H is for Golden Hair, Hairpin, & Hand–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 Hair & Hairs-

Rapunzel had golden hair though not made of that metal. Find out who truly had golden hair…and the weight that went along with it.

Russia – https://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/golden-hair-russian-tale.html

50-word-or-less summary:

Ailyp followed fox to lady with Golden Hair. Hair chained her down. Carried lady. Disappeared. Had to wait three years. Tempted to marry girl with black hair.  Remained faithful. Second Attempt. Carried lady, disappeared. Wait three more years. Went to lake, underwater kingdom, beyond power of her father. Married. Happiness.

Czechoslavak – http://oaks.nvg.org/czech2.html#3goha

50-word-or-less summary:

King spends night with charcoal-burner family. Son born to family. King saw three women (Fates) bless child-gift of dangers, safety through dangers, marry daughter of King. King offers to look after baby. King assigns boy to get three golden hairs from Grandfather Knowitall. Success! King shocked. All comes to pass.

Golden Hairpin-

A hairpin is something small yet can carry the weight of an arranged marriage.

Japan – http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/atfj/atfj03.htm

50-word-or-less summary:

Hasunuma had daughter Ko and Saito had son Konojo born same day, betrothed, sealed with golden hairpin. Seventeen years and no betrothed. Ko dies of grief. Hairpin in coffin. Konojo returns. Welcomed. Ko’s sister Kei approaches Konojo. Ko’s spirit in Kei for a year. Ko asks Konojo to marry Kei.

Golden Hand-

Golden Hand is not to be confused with Golden Arm…though similar and spooky in their own rights. (See blog post on Golden Arm here.)

Oregon, United States – http://www.americanfolklore.net/folklore/2009/10/the_golden_hand.html

50-word-or-less summary:

Widow always wore gloves. Young man saw widow often, until “bump” revealed bit of gold hand underneath gloves. Young man asked about it. Widow said had lost hand. Young man obsessed. Courted and married widow. Poison. Took golden hand. Voices! Young man found in morning strangled by golden hand.

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.)