S = Snowman (Hans Christian Andersen)

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge for the month of April. The Story Crossroads theme for this year is “Becoming: Tales of Transformation & Calling.” We love exploring traditional tales from around the world within that theme.

About The Snowman:

“The Snowman” is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1861. Unlike many oral folktales, Andersen’s works were original literary creations, though deeply influenced by European storytelling traditions.

At first glance, it is a simple winter tale. Yet beneath its quiet surface lies a reflection on longing, identity, and the forces within us that shape our desires—whether or not we understand them.

Symbolism and Themes:

Becoming Through Inner Nature – The snowman’s fascination with the stove is not learned; it comes from within, hinting that part of who we become may already exist beneath the surface.

Calling Through Desire – He is drawn to warmth, even though it threatens his existence. His “calling” is not safe or sustaining, raising questions about the nature of desire.

Transformation Through Revelation – Only after he melts do we discover the stove scraper inside him—the hidden truth that explains his longing.

50-word-or-less summary:

A snowman revels in winter but becomes obsessed with a stove’s warmth. Despite warnings, he longs for it. When spring arrives, he melts away—revealing a hidden stove scraper within him, the source of his strange desire, and the truth behind a longing that leads to his undoing.

Finding the Story:

You can read “The Snowman” by Hans Christian Andersen in many places online including here. You can also listen to The Snowman by Hans Christian Andersen – Full Audiobook | Bedtime Christmas Stories.

A fascinating article called ‘Worth Melting For’: The Legacy of Difference and Desire in Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Snowman’ gives another level of appreciation for the tale.

Finding the Transformation:

What makes this story striking is that the snowman’s becoming is not about growth or triumph—it is about revelation. He does not change into something new; instead, his true nature is uncovered. The stove scraper within him has quietly shaped his longing from the very beginning. What he believes is a desire for connection is, in fact, a pull toward his own end. This tale reminds us that not all callings lead us forward. Some draw us toward something we do not fully understand.

The snowman’s story asks us to consider: are our desires guiding us toward who we are meant to become—or toward something that may undo us?

Share your thoughts in the comments! While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See our popular links and upcoming events at our One-Stop.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads celebrates the 11th hybrid summit & festival on May 2 & 4-6, 2026 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us.

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Creative West; Utah Division of Arts and Museums; City of Murray; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Utah Storytelling Guild; Murray City Library; Pleasant Grove Library; American Fork Library and people like you.

R = Riddlin’ Red Ettin (Scotland/Celtic)

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge for the month of April. The Story Crossroads theme for this year is “Becoming: Tales of Transformation & Calling.” We love exploring traditional tales from around the world within that theme.

About Riddlin’ Red Ettin:

“The Red Ettin” is a Scottish folktale rooted in oral tradition and known as early as the 16th century through The Complaynt of Scotland. Later preserved by folklorists such as Joseph Jacobs, the story reflects a long journey from spoken tale to written form.

Its structure highlights transformation through choice: three young men set out, but only one succeeds. The Red Ettin’s riddles are the final test, yet the true becoming begins earlier—through wisdom, humility, and kindness.

Symbolism and Themes:

Becoming Through Choice – Each boy is given the same decision: take blessing or take more. Their paths diverge long before they meet the giant.

Calling Through Character – The third boy’s kindness, humility, and willingness to accept “enough” prepare him for what lies ahead.

Transformation Through Wisdom – The riddles are not random—they represent insight. Knowing how to answer is what allows the hero to overcome.

Restoration and Liberation – The hero’s success frees others turned to stone, showing that becoming is not just personal—it restores community.

50-word-or-less summary:

Two brothers fail to defeat the Red Ettin and are turned to stone. A third boy, choosing blessing and showing kindness, gains magical guidance, answers the giant’s riddles, and defeats him. He restores his companions, rescues a princess, and fulfills his destiny as a wise and worthy hero.

