you have?” “I will tell you, but first you must bring me a carpet” answered the Master.

The boy not wasting any time rushed to the nearest carpet-maker. “Dear carpet-maker, I am seeking some knowledge from the Grand Master, but I must give him a carpet first” said the boy. “What about me?” retorted the carpet-maker. “Do you know what I need to make a carpet?” not waiting for an answer, the carpet-maker added “I need a thread to weave a carpet.”

The boy rushed to find a spinner-woman. “Dear spinner woman, I am seeking some knowledge from the Grand Master, but I must get a thread to make a carpet first” said the boy. “What about me?” snapped the spinner-woman. “Do you know what I need to make a thread?” not caring for an answer, the spinner-woman added “I need a goat hair to make a thread.”

Without any delay, the boy hurried to a goat-keeper. “Dear goat-keeper, I am seeking some knowledge from the Grand Master, but first I must get a goat hair to make a thread for a carpet” said the boy. “What about me?” shouted the goat-keeper “You need knowledge, I need goats!”

Without any further a due, the boy left to find a goat-seller. He spotted somebody, who didn’t seem to be able to keep all the goats in one place. “If I help you to put all goats in one place, will you give me one goat?” the boy asked. “What do you need a goat for?” asked the goat-seller. The boy explained his hunger for knowledge and all the tasks he had to perform to get the knowledge from the Master. “Find a carpenter. Maybe he’ll help you, so you can help me” said the goat-seller.

The boy wasn’t rushing any longer. “Everybody needs something” he muttered to himself. As soon as the boy saw the carpenter, he told him the story and everybody’s needs. “I have a need, too” yelled the carpenter “I need a wife.”

Now the boy was dragging his legs, knocking at all doors. After many doors shut in his face, he met a matchmaker. “I know a girl that could be a good match for the carpenter” said the matchmaker “If you want the name, I want the knowledge.” “Perfect” said the boy “We’re looking for the same thing.” He told her what they needed to get in order to gain the knowledge. “Forget it” screamed the matchmaker “I don’t need it that badly.”

The boy continued his journey farther and farther away from his village. He almost lost all of his hope, when he saw a merchant at a market-place, who seemed to be troubled. “Can I be of any help” asked the boy. “I have a beautiful daughter, but she won’t stop ranting” said the merchant. The boy approached the girl, who whispered “I love a carpenter, but my father wants me to love a merchant.”

Now it all came together. The boy took the girl to the carpenter, who gave him wood to make enclosure for goats. The goat-seller in return gave him a goat, which he took to the goat-keeper. With the goat hair, the boy went to the spinner-woman. She spun a thread for a carpet-maker, who made a carpet for the Grand Master. The happy boy rushed to the Master, handed the carpet and asked “Can I have your knowledge now?” “But you already have it” answered the Master. The Master’s message was that the gift is more precious, when we give it rather than when we receive it. And the knowledge comes, when we least expect it.   

People of Corn, Mayan Story

A long time ago in the highlands of Guatemala, there lived people called Mayan. The Mayan people grew corn. In the fall, at the end of the harvest time, they would carry the corn back to the villages in a very festive way with fireworks sending messages of gratitude to the heavens. Then the Mayan people would use the corn to make different meals. The kids were always amazed how many delicious meals you could make out of corn. “What’s this?” would ask a little Mayan girl. “That’s tortillas” would answer one of the moms. “What’s that?” would ask another little Mayan girl. “That’s tacos” would answer another mom. And the questions would go on.

