The King with Horse's Ears - Irish Folktale

In the low-lying mountains of the Irish Island and among its green lush hills lived once King Labhraidh Loingseach. He had a secret, but had learned that keeping it isn’t always best and that it is good to be able to laugh at yourself.

King Labhraidh was a very sensitive about the way he looked. His crown was designed in such a way that it covered his ears. Why? He wanted to make sure that nobody would discover his secret. What was the secret? He was born with horse’s ears!

Horse’s ears or not, he still needed a haircut as everybody else. Every six weeks a barber was selected randomly to cut the king’s hair. Afterwards, the barber was thrown into dungeon and killed. The King didn’t want to take any chance.

The news spread throughout the kingdom quickly. Soon no barber could be found to cut the king’s hair.

Upon the seventh week without his haircut, the king got furious and ordered two of his soldiers to fetch a barber or their lives would be on the line. The soldier knew the true meaning of king’s words and knew to better come back with a barber.

They searched eagerly on the first day with no luck. The second day seemed no better until they came across a remote village in the mountains. Young barber by the name of Johnny Gruagach, who lived with his mother, was about to open the front door of his barbershop when he was grabbed and tied by two soldiers. “You are to give a haircut to the king,” announced one of the soldiers.

While the soldiers were approaching the castle, the young barber’s mother entered his shop for a chat, but to her surprise it was empty.

She ran across the tiny village yelling, “Has anybody seen Johnny?”

A neighbor rushed toward her, “I thought you knew. The soldiers took him to the castle to give the king a haircut.” Her cries reached the whole village.

Eventually she was calmed by kindly neighbors and vowed to plead with the king for her son’s life. And that’s what she did. She set on the long trek to the castle.

Once there, she threw herself on the floor in front of the king and pleaded with her tearing eyes. “Johnny is all I have. The little he earns keeps us from starving. I beg you to spare him.”

The king was moved, but wondered if he could trust the young barber. “I will spare his life, but if he doesn’t keep my secret, you will both respond with your lives.”

The woman thanked the king repeatedly and returned home.

In the adjacent room, small and dark, her terrified son was awaiting the king.

A short time later, the king entered the room and sat on a simple chair. The barber instinctively removed the crown. To his astonishment, tow horse’s ears popped up. Johnny suppressed a laugh.

Once the haircut was done, the king spoke. “Let me give you a warning. Your life is being spared today, but if you ever speak a word of this to anybody, not only you, but also your mother will pay for this with your lives.”

Upon his return to the village, people wondered how he escaped with his life. But promise was a promise. He wouldn’t say a word. However, his desire to share his secret was getting stronger and stronger to a point that he couldn’t eat or sleep. His worried mother fetched a doctor.

“Well, he seems to be perfectly fine,” announced the doctor after a thorough examination. “Is something on your mind that is bothering you?”

After a short hesitation, the boy burst out, “I have a secret, which I cannot reveal.”

“Well,” the doctor stroked his long grey beard, “Why don’t you to the Wood of Direen and find the tallest oak tree at the edge of the forest. Tell your secret to its trunk. This way you will relieve yourself without breaking your promise.”

And that’s what the boy did the following morning. In no time the boy felt great.

A month later, the king hosted a big feast to celebrate a great harvest. All the people were invited, including the poets and musicians.

On the day of the feast, the king’s famous harpist noticed that his harp’s base was cracked. He rushed to the nearby Wood of Direen and cut a piece of timber from an oak tree at the edge of the forest. He returned to the castle and repaired his harp just in time for the feast.

“Let’s begin the feast with the music,” declared the king.

The harpist gently stroked the strings. But to the utter dismay of all, these words rang out, “King Labhraidh Loingseach has two horse’s ears.”

The king grew in rage at first. But as giggles spread across the room, prompting some laughs, the king’s rage loosened. He lifted his crown, revealing the huge ears and laughed out loud himself.

