V is for Golden Vegetables & Voyages–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 Vegetables-

The story entitled “A Piece of Pumpkin” is where we discover golden vegetables. Now a previous post revealed the danger of golden food with King Midas. For this one, having golden vegetables meant one could sell them and then buy normal food.

Tripura, India – http://www.tripura.org.in/folktales.htm

50-word-or-less summary:

Rich youngest sister gives piece of pumpkin to poor oldest sister. Youngest wants lice taken from hair. Later, youngest finds lice, blames oldest. Takes pumpkin. Oldest worried about feeding kids. Vegetation by road. Dream says vegetables turned to gold. True! Sold vegetables for actual food. Youngest is nice. Oldest distrusts.

Golden Voyages-

Sinbad has had many movies made and one actually is titled “The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.” Though, Sinbad is known for seven voyages and so I made it plural and claim “Voyages” as being Golden for this challenge.

Arabian Nights – https://americanliterature.com/author/arabian-nights/short-story/the-story-of-sindbad-the-sailor

50-word-or-less summary:

Sinbad was rich. Poor decisions. Summoned by sea. Seven voyages. Came upon island that really was whale. Saved mare for horsegroom from sea horse. Horsegroom really king and Sinbad receives gold. Weary of idleness. Six more voyages that bring gold. Sometimes left behind by crew. Dangers! Victorious! Finally…quiet life.

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.)