National Tell A Fairy Tale Day

26 February is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day – the perfect opportunity to get out that old book and read some stories.

What were once oral histories, myths and legends retold around the fire or by travelling storytellers, have since been written down and become known the world over as fairy tales. The origins of most fairy tales were unseemly, and would not be approved or rated as appropriate for children by the Association of Fairy Tales by today’s standards.

Most of these tales were told to children in an attempt to make them behave, teach a lesson or to pass the time –much like ghost stories around the campfire.

Many of the stories have a basis in truth. For instance, the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is said to have been inspired by the real life of Margarete von Waldeck, the daughter of the 16th century Count of Waldeck. The area of Germany where the family lived was known for mining and some of the tunnels were so tight they had to use children – or small people like dwarfs – to work the mines. Margarete’s beauty was well documented, and she had a stepmother who sent her away. She fell in love with a prince, but died mysteriously just 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 and instead of kissing that frog prince – his head had to be cut off. But, those are the unrated versions.

The Brothers Grimm – Wilhelm and Jakob – collected and published some of the better-known tales we are familiar with today. They set out on a quest to preserve these tales at a time when oral storytelling was fading. In 1812, they published their first volume of stories – Household tales – but these stories had a darker quality and were clearly meant for an adult audience.

While some storytellers such as Aesop (The Fox and the Goose, The Ant and the Grasshopper and many others) have a long and sometimes ancient history, others are more recent, like the Grimm brothers. Hans Christian Andersen first published in 1829 and brought to us written versions of the Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid and many more.

To celebrate today, share your favourite fairy tales with friends and family. Try relating them from memory, as this has been a long tradition. Visit a library or local book store and join in on story-time.

Some tips on how to tell a great story:

– Engage your audience. Children like to participate. Have them quack every time the Ugly Duckling is mentioned, or make the motions of climbing Jack’s beanstalk

– Use repetition. This will also 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 story-teller. Buehler, Buehler, Buehler. No, not even children like the monotone. Varying your voice for each character and expressing 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 a good 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 story-teller!

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