 

Source: The King with Horse’s Ears and Other Irish Folktales by Batt Burns

Finn McCool and the Great Fish - Irish Folktale

In the country of Ireland, in its northeastern land, River Boyne streams across green lush hills of the countryside (yellow line). Its calm waters carry the fish of salmon and trout, passing by the quiet villages. In one of those villages once lived a giant…

A very long time ago, in a small village situated up on a gentle hill lived a giant by the name of Finn McCool. He was known for his great strength and kind heart. When the rain threatened to pour down from the dark clouds, he helped men to gather the hay. When the sunrays were beaming bright and hot, he helped women to pull the vegetables from the gardens.

He was always kind and helpful. So it hurt, when he once overheard people whispering, “He’s a bit of a turnip head.” It was true he wasn’t terrible smart, but he had a big heart.

In the nearby town lived an old wise man. Many asked him for his advice, which he granted gladly. However, when asked for the source of his wisdom, he would reply, “I will reveal it only to the right one.”

Finn knew of the wise man as well. “Maybe he’ll tell me,” he mumbled to himself.

The giant was too big to enter the house. He sat next to it with his hands resting on the hatched roof. From the blue house walked out the wise man, “You’ve come at last.”

Taken by surprise, giant’s big eyes raised the eyebrows questioningly.

“I know who you are and I’ve been waiting for you,” said the old man. “I know that your heart is as big as you are, but why do you need wisdom?”

“To know how to serve the land and its people, to answer when asked and to speak when needed,” replied the giant.

The old man nodded. “Very well. What you need to do is catch a red salmon in the River Boyne. The fish holds the wisdom of the world. Cook the fish and eat it, then the wisdom will be yours.”

Finn thanked the man and left.

With five strides he stood by the river, where he dropped his line. He saw dark brownish fish. He saw silver fish. But there was no sign of red fish.

One hour went by, then another. Finn was about to snooze, when he felt the line being pulled. It was the red salmon at the end of the hook.

He pulled the fish swiftly out of the water. He looked at its red scale gleaming in the sunlight. He looked in its eyes and saw the wisdom, which didn’t feel right to take away from anybody. “I can’t sacrifice you for my own sake,” spoke Finn.

He pulled the hook from the fish’ bleeding lip and at the same time the hook pricked his thumb. He sucked on it and something unexpected had happened. The giant felt a tide going through his giant body.

“Thank you for sparing my life,” spoke the fish. “With my blood, my wisdom seeped into you. I know you will use it well.”

Gently he laid the salmon back in the river.

With five strides he was back at the old man’s house. But the wise man was not there. Instead he noticed a small fountain with a metal fish set on a pole, stretched above the water as ready to swim. It was right in front of the house. “Was this here before,” he wondered.

The people quickly noticed the giant’s wisdom. He spoke with the kings presenting the needs and wants of Ireland. He saved the Irish land from the invasions of Vikings. But above all he remained the same Finn, kind and helpful.

Source: Finn McCool and the Great Fish by Eve Bunting

How the Drum Came to the People - Native American Folktale

The Northwest region of the US includes Oregon, Washington, and parts of the adjacent inland areas. As buffalo played a vital role in the Great Plains for Native people, in the Northwest it was salmon. The people of the coastal regions are great canoe builders, making beautifully carved boats. This story of Salish people illustrates how music brings people together and helps them to express themselves.

A very long time ago, Sun looked down at his people and saw quietness and sadness. So he sent for Coyote, the wise one.

“Coyote I have given my people warmth and light. Why are they still so sad?” asked Sun.

“It’s true you have given them many things, but they do not know how to express themselves. Birds and tress know how to sing, but people don’t.”

“If that is so, then I want you to go back and find a way for people to express themselves.”

Coyote went back down to earth. He walked along the trail wondering how he was going to do it, when he met Beaver. He told him about his encounter with Sun and his wish.

“I know what we can do,” spoke Beaver. “A young hunter has plenty of skin set up in his tipi next to the big hollow stump. We can spread the skin onto the hollow stump.”

They waited for the night and while the young hunter was asleep, they sneaked inside the tipi. Took one of the stretched out skin and put it on the hollow stump and tied it to the stump.

The following morning, when the young hunter woke up, he got angry seeing his skin stretched and tied to a stump. He tried pulling it off the stump, but it was tied so tightly he couldn’t release the skin. He looked around and saw a wooden club on the ground. “If I can’t pull you, then I’ll beat you.” Then he struck the skin and to his surprise, it gave a nice sound. He struck the skin again, but softer this time. The sound touched his heart.

