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 Finding Resilience & Strength through Traditional Tales.
Yarn –
From Holland
While Holland is known for tulips, you may also think of wooden shoes, canals, cheese markets, and lots of bike-riding. And the Delft Blue earthenware? Absolutely beautiful.
In this story, we also discover a widow whose husband used to weave. Some traditional looms used in Holland are so big that they are outdoor looms. They are in the rigid-heddle style that are often used to weave scarves. Considering how many times the woman measures and sets aside cloth, I think of scarves though of course many possibilities can be created from fabrics.
We meet two kinds of people – one that is kind and thinks of others and one that is greedy and cannot think past themselves. St. Peter comes down to test people much like how Zeus and Hermes or many other gods and goddesses do. As for St. Peter, he likes to comes down and test close to holidays like in this story on Christmas Eve.
50-word-or-less summary
St. Peter in disguise. Slam! Next. Kindness. Wish. Woman looks at late-husband’s loom and wishes work to continue all day. Cloth! Rich. Woman (who slammed) jealous. St. Peter returns. Now kind. Peter says whatever done first tomorrow will last. Count money! After midnight, cuts fabric for coin bags. Cuts everything!
Finding the Story:
Book Legends & Folk Tales of Holland – here
An Italian story that also features St. Peter – here
A German story that also features St. Peter – here
Finding Resilience & Strength:
St. Peter must have strength and resilience because he knows that he will not always be treated the best.
Of course, the one woman is kind though even more kind than necessary. St. Peter hardly knocked on the door and the woman was noticing all the needs he may have and anticipating even a rest in her son’s bed (who happened to be out…though still). She did not have much yet had the strength every day – with or without a visit from St. Peter – to be the best human she could be, flaws and all.
Here is an article from Hope Rehab Center (Thailand) called “How Selfishness Ruins Everything but Kindness Heals” to explore mental health strategies.
Please share thoughts in the comments. While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See quick list of programs here.
As for our past A to Z Challenges…
While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has been resilient and strong during these past years and looks forward to the next hybrid summit & festival on May 8-11, 2023. We would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival
Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; National Endowment for the Humanities; Western States Arts Federation; Utah Division of Arts and Museums/Utah Legislature; Utah Humanities; City of Murray; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Ashton Family Foundation