Tales From The Enchanted Forest

Firemakers: An Australian Tale

What one single creation probably changed the course of human evolution? If you're thinking tools then you're close but we're thinking FIRE! If you're looking for a tutorial on how to make a fire in Australia then this is not the episode for you! However, if you are searching for a tale on how Bootoolgah, the crane, and Goonur, the kangaroo rat, created fire and then hid it away from everyone else- then you're in the right place! 
Today’s Australian folktale comes to us from the 1896 book, Australian Legendary Tales: folklore of the Noongahburrahs as told to the Piccaninnies, by K. Langloh Parker.
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The Salty Goose Girl: A Grimm Tale

Combining the stories of the "Goose Girl" and "Love like Salt," we have the tale of the Goose Girl at the Well from the Brothers Grimm! The moral lessons of this tale?
1. Sometimes helping a wild old lady do a meaningless task that feels like torture is worth the hassle.
2. Telling your father you love him like salt can lead to immediate exile...who knew Kings could be so salty? 
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Tales From The Box Office: K-Pop Demon Hunters

Welcome back to our special "Box Office" episodes where we look at the folklore behind the fiction. Today we deep dive into the mythology and monsters behind "K-Pop Demon Hunters" using interviews from co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans.
We might not be covering tales of your idols, but we're still golden because we'll be discussing demon-hunting Shamans, the tale of Princess Bari, Jeoseung saja, Dokkaebi and Gwishin. 
Show notes for K-Pop Demon Hunters monsters and mythology can be found on our website at: Tales From the Enchanted Forest 
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Who's That Animal: Fables and Tales

If you love playing "Who's that Pokemon" then this is the fable game for you! Join Fox as she tries to guess the animals in each tale Sparrow has collected! Sometimes with a furry clue and sometimes without- Sparrow shares 6 short tales from all around the world including tricksters and revenge! 
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The Princess-Knight and the Princess: A Romanian Tale II

This story is adapted from Petre Inspirescu's "Ileana Simziana" or "liane of the Golden Tresses" and is the final part of the story so be sure to check out part one: "The Princess who would be a Prince." 
Last episode the young Princess set off on her quest to save her Empire and her family by pretending to be a Prince. After passing her father's tests and proving her courage, she arrives at the palace and quickly becomes entangled in a quest to free the beautiful Princess Iliane of the Golden Tresses. Fall in love with wave-jumping witches, gender defying curses and oddly enough- security guard nuns. 
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The Princess who would be a Prince: A Romanian Tale I

When the ailing ruler of the last nation to stand tall against a conquering nation finally surrenders, only one thing stands in the way of his people's peace- the Empire demands a prince as a hostage. Having only daughters, he tests their courage until his youngest proves her valour, courage and strength. So, she sets off to become the Princess who would be a Prince. This story is adapted from Petre Inspirescu. This is part one, so stay tuned for part two! 
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The Betrothed of Destiny: An Armenian Adventure

The Prince of the West runs off for seven years to win the hand of the Princess of the East, but when things go sideways, she has to rely on her own skills and wit to survive! Joining her are 40 beautiful maidens as they don disguises, blades and even crowns to survive. The Betrothed of Destiny comes from The Golden Maiden and other folk tales and fairy stories told in Armenia by A.G. Seklemian (1898). 
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The May Queen: The Welsh Mabinogion

It is May which means a whole host of things from Bealtaine to the emergence of the Oak King and Holly King, the Green Man, Persephone, the May Queen and other figures associated with rebirth and fertility. So, in honour of these celebrations and folk figures, we turn to the Welsh Mabinogion, a collection of stories from the 12th-13th centuries. Our first story is the abduction of Creiddylad and our second is the creation of the flower queen, Blodeuwedd. 
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How the Tiger Got its Stripes: Brazilian Folktale

Today we head back to Brazil and our animal folktales straight from Fairy Tales from Brazil: how and why tales from Brazilian folk-lore by folklorist Elsie Spicer Eells. This explanatory tale takes us to a capitalist Tiger and his just punishment for exploiting his sole worker- the rabbit. 
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Saemund the Wise: An Icelandic Wizard

