E is for Golden Elephant Tusks–A to Z Blog Challenge

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/).  The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Golden…And All Things That Glimmer.  Each post highlights golden items from a folktale from around the world. Each time you have to wonder, is something that is golden a blessing, a curse, or both?

What has inspired all this gold?–The Golden Spike with the 150th Transcontinental Railroad and the Spike 150 Grant for this year’s Story Crossroads Festival.

Golden Elephant Tusks-

White elephants are more popular than golden elephants. Though, at least there are still elephants with golden tusks. Don’t ask me how. It makes me wonder if the elephant was born with golden tusks or this was a man-made possibility. Either way, the elephant is extremely kind.

Buddhist (Jataka Tales)  – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy8UPlzWLyA

50-word-or-less summary:

Elephant with golden tusks learns of poor family. Elephant goes inside their hut. Scares family (not surprising). Then elephant explains that he can give part of his golden tusk. Hurrah! Money spent. Elephant gives more tusk. Hurrah! Money spent. Repeats. Greed. Woman plans to kill elephant. Stop! Won’t come back.

Please share in the comments…or anything on your mind.

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings including the culminating Festival on May 15, 2019 with free performances May 13-16, 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 Utah Department of Heritage and Arts (Spike 150), the City of Murray, the South Jordan Arts Council, Utah Valley University and many other businesses and individuals. Join us in the support by attending or donating or both! (Click here to donate or get tickets.)