DRUM ROLL…2019 A TO Z BLOG CHALLENGE THEME REVEAL (STARTING APRIL 1)

Time to beat the drums and enjoy the anticipation of a 4th Story Crossroads theme reveal as part of the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com) that happens throughout the month of April. These are 26 postings for each of the letters of the alphabet (with rest on Sundays). This is our fourth year participating in this challenge.

AND THE THEME IS…
brummmmmm

brummmmmm

brummmmmm

brummmmmm

brummmmmm

THEME: Golden…And All Things that Glimmer

All Aboard!  Utah celebrates its 150th Anniversary with the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. The 2019 Story Crossroads Festival has the privilege of receiving the Spike 150 grant through the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts as well as many other funding shared below. This connection of the East and West began another phase in history and ended the Pioneer Era.  The Last Spike was 17.6-karat gold that couldn’t even be pounded in despite Leland Stanford’s efforts. The telegraph had to officially send out “DONE” for everyone to know around the world.

That golden spike brought about celebrations as well as traumatic changes. In one famous painting of the Transcontinental Railroad, a Native American is depicted turning away as this would change everything for tribes across the nation.  The coming of the trains meant the near extinction of the bison, a huge food and supply source for the Indigenous People.

Gold does not always signal forth great blessings.  Sometimes gold is a curse.  Other times, as with the Transcontinental Railroad, gold represents a blessing and a curse.

With our A to Z Blog Challenge posts, we will explore folk tales, fairy tales, legends, myth, and epics that involve gold.  Determine for yourself when gold is a blessing, a curse, or both.

We will delve into golden tools, weapons, animals, mythological beasts, foods, plants, anatomy, and the unexpected.

Golden Tools and Weapons:

Spike (that inspired the whole A to Z Challenge); Axe; Spears; Spinning Wheel

Golden Animals and Mythological Beasts:

Bird; Calf; Duck; Fish; Pony; Qilin (mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature); Serpent; Snail; Swan

Golden Fruits and Vegetables:

Apples; Oranges; Cucumber; Feast/Food; Star Fruit Tree; Tree

Golden Anatomy:

Arm; Gizzard; Hair/Hairs; Hand; Mouth; Scales

Golden…well…What You Might Not Expect:

City; Fleece; Flute; Godmother; Hairpin; Key; Maiden; Mountain; Nugget; Ring; Reed Pipe; Shoe; Table; Touch

And More Surprises!

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings including the culminating Festival on May 15, 2019 (see schedule here: https://storycrossroads.com/2019-schedule/).

We thank our funders such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, the Western States Arts Federation, Utah Humanities, the City of Murray, the South Jordan Arts Council, the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts, and many other individuals. Join us in the support by attending or donating or both! (Click here to go directly to donation page.)

We also have year-round events such as the monthly house concerts and the 4th Annual Story Crossroads Festival that will be on May 15, 2019.