"History is fables agreed upon.”
Voltaire
"Stories are medicine.They have such power; they do not require that we do, be, act anything -we need only listen"
Clarisa Pinkola Estes
"Facts don’t persuade, feelings do. And stories are the best way to get at those feelings. "
Tom Asacker
"Storytelling is not what I do for a living - it is how I do all that I do while I am living. "
Donald Davis
"Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today."
Robert McAfee Brown
No, it's not a story but it's a song that is sung each year and yet most of us know nothing about it.
The song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung by most of us on the stroke of midnight each New Years Eve however in Scotland, where Auld Lang Syne originates it is also sung on Burns Night, January 25th, to celebrate the life of the author and famous poet Robert Burns.
Auld Lang Syne is also said to be used as a graduation and funeral song in Tiawan and Hong Kong and as a graduation song in Japan and Hungary.
The song/poem has been found in earlier forms in 15th and 17th century volumes by anonymous authors.
But Robert Burns found a song ,
which never was in print, nor even in manuscript, until he took it downCheck this website for more complete information on Robert Burns and Auld Lang Syne:
from an old man singing,—adding that the poetry was enough to recommend any air.
About the same time he sent another copy to James Johnson for the now celebrated
Standard Collection of Scottish Songs, the "Scots Musical Museum;" and it was
printed and published for the first time in December 1796, in the fifth volume
of that work, about five months after Burns died.
"The activities that are the easiest, cheapest, and most fun to do—such as singing, playing games, reading, storytelling, and just talking and listening—are also the best for child development.”
Professor Jerome Singer, Yale University
I have always enjoyed Jim Henson's muppets. Everything from their Sesame Street series to their Muppet Show. This Storyteller's Series which unfortunately was short lived is fabulous and well worth getting. It is available on DVD. Here is a sample of one of the stories available in the series.
A middle-aged man had two wives (you can see the trouble coming, can't you ).
His first wife was quite a bit older than him.
His second wife was younger than him by at least 10 years.
Each was jealous of the other and chose to see her husband as closer to her own age.
Now the man's hair was turning gray (can't imagine why ), which the young wife did not like, as it made him look too old for her husband.
So every night she used to comb his hair and pull out the white ones.
But the elder wife saw her husband growing gray with great pleasure, for she did not like to be mistaken for his mother.
So every morning she used to arrange his hair and pull out as many of the black ones as she could.
Soon the man soon found himself entirely bald.
Moral: Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield
A tale from Aesop retold by LaurenLanita
This is a song/poem that I learned while working at a summer camp in Alaska.
I researched it and found the song to be of unknown origins and author.
It's a great song for kids about diversity and tolerance.
(Wish I could sing it for you!!)
I"m Proud to be Me
I'm proud to be me but I also see
You're just as proud to be you.
We might look at things a bit differently
But lots of good people do.
That's just human nature
So why should I hate you
For being as human as I?
We get what we give.
If we live and let live
We'll both get along if we try.
I'm proud to be me, and I also see
You're just as proud to be you.
It's true!
You're just as proud to be you!
Unknown author
Hello and Merry Christmas!!
I thought since this was the Christmas season, I would start my stories with a Christmas Legend.
Enjoy!!!
The Legend of La Befana
A Christmas tale from Italian Folklore retold by La
La Befana was an old woman who lived in a small village in Italy. She was known throughout the village for her wonderful baking and the cleanliness of her kitchen. She was often seen sweeping the area in front of her home. And many had heard her say that she was so busy baking and cleaning that she rarely had time to do anything else.
One winter day, while La Befana was sweeping in front of her home, three travelers stopped to ask her for a drink of water. They told La Befana that they were astrologers (they were often called the three wise men) who were following a star to the birth place of the Christ child. She kindly gave them water and then invited them to dinner.
After dinner the astrologers prepared to continue their journey and asked her if she would like to come with them to see the Christ child. La Befana shook her head saying that she could not possibly take the time needed for such a journey. She was secretly itching to get back to her cleaning and cooking. She stood at her door and watched them leave.
La Befana went back to her sweeping. But hours later she began to feel that she had made a mistake. Maybe she should have gone with the 3 astrologers to see the Christ child. La Befana decided to follow them.
She quickly grabbed a basket and filled it with baked goods of all kinds. She then put on her shawl and with her basket and broom hurried off into the night practically running to catch up with the wise men.
La Befana traveled through the night but never caught up with the wise men. It is said that she ran and ran until she and her broom were lifted up into the air!
Ever since that night, La Befana is believed to fly through the night or run over the roofs in Italy on Epiphany eve. She stops at the home of every child, leaving them treats in their stockings if they are good and a lump of coal if they are bad.
She hopes that one of the children she visits will be the christ child.
Copyright LLL, Storyteller/Storysinger
The name Befana is said to be a mispronunciation of the Italian word epifania which stands for epiphany. La Befana still visits the children of Italy on the eve of January 6, Epiphany. She fills their stockings with candy or a lump of coal. It is also believed that she sweeps the floor before she leaves. Many households leave her a small glass of wine and a small plate of goodies.
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