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 Hope & Healing…folktales around the world that beat back viruses. Each post highlights one or more balms to soothe and cure our struggles of today with oral tradition and lore of the past. At times, a post will make a connection to history. You can guess what inspired this theme. Yes, the COVID-19. What better time to delve into tales where things can and do turn out “happily ever after”?
Quarantined Quarters-
From Italy-
Rapunzel is not the only story where a princess grows up in isolation…or quarantined. There is a whole book dedicated to maidens in towers. However, this one comes from a thick collection of Italian folktales.
50-word-or-less summary:
Queen died. Stepmother convinced king to quarantine princess. Stepmother checked on her. Prince’s too far. Witch felt bad. Gave magic book. Flip forward-transformed to canary. Backwards-human. Visited! Stepmother hid pins. Canary/prince wounded. Transformed. Still deadly. Princess disguised as doctor. Healed prince. Trinket payment. Proved princess was healer. Married!
Compare to History:
The word “quarantine” comes from the Italian “quarantino” means 40-days. This number is significant in Christianity. The Great Flood had the rain pour for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus fasted for 40 days. The Children of Israel wandered the wilderness for 40 years. The number 40 signified purification. Before the plague, a woman was to rest 40 days after giving birth.
More on the History: https://www.history.com/news/quarantine-black-death-medieval
From the Latvian:
The Latvian people (Baltic area) had many gods and goddesses including Saule’, the solar goddess. She determined the regeneration of life on earth, certainly a healing quality. She rode upon horses that never tire and she washed her horses in the sea. There were many stories involving Saule’, yet every year she quarantined herself while she was weak during the winter months.
50-word-or-less summary:
Saule’ rode Asviniai/horses far away in the heavens. People waited her return. As Saule’ strengthened, people prepared for Rasa/solstice festival. Antipation from November 30 to January 6. Saule’ danced on silver hill wearing silver shoes with red flower garland. People gathered to see first rays and her dancing. Uplifted/healed everybody.
Finding the Story: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saule and https://www.fairychamber.com/blog/goddesses-of-the-sun-and-the-earth-in-baltic-mythology
Compare to History:
Quarantines have been used for centuries. Leprosy caused distance as it was contagious and unnerving due to dangling skin. The Black Death killed 200 million people in four years. Being quarantined was the way to survive. Then in 1793, early America suffered from yellow fever. Congress passed laws to quarantine. Yet, 1892 was intense with cholera. More orders were given to protect the people.
More on the History: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/historyquarantine.html and https://www.sciencealert.com/quarantines-have-been-used-to-try-keep-diseases-at-bay-for-thousands-of-years
Please share in the comments…or anything on your mind.While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings in process of being adapted due to COVID-19.Our 2020 Festival has been transformed into Story Crossroads Spectacular, a virtual experience. See here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/spectacular on May 13, 2020 starting at 9am MDT with events all day.
We thank our funders such as National Endowment for the Arts, Utah Division of Arts and Museums, Western States Arts Federation, Utah Humanities, Zoo, Arts & the Parks of Salt Lake County (ZAP), City of Murray, Salt Lake City Arts Council, and many other businesses and individuals. Join us in the support by donating today!
Thanks for the fun etymology fact about the derivation of “quarantine.” Coincidentally, today is actually the 40th day of lock-down for my family!
(Click the Blog link on the second row) : Q is for Queen
Whoa! Hadn’t counted though have done a family video journal once a week for ourselves.