Far down the mountain, the people heard the sound and came running towards it.

“What is that sound?” they asked.

“It is right here,” the young hunter pointed to the stump. “When I strike the dried skin, it gives a sound. Listen.”

He began to beat upon the dried skin. The people listened and their hearts filled with joy. They began to dance and sing.

Up in the sky, Sun listened and smiled. Now he saw happiness.

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

Tu-tok-a-nu-la Story of Native American

The state of California stretches along the coast in the south-western part of the US. It was one of the most populous parts of the American continent in pre-Columbian times. There was an abundance of fruits, berries, and edible roots, therefore there was no such need for agriculture as in other parts of the country. There are several different groups of Miwok people situated between San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys into the Sierra Nevadas. This story from Miwok culture teaches the importance of persistence and describes how Yosemite’s geologic features came to be.

A very long time ago, a mother bear and her two cubs walked along the river in the Yosemite Valley. It wasn’t long, when the first cub jumped into the river, followed by the second and third cub. They played and chased each other. Then they jumped out and laid down on a big flat boulder in the sun to dry their fur. Soon they fell asleep in the warm sunlight with the mother bear.

Meanwhile a strange thing happened. The earth surrounding the stone receded down and the big stone was raised up. When the mother bear and the cubs woke, they found themselves trapped atop steep-sided stone. They called for help.

In the valley below, the other animals heard their cries for help.

“I will climb up,” volunteered Meadow Mouse. But it was a very short distance before she slid back down.

“I can do this,” yelled Pack Rat. But he as well slid down to the bottom.

“Watch me,” bragged Raccoon. But he got no farther than the others before sliding down.

Grizzly Bear and Mountain Lion tried it as well, but their claws only left the marks in the side of the great rock.

Meanwhile, a little Measuring Worm without a word began her crawl up the rock. She could move only a little at a time, but she did it without sliding back. She kept on climbing one day, then another until she reached the top.

 

Finally, she spun a rope and used it to lower the mother bear and her cubs down to the bottom.

The great rock still stands there and today it is known as El Capitan. But the old people knew it as Tu-tok-a-nu-la, meaning Measuring Worm’s Rock.

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

Why Moon Has One Eye - Native American Folktale

 

The Southwest of the US encompasses a dry area of high desert, mountains, and plains. It includes Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and parts of southern Utah and Colorado. Within this area there were two major cultural groups of Native American: the Tewan (or Pueblo), which includes the Hopi, the Zuni, and others living along the Rio Grande, and the second group made of the Dineh (or Navajo), and the Tinneh (or Apache). Those original tribes developed forms of dry-land agriculture. Through irrigation from the great river and the breeding of plants suited to the dry conditions, they grew corn, beans, squash, and other plants. Pueblo tradition says that there must be balance in all things, including darkness and light. And that’s where this story comes from.

A very long time ago, Moon and Sun kept watch over the earth. They watched for people who worked and played, for animals and birds who flew and sang, and for all the plants and flowers which bloomed and fragranced the air.

Sun did this during the day and Moon did this during the night. There was never any darkness. And for a while, it was all good.

However, since there was no darkness, people and animals didn’t know when to take a rest, flowers bloomed without stopping, as a result people, animals, and flowers grew tired. People and children stopped smiling and laughing. Birds singing became scratchy. Flowers lost their fragrance.

Sun and Moon noticed this and knew they had to do something about this.

“I will give up one of my eyes,” Sun said. “So it won’t be so bright during the daytime.”

“No, I must give up one of my eyes,” Moon responded. “Then the darkness will come over night, so the people, animals, and plants will be able to rest.”

So it was that Moon gave up one of the eyes. Now the night was no longer bright.

 

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

How the Buffalo Came to Be - Native American Folktale

The Great Plains of the US encompasses the wide, flat, grassy regions from the Rocky Mountains (W) to the Mississippi River (E) and from southern Saskatchewan (N) down to Colorado (S). Within this area there are four major cultural groups of Native American: the Lakota (or Sioux), the Cheyenne, the Pawnee, and the Blackfeet. Those tribes were excellent agriculturalists. However, as they were pushed south from the Great Lakes region, they quickly learned new skills such as how to tame wild horses. They rode and bred them, becoming some of the greatest horsemen in the world. Most of them gave up farming for buffalo hunting. With horses they were able to follow and hunt the migratory buffalo herds. Lakota’s culture, after the coming of horses, was built on the buffalos that provided them with food, fuel, clothing, covering for their tipis, tools, and other necessities of life.

