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Monday, February 5, 2024

Saint Valentine the Kindhearted by Ned Bustard




 Saint Valentine the Kindhearted shares the legend of God’s brave and loving servant named Valentine.


Valentine’s story is told through poems which have a fun rhyme. He was born in Terni, Italy, and lived during a time when Rome had many gods. He praised only one God and spread God’s love and word. With his kind heart, he prayed for God to bring healing to those who needed it.

Under leader Claudius love and commitment were seen as sign of weakness. Despite that Valentine spread the blessing of marriage.

When thrown into jail, Valentine continued to praise love in short notes.

“Love is patient.”
“Love is kind.”

He signed his notes, “from your Valentine.” He sent those notes to folks in every direction.

He was buried on February 14th. Thus, we celebrate love on this day to “recall the kind saint who loved one and all.”

Very little is known about the real Saint Valentine, and yet such profound story was created about him through poems. Those loving and rhyming poems are beautiful commemoration of someone who was a noble figure thorough his acts, spreading love and kindness even when death threatened him.

The illustrations are unique in a form of stained glass window, which reflect well the whole story and its meaning.

This is a charming way to introduce children to a legendary figure who was selfless and very generous with his acts. This book is intended for audience 4-8 years old. 


More of such stories at: https://biopurposeland.blogspot.com/


Source: IVP Kids

Monday, February 8, 2016

Valentine's Day Legend






At the heart of France is situated a very romantic village of Saint-Valentin. Every year, the village comes to life in the run-up to February 14, when locals decorate their houses with hearts and flowers.

February 14 is worldwide recognized as Valentine’s Day. During the Middle Ages, it was believed that birds paired in mid-February. This was then associated with the romance of Valentine. There are many legends associated with Valentine, many of them created in the 18th century. Here is one from the 20th century.



Once there was a boy named Valentine. At his birth, he received a beautiful bow and a set of gold-tipped arrows from his famous goldsmith uncle. As soon as Valentine could walk and his hands and arms were strong enough, his uncle taught him how to use the bow and arrows.

They set up a target and practiced shooting at it, but never at any birds or animals of the forest. Valentine loved all animals and his favorite became a bluebird once he learned from his uncle about the rarest of all birds, the golden bluebird, believed to have a heart of gold.

One day, when Valentine ventured into the forest on his own, he noticed a gold-flecked bluebird. “It is the golden bluebird!” He admired the bird greatly.

Meanwhile, a king who reigned over the land fell deeply in love with a beautiful princess of a nearby kingdom. As he confessed his desire, she asked him for token of his love. “I’ve heard about the most beautiful bluebird with a heart of gold. Bring me the heart and I shall marry you.”

The king called upon his wise man as he had no idea how to find this rare bird. The wise man looked through his books and announced, “This bluebird can be obtained only by the hunter with the golden arrows.”

The king demanded all his messengers to look for the boy with golden arrows. One of them, soon after, came across Valentine wandering the forest. “What a good fortune,” spoke the messenger. “I see you have the golden arrows. The king wishes you to shoot the bluebird for its golden heart.”

“But I have never shot a bird or any animal of the forest,” protested Valentine.

“You must. That’s what the king demands,” replied the messenger.

“I can’t. It would break my heart,” objected Valentine.

“Either you do it or I will have to take you to the palace dungeon,” retorted the messenger.

With his head down, Valentine was led to the palace dungeon. The dungeon was dark and cold. Valentine tossed on a pile of straw during the night. For a moment he thought that he had heard a flutter of wings, but quickly thought to himself that there were no birds in such place. Moment later, the wings fluttered again and a voice spoke, “I’ve come to save you.”

“Who is there?” asked the boy.

“Your friend, the bluebird.”

“I thought I’d never see you again, but you can’t help me,” answered Valentine.

“Yes, I can. I brought you a golden heart made by your uncle. Look!” chirped the bird.

The most beautiful bright heart sparkled within the dark walls of the dungeon. “Thank you my dear friend,” said Valentine.

As soon as the first light reached the cell, the keeper of the dungeon appeared.

“Here is the golden heart,” presented the boy.

The keeper set the boy free and rushed to the castle to deliver the heart.

“It is exquisite,” gasped the king. “I hope the princess will accept this heart as it is not real as she requested it.”

The king mounted his fastest horse and rode off at great speed.

He found her sitting in the garden feeding the birds. Holding out his gift, he said, “My beloved here is my token. I hope it pleases you.”

“It does, indeed,” replied the princess. “I’ve been watching the birds in my garden and felt great shame in my request.”

Overjoyed, the king told the princess the story of Valentine.

“We should honor this brave young man,” suggested the princess.

“It shall be so,” announced the king. “From now on, the fourteenth of February shall be known as Valentine’s Day.”

“And all lovers shall give a heart, fashioned in any manner, to their beloved,” added the princess.

 

Source: A Valentine Fantasy by Carolyn Haywood


Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Ashpet - Appalachian Tale

Appalachian Mountains are a range of mountains stretching across eastern North America. One of its peaks is called Eagle’s Nest Mountain. It overlooks Lake Junaluska. At its shore in the shadow of the mountain once stood a lodge, taking us the story of Cinderella.

The story of Cinderella is very old. The earliest version is of Chinese origin and dates back to 850 A.D. Since, then hundreds of variants have been collected from around the world. The Grimm Brothers recorded the German version of “Aschenputtel.” Most likely the European settlers brought a similar version to the Southern Appalachian area of America and eventually told it as “Asphet.”

A long time ago, in a cabin located deep in the Southern Appalachian Mountains lived a servant girl called Ashpet. She was hired by the Widow Hooper and her two daughters, Myrtle and Ethel, to help with the household chores.

Every summer, the folk of Eagle’s Nest Mountain gathered for a big church meeting. The Widow and her two daughters always dressed their best, leaving Asphet with all imaginable chores: washing, ironing, and mending. The poor girl was so overworked that she didn’t notice that the fire had gone out in the fireplace.

Next morning, furious Widow sent her younger daughter to old Granny’s house to borrow some fire.

“Why can’t Ashpet go?” complained Myrtle. “She’s supposed to do all the chores.”

“She can’t go,” yelled the Widow. “She has to finish preparing our dresses.”

Myrtle approached the old Granny’s house and yelled, “I came for some fire!”

A scratchy voice echoed from the house, “Why don’t you come in and brush my hair first.”

“I’m not brushing your hair!” hollered Myrtle and left.

When she came back empty handed, it almost sent the Widow into a fit.

“Ethel!” she yelled, “run to Granny’s and fetch some fire.”

Ethel didn’t do any better as she didn’t want to comb Granny’s hair neither. And returned empty handed.

The Widow exploding with rage threw Ashpet out the door and commanded, “You better come back with some fire!”

Ashpet approached the cabin and knocked softly on the front door.

“Who is it?”

“My name is Ashpet, and I was sent to borrow some fire,” answered the girl.

“Why don’t you come in and brush my hair first,” asked Granny.

Ashpet went inside, picked up a brush and combed the old lady’s long hair.

“Are you going to the big church meeting,” asked Granny.

“Don’t reckon I will. I’m just a serving girl with all the chores to do and no time left for myself.”

Granny smiled and kept her thoughts to herself. Instead she said, “Why don’t you help yourself with the fire.”

Ashpet started a new fire at the house and heated a pot of water. The mother and sisters bathed and Asphet helped them with dresses.

As soon as they were gone, Granny appeared at the door.

“Knock, knock, why don’t you meet me outside?”

Ashpet did as asked. Granny poked her head inside the house, murmured something under her nose, and tapped her walking stick three times on the floor. The cabin shook. Furniture scrapped. Dishes rattled. When the door flew open, Ashpet peered inside. The cabin was spotless: the floor was swept, the dishes were washed and dried, the clothes were cleaned and folded, the beds were made. And even there was a new dress, spread on a chair, red as the ripest raspberries and red shoes matching the color of the dress stood by the chair.

“Don’t you stand and stare. Change your clothes and catch up with the others. But remember be back before midnight.” And with that the old woman was gone.

In a blink of an eye, Ashpet cleaned up and fit her new dress and shoes. And she danced her way to the meeting.

After the church sermon, the folk set outside for picnic. The Widow and her two daughters approached the doctor’s son to join them. But he already had his eyes on Ashpet and asked her to accompany him. The mother and sisters flew into a temper and left the picnic.

Time slipped on by as Ashpet and the young man walked and talked and laughed. Just as they were strolling by the river and crossing a small bridge, a yellow moon and tiny stars lighted the dark sky, reminding Ashpet of the time. She quickly kicked one of her shoes off into the bushes.

“Oh, I lost my shoe,” she declared.

As soon as the doctor’s son turned around to search for the shoe, Ashpet took off through the woods.

The next morning the Widow questioned the girl about her whereabouts last night, but before Ashpet could utter a word, Myrtle yelled, “Mother, mother, the doctor’s son is approaching our house.”

“What are you waiting for!” yelled the mother. “Get dress quickly.”

“You!” she pointed her finger at Ashpet. “You hide under the washtub and don’t you dare to peek out.”

“Knock, knock, Widow Hooper. Can I come in? I won’t take much of your time.”

“Of course, come in and stay as long as you wish.”

The doctor’s son explained that he searched every cabin already looking for the girl who lost her shoe last night.

“I’m sure it belongs to one of my daughters,” declared the Widow.

Ethel came down. She pushed and shoved and twisted her foot, but the shoe just wouldn’t fit.

Then Myrtle came down. She snatched the shoe and crammed and pushed her foot into it, but her foot was too long and wouldn’t fit the shoe.

“I thank you both,” said the young man and when he was about to leave, a big black bird flew in. Snatched the shoe and flew over the washtub. The doctor’s son trying to catch the shoe, tripped over the washtub and knocked it right side up. There sat Ashpet, wearing the other shoe.

“I think I found the girl I’ve been looking for,” smiled the young man.

Without looking back, Ashpet walked out the door to marry the doctor’s son.

 

Source: Ashpet retold by Joanne Compton

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Nutcracker Ballet - Russian Tale

The Nutcracker Ballet was composed by Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky. It was based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King story written by German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann. In 1954, the renowned choreographer George Balanchine staged his own production of The Nutcracker Ballet. It has become the basis for the productions we see today and for the story adaptation below. The Nutcracker has become a special part of the Christmas holiday tradition worldwide.

On December 24th, the Christmas Eve, magic happens all over the world. Inside one house, a brother and sister by the name Clara and Frits stood behind the closed door and peeked through the key whole. Their cousins shoving behind them giggled.  

When the door opened, the kids spilled into the parlor. A green fragrant tree stood in the corner of the room. Sweets and lights hung from the branches. “Whaaa” yelled the grandpa hiding behind the door. He was always full of magic, bringing the most unusual gifts.

This year, he brought three tall boxes, each wrapped in bright red paper tide with even brighter red ribbon. He opened the first box. A soldier outfitted in green regimental dress stepped out. When wounded, he saluted and clicked his heels. Harlequin and Columbine stepped out of the next boxes. When wounded, he jiggled and she danced like a ballerina.

When the kids thought that all their presents were unwrapped, the grandpa raised his eyebrows saying, “Aaaah, I think there is one more box to be opened.” He pulled from under a tree, a small box. Out of it appeared a wooden soldier. The grandpa opened the soldier’s mouth and placed a nut inside them. Crack!

“Aw, that’s a nutcracker,” said Clara.

The grandfather handed the Nutcracker to Clara. She didn’t have time to take a good look at the Nutcracker, when Fritz grabbed it from her and pushed a nut into his mouth. Snap! With a careless tug, Fritz broke the Nutcracker’s jaw.

The father scolded Fritz and the grandpa repaired the soldier’s mouth the best he could.

The same night, when everybody was tacked in bed and deep in sleep, Clara’s eyes were wide opened. She crept back to the parlor and cradled the soldier warmly in her arms. She drifted into a sleep on the sofa. Bong! A clock stroke midnight. Clara rose up from the sofa and couldn’t believe her eyes. A mouse scurried across the room and commended an army of mice. Frit’s toy soldiers marched out in tight formation. They charged against the mice. A fight broke out. The mice led by the Mouse King were winning. The Nutcracker charged in and led the toy soldiers to victory.

The Nutcracker placed a crown on Clara’s head. At the same time, Clara found herself standing at the foot of a snowy hill and in front of her eyes, the awkward wooden figure turned into a handsome prince. He bowed deeply before her and led her to the edge of the ice-covered shore. They stepped onto a sleigh-bow, whisking them into his kingdom.

As they stepped out, Clara noticed that the ice was behind them, but in front of them stood the most colorful and the sweetest land.

“Welcome to the Land of Sweets,” spoke the prince. “I rule from the Marzipan Castle.”

Clara and the prince were led inside the castle, where a banquet was awaiting them. High-stepping Russians kicked up their heels across the banquet hall. Flower girls danced and whirled around the room. Finally, the fairies buzzed around. It was all so colorful echoing with cheerful music.

When music faded, Clara knew it was time to return home. As the prince said his goodbye, he promised Clara, “We would see each other again.”

On Christmas morning, Clara awoke in her warm bed. As she held the Nutcracker in her arms, she recalled the adventures of last night and knew instantly a secret of Christmas – that magic is the best present of all.

Source: The Nutcracker Ballet by Vladimir Vagin. The author is also an award-winning illustrator of Russian Folk Tales. The illustrations of this book fill each page transporting readers to the ballet story. At the same time, the story brings a tribute to the Russian heritage of music, painting, and dance.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Mexican Christmas Traditions

The colorful city of Oaxaca located between high mountains in southern Mexico honors its traditions and its people with celebrations starting on December 12 with a series of festivals and ending on January 6 with the arrival of presents.

On December 12 the festivities start with Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe. According to Mexican legend, Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian religion, appeared to an Aztec Indian who lived during the 1500s, a simple peasant named Juan Diego. She announced that she had come to help Mexican Indians, giving hope and peace to many people. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the name given to Mary as she appeared to Juan Diego. Each Christmas season starts with a celebration in her honor. Boys dress as Juan Diego, and girls dress as
an Indian woman of his time. Children come to church to be blessed by a priest and to have their picture taken in the nearby park. After church, they celebrate with family and friends in the park.

On December 16 nine nightly processions start. Two children are chosen to lead the first procession. It begins with children acting out the story of Mary and her husband, Joseph, on the night of Jesus’ birth. The two chosen children pretend to be searching for an inn to spend the night. They lead their group to a neighbor’s house, where they are invited and the celebration begins. Processions take place at different homes on each of the nine nights before Christmas.

On December 18 Fiesta of the Virgin of Soledad follows. Soledad is the Spanish word for “solitude.” The Virgin of Soledad represents the Virgin Mary after the death of her son, Jesus. This parade is a serious event, where girls and boys dress in angel costumes, riding on a float and honoring the Virgin of Soledad. Tall figures with huge, colorful heads march and dance past the parade floats. A tower of fireworks is built and late at night, the fuses are lit. Back at home, families set up Christmas displays called nacimientos, showing nativity scenes with figures of Mary, Joseph, and animals. The baby Jesus is missing as it awaits his birth on Christmas Day.

Many parts of Mexico have unique Christmas fiestas. On December 23 Oaxaca celebrates the Night of the Radishes. This tradition began more than one hundred years ago. Every year at Christmastime, Indian farmers came to the city to sell vegetables. To make their stands more attractive, the farmers carved radishes into interesting shapes. Over time, radish carving became an important art of Oaxaca, leading to a fiesta. Nowadays, children and grown-ups enter the contest. At night, the city square fills with people. They admire the radishes carvings. Later in the evening, judges award the prizes. After the contest, children enjoy a dessert called bunuelos, sugary fried tortillas served with honey. After eating, children take part in another Mexican tradition, making a wish, while tossing bunuelo bowl to the ground, where it shatters. Breaking old pottery at the start of the New Year is an ancient custom of Mexican Indians. It began thousands of years ago. In modern times, the smashing of the bowls celebrates the birth of the baby Jesus.

On December 24, the Christmas Eve, thousands of people come to the city square for parades. After which, many families go to church services. Then they share a large Christmas meal with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. At midnight, families place the missing figure of baby Jesus in their nacimientos. Some children receive presents on Christmas Night; some have to wait a few more days.

January 6th the last day of festivities is marked with the arrival of the Three Kings. Those children, who had to wait a few more days for their presents, set their shoes outside by the door a day earlier on January 5th. They hope that the Three Kings will remember them.

Presents and treats are important parts of Christmas in Oaxaca, but so is honoring the traditions of Mexican culture. Being with friends and family is the best of all.

 

Source: A Mexican Christmas by Michael Elsohn Ross

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Tuko and the Birds - Filipino Folktale

The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands spread in the western Pacific Ocean of Southeast Asia. According to legend, a giant once hurled a huge rock into the sky. It fell into the Pacific Ocean and broke to bits, creating the Philippine Islands.

The tokay gecko, a large lizard found throughout Southeast Asia, is called a tuko in the Philippines. Legend says that whenever a tuko swallows anything, it calls its name five times. This fable of tuko is still favorite tale of the Filipino people.

Once on the Philippine island of Luzon, a little house stood on top of Mount Pinatubo, overlooking the bay and its city of Maynilad. Over the years, its thatched palm roof blended with growing trees. All the people forgot about the house except the birds, which used it to practice singing.

The people living by the water enjoyed evenings with birdsongs, carried down the mountainside. The children playing with sand, the women washing the cooking pots, and the men fishing with nets upon hearing the birds, they knew it was time to go to bed.

One night, the birds were awakened by an ear-shuttering sound of “TUKO! TUKO! TUKO! TUKO! TUKO!”

“What was that?” They chirped all at the same time.

Suddenly, something dreadful crouched by the door. The creature was the size of a young crocodile, similar in looks as well, except it was covered with orange-spotted scales.

“What are you?” trembled the pigeon.

“I already told you five times,” snapped the creature. “I am Tuko the gecko, and I’ve come to sing with you.”

The birds looked at each other, “How did you find us?”

“My ears followed your singing,” responded Tuko.

“Can you sing for us?” asked robin.

“TUKO! TUKO! TUKO! TUKO! TUKO!” a dreadful sound pierced the birds’ ears.

He screeched all night. The sleepless birds collapsed in the morning.

He continued his screeching for the whole week. The weary birds couldn’t sleep or sing. The people of Maynilad were tired, too. Without the birds’ singing, they didn’t know when to go to bed.

“He needs to go,” whispered the talon.

“But how will we make him go?” chimed in the parrot.

“We’ll think of something,” responded the eagle. He spent the morning circling the island of Luzon until he spied a wasps’ nest dangling from a branch of a tall tree. “This might be Tuko’s favorite snack.” He snipped the hive and carried it back to Mount Pinatubo.

“Tuko I brought you something,” called the eagle.

The creature woke up from its nap and his tongue flicked, “Zap! Zap! Zap!” All wasps were gone.

“I see that wasps must be your favorite food,” said the talon.

“Oh, no,” responded gecko. “I like rhinoceros beetles best. They’re nice and chewy.”

“Good to know. I may get you some,” replied the eagle with a sly smile. He knew exactly what to do and where to find it. He flew to the other side of the island to a gum tree. He pecked the trunk with his beak. Sap oozed from the holes in the bark. He caught the milky liquid in half a coconut shell. With the shell full of sap, he returned to Mount Pinatubo and formed the rubbery sap into five rhinoceros beetles. He lined them on the stump and called for Tuko.

“Beetles! Beetles!” yelled happy gecko. He popped one beetle after another. When he pushed the fifth beetle, he mumbled something. His tongue was stuck to his teeth with getah gum. Tuko tried to dig with his feet, but they stuck to his teeth, too. He tripped and tumbled down the hill. He rolled faster and faster down the mountain. And never was heard from or seen again.

The same day, in the evening, the birds opened their beaks, and rejoice to sing. Down the mountain, the people were happy to hear the birds’ singing again. They knew when to go to bed and get a good night sleep.

 

Source: Tuko and the Birds by Shirley Climo

Friday, November 13, 2015

A Clever Leprechaun - Irish Folktale

The Irish Island with its lush green hills is known for leprechauns, solitary fairies who are happy living on their own. They earn gold by making shoes for the Wee Folk. Leprechauns are full of mischief and deceit with their clever ways they trick humans who try to steal their treasures. In this story, a salmon poacher learns his lesson that wit is stronger than arrogance.

In the southwest corner of Ireland, not far away from Sneem village, in the fort of Lissaree once lived the most famous shoemaker of all leprechauns named Brohgawn. In his spacious underground chambers was hidden a secret room full of pots of gold.

He fashioned many shoes to the rich and famous in the fairy kingdom. The fairy queen was so pleased with her new pair of shoes that she presented Brohgawn with a magic silver-handled knife. This priceless knife helped the leprechaun create shoes much faster and without wasting any piece of leather.

Brohgawn could determine the exact size of person’s foot without taking any measurement. None of his shoe got wet inside and all of them had the most intricate designs.

The other leprechauns were envious of Brohgawn’s shoemaking ability. They tried to sneak many apprentices to learn the skills and reveal them to others, but the old leprechaun wouldn’t let himself to be tricked.

He liked working in the open air, but this wasn’t easy to avoid prying eyes. So he was forced to find secret places to work. His favorite one was along the Blackwater River in a secluded spot among the tall reeds.

One morning, as he hardly sat down to start his work hidden among the reeds, a salmon poacher grabbed him from behind and threatened him.

“Either you give me a pot of gold or I will roast you alive!”

“My good man,” calmly responded Brohgawn, “there is no need for rudness. I will gladly give you a pot of gold, which is hidden under a boulder just a mere stone's throw from here down the river.”

“I do not believe a single word you’re saying!” barked the poacher. “I will not release my grip until I see the shining gold!”

“Then hold me in your right hand as you already do and grab my knife with your left hand, which I need to release the gold from under the boulder.”

“Let’s not waste any more time!” shouted the poacher while grabbing the knife with his left hand.

When they reached the spot where the gold was hidden, the leprechaun stated.

“If you allow me to stand on the stone, I can quickly open a tiny crevice with one tap of the knife handle.”

“You will not trick me you little leprechaun!” yelled the poacher.

“You keep offending me and there is no need for this,” calmly responded Brohgawn. “Then why don’t you step on the stone with me and I will show you the spot to tap.”

The fisherman spoke through his teeth with his jaws clenched, “This is your last chance.”

They climbed the large rock and the leprechaun pointed to a spot covered with green moss. It was still early morning. The rock was a bit slippery covered with dew. Moss made it even worse. As Brohgawn predicted, when the fisherman clumsily turned the knife with his left hand to tap with the knife’s handle, the blade of the knife had pierced his palm of his hand, causing him to writhe in agony and fall headlong from the rock. His head bumped the trunk of a linden tree, leaving him temporarily stunned. Meanwhile Brohgawn grabbed his knife and ran off.

When he reached his place safely, he murmured to himself.

“Such an adventure is not good for the heart, but it does make a good story.”

 

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