Finding the Story:

Sometimes the word is spelled “Ettin” and others it is “Etin.” You can explore this Folklore Scotland (modern retelling): https://folklorescotland.com/the-red-etin/. You can also go to the Internet Sacred Text Archive (public domain text):
https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/eft/eft24.htm

Finding the Transformation:

What makes this story stand out is that the hero’s becoming begins long before the confrontation. The earlier choices—patching the bucket, accepting his mother’s blessing, sharing his food—quietly prepare him for the moment others fail.

The first two boys seek adventure. The third becomes worthy of it.

His story reminds us that calling is not proven in a single heroic act—it is revealed through a pattern of choices that shape who we are.

Are we waiting for a defining moment to become who we’re meant to be—or are we already becoming through the choices we make every day?

Share your thoughts in the comments! While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See our popular links and upcoming events at our One-Stop.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads celebrates the 11th hybrid summit & festival on May 2 & 4-6, 2026 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us.

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Creative West; Utah Division of Arts and Museums; City of Murray; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Utah Storytelling Guild; Murray City Library; Pleasant Grove Library; American Fork Library and people like you.

Q = Queen Crane (Scandinavia)

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge for the month of April. The Story Crossroads theme for this year is “Becoming: Tales of Transformation & Calling.” We love exploring traditional tales from around the world within that theme.

About Queen Crane:

Queen Crane or cranes in particualr, are sometimes seen as otherworldly beings in Northern Europe. In Scandinavian and Nordic folklore, cranes are often associated with thresholds between worlds—earth and sky, human and spirit, visible and invisible. Their long migrations made them symbols of return, guidance, and hidden knowledge, as they disappear seasonally and reappear with the rhythms of nature.

In some folk traditions, cranes are also linked to transformation and watchfulness, standing as creatures who observe human affairs from a distance, intervening only when moral balance or fate requires it. In tale variants like Queen Crane, the bird becomes a supernatural helper—rewarding compassion with protection and guiding an overlooked figure into their rightful destiny.

Symbolism and Themes:

Becoming Through Hidden Identity – Peter’s transformation is not visible to the world. His heroism exists long before recognition arrives, suggesting that identity can be true even when unseen.

Calling Through Compassion – The journey begins with mercy toward the crane, reinforcing the idea that small acts of kindness can open the path to destiny.

Transformation Through Support – Queen Crane’s guidance shows that becoming is often relational; transformation is supported, not solitary.

Truth Delayed, Not Denied – Though others steal credit for his actions, Peter’s truth eventually surfaces, emphasizing patience in the unfolding of identity.

50-word-or-less summary:

A poor shepherd boy spares a crane who becomes his magical ally, Queen Crane. With her help, he secretly defeats enemies and rescues princesses while remaining unrecognized. Though others claim his deeds, hidden evidence reveals the truth, restoring him from mocked shepherd to rightful hero and noble figure.

Finding the Story:

This tale appears in The Swedish Fairy Book (1921), a public domain collection of Scandinavian folktales compiled by Hyltén-Cavallius and Stephens. You can also see a version through World of Tales website.

Finding the Transformation:

Peter’s becoming is slow, hidden, and misunderstood. He does not transform into someone new so much as he is revealed to have always been capable. His story suggests that calling may not announce itself loudly—it may unfold quietly, waiting for the moment when truth can no longer be denied.

If who we are is not immediately recognized, does that delay our becoming—or simply the world’s understanding of it?

Share your thoughts in the comments! While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings. See our popular links and upcoming events at our One-Stop.

As for our past A to Z Challenges…

Go to A to Z Archive

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads celebrates the 11th hybrid summit & festival on May 2 & 4-6, 2026 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us.

Explore Summit & Festival

Thanks to funding from National Endowment for the Arts; Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) of Salt Lake County; Creative West; Utah Division of Arts and Museums; City of Murray; Salt Lake City Arts Council; Utah Storytelling Guild; Murray City Library; Pleasant Grove Library; American Fork Library and people like you.