A long time ago, Lakota people lived beneath the earth. When their leader, Tokahe, heard that there was a place above them with much light, he spoke up, “Let us leave the underworld and seek light.”

But there was a wise man, Tatanka, he warned them, “Life will be much harder on the outside. Stay where you are.”

Tokahe ignored the warning and led his people up from the underworld. Once they reached a cave called Wind Cave and came out, the way behind them closed. So they knew they had to make this new world their home.

Lakota people enjoyed the beauty of the new world, the light of the sun during the day and the brightness of the moon and stars at night. But they also felt the heat and dryness of the summer and the snow and coldness of the winter. Food was difficult to find. It seemed as the people would not survive.

Tatanka, the holy man who had warned them about this, took pity on them. He decided to sacrifice himself in order to save the people. He changed his form to a great shaggy beast known as buffalo, so that people could hunt.

“Use every part of me,” he said. “The meat will keep you strong, the hide will keep you warm, and the bones can be used to create spoons, shovels, knives and more.”

Then, from one animal many multiplied crossing the plains in great herds.

The people learned how to use skin for furs to cover their bodies and to make coverings for their lodges. They used bones for domestic purposes as well as for building sled runners.

And so it was that Tatanka’s gift saved his people and the Lakota became known as the Buffalo Nation.

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

The Coming of Corn - Native American Folktale

The Southeast area of the US stretches from the Mississippi River (W) to the Atlantic coast (E) and from Virginia (N) through Florida (S). Within this area there are five major cultural groups of Native American: the Aniyunwiya (or Cherokee), the Choctaw, the Chickasaw, the Muskogee (or Creek) and the Seminole. These groups became known as the Five Civilized Tribes because of the way they easily embraced certain aspects of European-American culture. Those tribes were excellent agriculturalists. Corn was a mainstay of their lives, which this Choctaw story presents. It also points out that being different is not a bad thing.

A long time ago, before people cultivated corn and even knew about it, there was an orphan boy. He didn’t participate in hunting as other boys from the village. He on the other hand liked playing in the fields and talking to birds.  

One day as he was talking to the birds in the fields, a crow flew from across the water and landed in front of him, dropping a single seed at his feet. “Plant it and water it every day. And you will be rewarded.”

The boy did as he was directed. He found a clearing where he planted the seed, watering it every day. After a few days, a green shoot poked out of the ground. Then it grew taller and taller until it was a large plant.

The people from the village laughed at him, “Why are you wasting your time? You should be helping the men to hunt.” The boy had not deterred a bit. He continued to care for the plant and he even named it Tanchi, meaning Corn.

Now golden bobbles began to appear and fruit formed on the plant. When the boy tasted it, it was the most delicious sweet he had ever tasted. When he served it to the people of his village, they were amazed at the sweet taste. They no longer laughed at the boy.

The boy dried some of the sweet seeds and planted them. With each planting the clearing grew into a green field topped with golden fruits. When it was time, to reap the harvest, the boy said to his people, “Remember, Crow brought us the first seed. So we must share some of our harvest every year with the crows.”

The people did as he said. Every year a patch of the corn was left in the field for the crows and other birds to share.

 

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

Maushop, the Good Giant - Native American Folktale

The northeastern area of the US stretches from the Great Lakes (W) to the Atlantic Ocean (E) and from the southern woodlands of eastern Canada (N) to the northern Appalachian Mountains (S). Within this area there are two major cultural groups of Native American: the Iroquoian people, including the Huron, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca; and the Algonquin people, including Wampanoag and Lenape. The Wampanoag are the people who helped the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony survive. This story comes from the Wampanoag people, who teach the importance of self-reliance in a community.

A long time ago, when the forests were thick and there were no cities, there was a giant named Maushop. He lived along the Massachusetts coast with the Wampanoag people, also known as the People of the First Light. He loved the people very much and wanted to help them in any way he could.

