Story Crossroads

S is for Snegurochka (Fantastic Female)

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 “Fantastic Females in Folk & Fairy Tales.”

About Snow and Russia:

The cold–and of course the snow–has an impact in Russia and how one lives. As big as the country of Russia, there is not a place where food can be grown year-round like in California in the United States. Long seasons of winter means darkness. Some places get as cold as -58 Fahrenheit that can destroy steel. Wow! People are usually low on Vitamin D (sunlight), but some Russians would strip down to their underwear to try to catch some rays. Nowadays, people can supplement with Vitamin D.

50-word-or-less summary

Old couple blessed with snow maiden turned human. Snegurochka encouraged to make friends. Kupava was jealous of Snegurochka. Kupava liked rich Mizgir, but he asked for Snegurochka’s hand. Refused. Kupava complained to tsar of Snegurochka’s plan to part her and Mizgir. Snegurochka liked Lel (shepherd). Melted away due to love.

Finding the Story:

Wikipedia – Snegurochka – here

Several versions of “The Snow Maiden” – here

Snow Maiden turned Opera – here

Finding the “Fantastic”:

Snegurochka loved her adoptive parents. She even stayed home rather than going out in the village. Yet, great admiration can be given to that old couple who encouraged her to get past her shyness and find happiness beyond their home.

Snegurochka and Kupava were both beautiful. Snegurochka was more beautiful due to her kindness. The inside really can make a difference. While Mizgir was rich and the “catch” for any young maiden, Snegurochka valued happiness over riches. She turned down Mizgir despite the comforts of life he could offer. She had feelings for the humble shepherd named Lel.

Yes, the story is sad when she actually melted (heart and all) as her feelings grew for Lel, especially when he played the flute. No one could know that would have happened, but is it at least fantastic that she felt that much love? From the old couple to her feelings for Lel, she was blessed with happiness.

Recommended Article:

What really makes someone beautiful? Can we cultivate certain qualities? Read this article entitled “The 10 Understated Qualities of a Truly Beautiful Woman” written by Sherrie Campbell, PhD.

Thoughts?

Please share 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

Story Crossroads celebrates the hybrid Summit & Festival on May 13-16, 2024 – yes, in-person and virtual – and would be honored for you to join us. Explore the schedule and register here: http://www.storycrossroads.org/Festival

Explore Summit & 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; and people like you.

Cap’s Off to You! – Beatrice Bowles (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

Featuring: Beatrice Bowles

Delightful Storyteller; Avid Gardener; Friend of the Young (or Everyone)

“I guess I’ll never grow up!” Beatrice Bowles shared in an interview with John Chang back in 2016. She finds positive energy in children, nature, and creative people. She loved being playful with stories and often did programs at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. Being an avid gardener, it was a heavenly place with heavenly people.

She preferred an expansive view of how to view heaven and earth and was drawn to Creation Stories from around the world. She called it “going on a rampage” when she wanted to know more than the traditional Biblical version. She got her hands on stories from collections and research documents back in the 1970s. Translation projects were increasing the possibilities in this adventure.

Beatrice respected Spider Grandmother, a Hopi being that promoted storytelling. Even exploring her website that is still active despite passing in 2021, you see hints of this spider theme. She even published two books with spider themes. She saw spiders as the ultimate survivor. “They are tiny–like children are–and they’re smart,” Beatrice would explain to others. A full version about her view on spiders can be seen here.

Beatrice enjoyed dancing Tango and respected the narrative within it. She danced and laughed often, always absorbing the goodness of life.

She became a voting member of the Grammy’s. She completed an application, and it helped that she had already digitized her five audio stories. Being part of the Grammy’s allowed her to interact and celebrate the accomplishments of artists.

So let’s celebrate her as much as she celebrated others!

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on Beatrice Bowles with the Story Artists Memorial.

Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.

I appreciate Beatrice Bowles with her journey to find the positive and the wonder of spiders. I had a “pet” spider in my basement room as a kid, but now I love spiders even more because what I have learned about Beatrice. She had such a craving for stories and sought the best books and research methods to honor and respect them. She had the curiosity of a child…a great compliment and what we all can strive for.

Beatrice Bowles still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.

R is for Rani (Fantastic Female)

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 “Fantastic Females in Folk & Fairy Tales.”

About Math and India:

Math is important in any culture or people, though some honor it more than others. Some of the main religions in India (Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism) all used mathematical astronomy to guide in how they determined calendars and time. Poetry in and of itself often relies on numbers. Many ancient Sanskrit mathematical formulas are found in verse.

50-word-or-less summary

Raja collected almost all rice. People starving. One rice load dribbled out grains. Rani collected them and returned to raja. Reward! Rani asked for one grain of rice and then that was to be doubled for 30 days. By 30th day, 256 elephants carried the reward. Rani shared with all.

Finding the Story:

Book – One Grain of Rice – here

Book – A Grain of Rice (another version, different characters) – here

Article with Story – Wisdom Story: the king, the con artist, the chessboard and rice (another version, different characters/approach) – here

Finding the “Fantastic”:

Rani saw people starving around her while the raja had so much rice. While her kindness came first, she quickly figured out a way for the raja to reward her while also looking out for everyone in the country. We don’t learn about her parents, though both the care and the intelligence would likely be inspired by these parents.

Rani (and most likely her parents) were fantastic!

Her example inspired the raja to be more kind and giving…and value math!