Today we have three tales of Sæmund: The Wise Priest-Wizard of the North! Saemunder/Saemund, an Icelandic folk hero, attended the Black Magic school run by the devil himself. We look at how his tales may have been canonized from their original oral traditions. These tales are "Saemund at the Black School," "The Magic Whistle," and "Saemund on his Deathbed" which all come from “Scandinavian Folktales,” edited and translated by Jacqueline Simpson.
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The Fairy Tree of Dooros: An Irish Fairy Tale

The consequences of accidentally partying too hard after a hurling-match are too much to handle for one little fairy and his fairy tree. Edmund Leamy's Irish Fairy Tale includes the shortest exile known to storytelling, a helpful ogre, ugly princesses and helpful animal companions. Truly a tale for the bingo cards.  
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Persian Pumpkin Tales

March is in full swing as the long preparations towards Nowruz (the Persian New Year) begin! To celebrate spring and all things pickled, we have two stories today- "The Pumpkin Child" and "The Rolling Pumpkin" from Iranian folklore traditions. Whether you want to listen to a Cinderella-esque fairy tale or the misadventures of an old woman, we have something for you! 
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Andersen's Snow Queen: Part Two

Finish the story of the Snow Queen with us as we continue Gerda's journey to save Kai with the help of a chatty crow (and his sweetheart), another couple's happily ever after, the little Robber Girl and a reindeer from Lapland! Will Gerda's quest to save her beloved childhood friend end positively or will she have to just let it go? 
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Andersen's Snow Queen: Part One

With the Groundhog proclaiming an extension to winter, why not go back to one of the most timeless tales of frost and shivers- Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen." She is an infamously familiar figure, but how many of us actually know this wild tale of friendship and love? Join Fox, Sparrow, Kai and Gerda as they tell this story about good and evil (with some trolls for effect). Part One covers chapters one to three of the tale. 
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The Great Race: Chinese Zodiac

Happy Lunar New Year / Spring Festival to all those celebrating! Join Fox and Sparrow as we share the the tale of the Nian, the Jade Emperor's Great Race and the tale of the animals visit to Buddha. Out of the twelve zodiac animals, we discuss some of their attributes and what lies in store for us during the year of the wood Snake! 
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The Snow Maiden: A Russian Faerie Tale

Spring and Father Frost had a lovely daughter who could never love, but what happens when she yearns to?
Aleksandr Ostrovsky's folk play "The Snow Maiden" had many harsh critics including ones that called it anti-theatrical, a story about a stupid king and his stupid subjects, and a pale imitation of Shakespeare's Midsummers Night Dream. However, despite the initial onslaught, the mythologically rich folk story later became a national hit. Follow us on this journey from Afanasyev's "Snow Child" all the way to Nikolai Rimsky‐Korsakov's opera! 
 
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Lord Alaric's Lady: English Midsummer Tale

With Midwinter a few days away and the reign of the Holly King coming to an end, we turn to a Midsummer Tale to help warm us up during these cold months. Barbara Leonie Picard's tale "Lord Alaric's Lady" comes from her fairy tale collection called "The Faun and the Woodcutter" and reminds us what the true meaning of fairy-love stories should be. 
We'll see you again in the New Year, Travellers! May your holidays be full of wonder and cheer. 
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Puss In Boots

Shrek is full of fairy tale references and none are as cute as the character of Puss in Boots! Join us as we tell the tale of the oldest version of this 'trickster' cat-helper character from Giovanni Francesco Straparola's 1551 story Costantino Fortunato and Charles Perrault's 1697 version which was translated into Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book. 
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Inanna and the Descent

Last time, Inanna, the Sumerian Goddess of war, love and sexuality stole the Mes, fought against Gilgamesh and lost while getting her brother-in-law killed. Now, she's on her way to pay her respects in the underworld to her sister, Ereshkigal, but unsurprisingly things do not go as planned. Join us in the second part of our Inanna series which includes the seasonal myth of Dumuzi! 
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Inanna and The Sumerian Epic

Inanna, the Sumerian Goddess of war, love and sexuality is used to getting her way, but when she's rejected by Gilgamesh, her fury knows no bounds. Screaming down the heavens, getting her brother-in-law killed, and stealing the very essence of human civilization make up just the long list of what she does. Join us for part one of the tale of Inanna, possibly among the first female protagonists in a written text! 
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