When the days were getting shorter and nights longer, people needed more and more fire to keep them warm.

“Mauship, can you fetch some wood from the forest?” they would ask. And that’s what he did. He went to the forest, broke a big tree into parts and carried it into the settlement.

“Mauship, can you chop the wood into smaller pieces and carry it to each of our wigwam?” they would ask further. And that’s what the giant did.

When the fire was blazing and their bodies warmed, they would ask, “Can you bring us some food to eat?” And once again that’s what he did. He caught a great fish, cleaned it, set it on sticks above fire and served it to people.

The people got used to relying on the giant so much that they became lazy. They would lay about the settlement doing nothing. And that’s when the giant realized that he had done too much for the people. So he had to teach them how to rely on themselves.

He taught them how to make a fire, how to plow and sow and pick up the harvest, how to store food for winter months so they could survive until the next harvest comes. He taught them all this and more.

“Now you should be able to provide for yourselves and survive on your own,” with those words he left the settlement and was never seen again.

 

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac

How Stories Came to Be - Native American Folktale

The northeastern area of the US stretches from the Great Lakes (W) to the Atlantic Ocean (E) and from the southern woodlands of eastern Canada (N) to the northern Appalachian Mountains (S). Within this area there are two major cultural groups of Native American: the Iroquoian people, including the Huron, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca; and the Algonquin people, including Wampanoag and Lenape. This story comes from the Seneca people, who teach the importance of listening. And listening also means to listen to the earth.

A long time ago, when there were no stories, life was hard for people. They had nothing to talk about during the long winter nights. They sat around fire feeling bored.

But all this had changed with a little boy known as Gaqka, meaning Crow. He was called so, because he was covered in black from head to toes, including face and his clothes. He didn’t have a mother or father to take care of him. Some people laughed at him because of his appearance. It made the boy feel sadder and more isolated.

One day as he was returning home from hunting, he came across a great cliff, which looked like man’s face. He felt tired and the rock forming man’s face for some reason was comforting to him. So he decided to rest there for a bit, leaning against the rock.

“If only I knew how to make people listen to me instead of laughing at me,” sighed the boy.

“Would you like me to tell you a story,” a deep voice echoed.

“Who is it?” Gaqka looked around searching for the person who just spoke, but as he looked around he only saw the rock face and realized that it was the rock who had spoken to him.

The boy got scared a bit, but his curiosity got the better of him. “I don’t know what a story is, but whatever it is I will listen.”

“Well, you must give me something first and in return I will tell you a story,” said the rock.

“Very well, here is a fish,” he handed his day’s catch from the river.

“Very well,” responded the rock. “Now I shall tell you a story.” And so he did. He told a story of how the earth was made. Gaqka listened intently, remembering each word carefully. Once home, he would retell the story to his people.

After the stone spoke the last words, the boy thanked him and hurried back to his longhouse.

The same night, as people sat around the fire with only occasional sighing to be heard, Gaqka spoke, “Shall I tell a story?” Only laughing and snorting echoed as the response to his question.  

“Very well,” spoke the boy. “I shall tell you a story of how the earth came to be.” And so he did. People listened keenly as they had never heard a story before.

“That was wonderful,” a different response echoed this time. “Tell us another story.”

“I will,” replied the boy. “But it shall wait until tomorrow’s night.”

The next day, Gaqka went back to the rock face and asked for more stories. And so it continued for quite some time. Gaqka would listen to the rock face for more tales to share with his people each night. And just as he gave gifts to the great stone, so the people gave gifts to him to show their appreciation for his stories. He was given new clothing, moccasins, and jewelry. He was no longer a small boy in dirty clothes, but a tall well-dressed man. He was no longer called Gaqka. Now his name was Hage-ota, the storyteller.

Some tried to find out where he learned his stories by following him. To their surprise they found the young man sitting by the face rock and closely listening to something. But the only thing they heard was the wind blowing and rustling the leaves on the trees.

One day, when Hage-ota came to the face rock to listen to another story, he heard instead, “I have shared with you all the stories, which once belonged to the stones and now they belong to the people. Anyone who truly listens to the people may hear a story.”

And so it is that you should listen.

Source: The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac