Cailleach
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Researching My Irish Roots by Anne McDowell
I am doing my cultural project on the Irish. It was my first choice because I wanted to learn a lot about the Irish and the building of the railroad in New York. I thought the research would help me put together stories for New York’s Maritime Festival. Soon after my decision, I wasn’t so…
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I’ve known about Paul Bunyan since I was a kid, but where did he actually orginate? My research gave a couple of different ideas. One article asserted that Paul Bunyan was “fake lore” instead of “folklore” — suggesting that writers made up stories and they fed on each other as opposed to something that had actual origins…
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A Tragic History by Anne McDowell
Although I come from an Irish family that shared many stories about Ireland, I learned so much more about Ireland’s history from doing a cultural storytelling project. I found my research interesting and painful, yet I also found much more about the Irish strength, love, and laughter. My Irish story repertoire certainly grew along with…
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Saving the Earth One Story at a Time by Phyllis Ralley
“Indeed, we are the first generation of people who now know that our children’s grandchildren will not walk the same Earth. They will live on a planet so less hospitable and predictable than it is now that it is unimaginable to us.” UTNE Reader Nov-Dec 2013, “Mourning for the Earth”, Katherine M. Preston, from Sojourners. Never has…
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The Tradition of My Ancestors by Francesca Morales
As I was researching about storytelling and the traditions of storytelling from my heritage, one thing popped out. There is a richness and strength of oral traditions and folklore in Mexican heritage. Knowledge is passed down from the older generation, but not…
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Be a Story Jumper by Nancy Newlin
I love telling stories to young children. I like seeing their eyes grow bigger and bigger and bigger as they listen and watch. When I tell stories to the little ones I want them to jump inside the world of the story right along with me. I…
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Connecting with Jack by Dixie Walljasper
One of the major objectives for this semester was to develop a repertoire of stories especially representing my heritage. My brother had done our genealogy several years ago so I contacted him and asked him exactly where our family came from in England. His answer surprised me because I thought we came from the South Western part of…
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A Face-to-Face Story: The Ultimate Social Media by Phyllis Ralley face-to-face story, the ultimate social media:
I was checking out at Costco today and the gentleman behind me commented that he was glad to see I was purchasing Bogle wine. "Yes," I said "My neighbor turned me on to it last holiday season. It is very good for the price." He told me he had known the "father" of Bogle wines.…
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Paul Bunyan Chose Me! by Sally Borg
My initial response to having to choose a cultural area to study for this class was “What? I don’t really identify with a culture”! My father was Swedish, my mom a mixture of German, Dutch, and whatever. I borrowed the book Swedish Folktales and Legends by Lone Thygesen-Blecher and George Blecher, but it wasn’t really inspiring me. …
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A Beautiful Discovery by James Ashcroft
When I decided it would be a good idea to take on folklore from the Latter Day Saint, or ‘Mormon’ culture, I did not know what I would find, but I went in with my eyes wide open. Sometimes it is hard to look at and question a way of life that has helped govern…
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Who is Right? by Tony Durairaj
Have you ever wondered if the experts who give opinion on things are right about what they tell you ? Let me give an example. There was a risky investment that I made last year and I was told by experts that it was not a good one. Yet in the end, it turned…
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“Uncovering” Little Red Riding Hood by Nancy Newlin
Did you know that Little Red Riding Hood did not always own her precious, red head covering? It’s true. A long, long time ago she was just a little girl, delivering bread to her grandmother, adorned by no pretty red hat. And guess what? The wolf wasn’t just a wolf – he was a WEREFOLF!…