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 Lucky Bird Huma’-
Compassion and greed seem to go hand in hand. This reminds me of the Golden Elephant Tusks shared earlier.
Kashmir, India – https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/goldfowl.html#kashmir
50-word-or-less summary:
Lucky Bird Huma’ took pity on poor man. Gave golden egg while man slept. Shopkeeper promises more wealth for bird. Man pretends to sleep. Captures bird. Bird says burn feather to travel to his land, receive gold. Man prefers bird. Bird dies. Man burns feather. Bird revived. Man still poor.
Golden Leg-
So we have Golden Arm (America mainly), Golden Hand (England), and now Golden Leg (Germany). I enjoy the differences and similarities. So really…beware of any golden body parts!
Germany – https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0366.html#goldenleg
50-word-or-less summary:
Girl slips on ice and loses leg. Surgeon says best to have golden leg. Wrong! Death himself arrives and tells mother the girl must come with her. Perhaps Death and girl seen by gravedigger? Gravedigger steals golden leg. At midnight, girl-ghost demands golden leg for three nights. Finally returned. RIP.
Golden Lamb-
Several picture books have shared of this classic tale that is much like the Golden Goose. This Hungarian one is more delightful to me.
Hungary – https://www.amazon.com/Little-Golden-Lamb-Ellin-Greene/dp/0395715261
50-word-or-less summary:
Shepherd-boy plays flute and sheep dance. Farmer promised any wages asked. Golden lamb born-only that. Lamb given. Flute-playing causes lamb to dance. Boy stays at inn. Innkeeper’s daughter touches golden fleece. Stuck! More people. Stuck! Boy plays flute and all dance. Makes princess laugh. Three bags of gold…and marriage.
Golden Leaf-
This does not qualify as a folktale though has some of the qualities of one. Enjoy this original modern fable created by Kirsten Hall and beautifully illustrated by Matthew Forsythe.
Modern Fable – https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Leaf-Kirsten-Hall/dp/1592702147/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=golden+leaf+picture+book&qid=1555159003&s=books&sr=1-3
50-word-or-less summary:
Tree grows one golden leaf. All animals want it. Warbler snatches it for nest. Chipmunk steals from Warbler. More animals steal until golden leaf in tatters. Next spring comes. Golden leaf appears, but animals enjoy it from afar. Happiness is not in possession but knowledge that it is there.
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.)