The corn to Mayan people was not only an ingredient to make a meal, it was also something sacred. They believed that the first people on earth were made out of corn. The kids were never growing tired of listening to the same story. And this is what the mothers would tell them:

“There were two gods, who wanted to create life. First they created mountains and oceans.” “But how the little kids got there?” would ask a little Mayan boy. “The little kids came later” would answer Mayan mother and she would continue “After mountains and oceans, the gods created animals, which lived in the forests and seas. But gods wanted to be thanked for their work and since animals don’t speak, they created people.” “I thought these were wooden creatures” would say another Mayan boy. “Yes” answered a Mayan mother “The first people were wooden and they could speak. They were very good workers, but they didn’t have hearts. And without a heart, they didn’t know how to thank gods for so many creations on earth. So this time, the gods mixed corn flour with water and with their hands one of them created a mother and the other one created a father of the Mayan people.” “So how the little kids got there?” insisted the same boy. “We’re almost there” answered the mother. “So out of the first mother and father came the first little Mayan kids. When they grew up they had their own kids. So the people of corn were multiplying as corn in the fields. The gods were very happy with their new creation. The people made out of corn were as good as animals, because they could climb the mountains and swim the oceans. And they were as good as the wooden people, because they were good workers and they spoke, too. But unlike the animals and the wooden people, the people of corn had hearts and they could thank the gods. They built pyramids, made sacred processions and passed their story of creation to their kids. And that made gods very happy.” Now the little boy was content, except he wanted to hear more, but that was the end of the story. So the mother would add “You know the colorful cloths that mothers weave for you kids.” “Yes” said the boy. “The women of corn spent so much time weaving those beautiful cloths and they put so much heart into them that during the night, when they dreamed, they saw all those colorful cloths stretching for miles. Like there was no end to them” and the mother finished by saying “And that is the end of the story.” “Ohhhhhhhh” said the Mayan kids.

 

Two Sisters, US Folklore

A long time ago in a state called Kentucky, there were two sisters. One day one of them wandered off into the woods and stumbled upon a witch’s house. “Come in little girl” said the witch “You can stay here, while I’m gone. But do not come close to the chimney. It’s still hot from the fire.” The witch was off doing whatever the witches are doing. The girl as any other curious kid came close to the chimney. Since the fire was gone and the chimney cooled off, she looked up inside it. “Ah ha, this is why she didn’t want me to come close to the chimney” said the girl to herself “there is a sack of gold right there.” The girl didn’t waste any time. She grabbed the bag and ran off to her sister.

On her way home, she came across a cow, which hasn’t been milked for a few days. “Little girl” said the cow “Would you find some time to milk me?” “No way” yelled the girl.

Shortly after that she came across a sheep, which hasn’t been sheared for a few months. “Little girl” said the sheep “Would you find some time to shear me?” “No way” yelled the girl.

She went on and came across a horse, which hasn’t been ridden for a few years. “Little girl” said the horse “Would you find some time to ride me?” “No way” yelled the girl.

When she saw a mill, she decided to take a rest. But suddenly she heard “Little girl” said the mill “Would you find some time to turn me? Nobody has done it for a long time.” “I am too tired” yelled the girl and she took a nap in a shade.

While the girl was napping, the witch got home and found no gold in the chimney. She rushed down the road.

Upon seeing the cow, the witch asked her “Have you seen a little girl with a sack in her hand?” “Oh yeah, if you hurry, you will catch her” answered the cow.

The witch rushed down the road and saw the sheep. “Have you seen a little girl with a sack in her hand?” asked the witch. “Oh yeah, if you hurry, you will catch her” answered the sheep.

The witch rushed down the road and saw the horse. “Have you seen a little girl with a sack in her hand?” asked the witch. “Oh yeah, if you hurry, you will catch her” answered the horse.

The witch rushed down the road and saw the mill. “Have you seen a little girl with a sack in her hand?” asked the witch. “Oh yeah, she is napping right there in the shade” answered the mill.

The witch rushed to the girl and turned her into a stone. She took what was hers and went back home.

The other sister warring about her sibling being gone for so long, wandered into the woods herself. She also stumbled across the same witch’s house. She was also welcomed and warned as her sister. And as her sister she couldn’t resist the curiosity and looked inside the chimney. And there it was, the sack full of gold. And here we go again, the other sister grabbed the bag and ran off, too.

She came across the same cow, which hasn’t been milked for a few days. “Little girl” said the cow “Would you find some time to milk me?” “Of course” answered the girl and milked the cow.

