Posted
on February 26, 2016
Once
upon a time, people told stories orally, and the stories passed down
from parents to children to grandchildren...and on and on. Of course,
you know how it is – favorite stories tend to be retold the same
way each time (most kids complain if you change things up!), but of
course errors and changes do creep in, and stories evolve.
Some
of the stories were oral histories that tended to become more magical
and fantastic through the retellings. Some of them were tales of
warning – don't talk to strangers, for they might be big and bad! –
and some of them were myths and legends that had no basis in facts or
real-life dangers at all.
Many
of the tales told for generations were collected and published in the 1800s and the
early 1900s by a variety of people, most famously the German Brothers
Grimm. Andrew Lang published fairy tales from around the world, and
author Hans Christian Andersen wrote his own (kinder, warmer)
stories.
Today
is a great day to try to tell a favorite fairy tale from memory. Be
sure to use inflection and emotion to give the story life. Use
repetition. There is a reason that magical things tend to come in
threes, because little listeners love the engagement of knowing at
least something of what to expect. Also, repeated phrases help kids
participate as they chant along with the story teller.
Of
course, it's also a good day to read fairy tales or even to watch
fairy tales on videos or DVDs.
Here
are some more great ideas for Tell a Fairy Tale Day!
 |
| My favorite story about a literal fairy is "Poppy:
The Adventures of a Fairy," by Anne Perez-Guerra.
|
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| One of my favorite Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales is "The Emperor's New Clothes." |
 |
| One of my favorite stories collected by Andrew Lang was "The Twelve Months." |
Here's
to a happily-ever-after kind of day!
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on this date:
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ahead:
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out my Pinterest boards for:
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