Shortly after that she came across the same sheep, which hasn’t been sheared for a few months. “Little girl” said the sheep “Would you find some time to shear me?” “Of course” answered the girl and sheared the sheep.

She went on and came across the same horse, which hasn’t been ridden for a few years. “Little girl” said the horse “Would you find some time to ride me?” “Of course” answered the girl and rode the horse.

When she saw the same mill, she was asked “Little girl would you find some time to turn me? Nobody has done it for a long time.” “Of course” answered the girl and turned the mill.

She got tired after performing all those tasks and took a nap in the shade.

The witch got home and her gold was gone again. “I should have known better” she screamed and rushed down the road.

Upon seeing the cow, the witch asked her “Have you seen a little girl with a bag in her hand?” “Not this time, my dear” answered the cow.

The witch rushed down the road and saw the sheep. “Have you seen a little girl with a bag in her hand?” asked the witch. “Not this time, my dear” answered the sheep.

The witch rushed down the road and saw the horse. “Have you seen a little girl with a bag in her hand?” asked the witch. “Not this time, my dear” answered the horse.

The witch rushed down the road and saw the mill. “Have you seen a little girl with a bag in her hand?” asked the witch. “I can’t hear you, my dear” said the mill “Why don’t you get in my hopper, so I can hear you better.” And that’s what the witch did eagerly. In no time, the mill ground the witch up and that was the end of her. As soon as the witch was gone her spell was gone as well. The stone turned back into the little girl. And rest assured she learned her lesson to help the others when in need.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Norwegian Folktale

In a green valley with a rapid river, there were three goats. One was small, who was the youngest. One was middle-sized and middle-aged. The last one was big and the oldest. Three of them were called the Three Billy Goats Gruff. They ate the green grass along one side of the river, but the grass on the other side always seemed to be greener. The goats never dared to cross the bridge to get to the other side, because long ago they were warned about a troll living under the bridge.

However one day, the youngest goat not able to resist that lush grass on the other side, decided to cross the bridge. “No Little Billy” protested older brothers “You don’t want the troll to eat you, do you?” “I don’t believe in something I’ve never seen” answered Little Billy and started trotting across the bridge. All of a sudden a grumpy voice said “Who is daring to cross my bridge?” An ugly troll appeared “Oh ho ho” said the troll “I smell a delicious dinner.” The little goat as scared as he was, he wouldn’t back up. So he said “The kindest dearest troll I’m just a little skinny goat with hardly any meat on my bones, why don’t you wait for my brother who is much bigger than me.” The trolls were not only ugly, but not too smart neither. “Duh, I wasn’t going to eat you. I just wanted to scare you” said the troll. The little goat hopped and here he was on the other side of the river.

When the middle goat saw his little brother on the other side, he decided to cross the bridge, too. Trot-trot the Middle Billy was crossing the bridge. “Who is daring to cross my bridge?” said the mean troll and appeared from under the bridge “Oh ho ho, I smell a delicious dinner.” The middle goat as scared as he was, he wouldn’t back up knowing that his little brother crossed the bridge. So he said “You’re such a smart troll, do you think that you will fill your belly with a little meat on my bones, why don’t you wait for my oldest brother.” “Duh, I wasn’t going to eat you. I just wanted to scare you” said the troll.

The oldest brother seeing both goats on the other side felt as he didn’t have another choice, but to cross the bridge. Trot-trot the Big Billy was crossing the bridge. “Who is daring to cross my bridge?” said the grouchy troll and jumped on the bridge “Oh ho ho, I smell a delicious dinner.” “Oh ho ho, I smell a delicious dinner myself” said the Big Billy. He lowered his head and with his huge horns he butted the mean troll into the river. “And now I will eat the lush green grass for my dinner” said the oldest goat jumping on the other side. The troll was gone with the rushing river and was never seen again. The Three Billy Goats Gruff lived happily, eating grass from both sides of the river.