Cailleach
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The Promised Child by Kathy Eastman
The promised child is a motif of folktales found thorough out the world. Often times a child is promised to a witch or other supernatural being in exchange for help (Rumpelstiltskin) or for payment in a wrong doing (Rapunzel). In earlier versions of the “Rapunzel story, it is the mother herself who steals from the…
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Where Did Those Twins Come From? by Kathy Eastman
In 1956 Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino was published. It is a collection of stories that Calvino refers to as hybrid, because he combines collected versions of tales with his own personal touch. Several authors, including Calvino, point out that the Grimm Brothers acculturated the folktales they prepared and recorded. In fact later editions of…
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Hey There Little Red Riding Hood by Sulé Greg Wilson
Little Red Riding Hood has multiple personality disorder, or is schizophrenic, at the very least. The folk tale teaches us that she’s smart. The 18th century bourgeoisie tell us she’s a fool. Und der 19th century kindermarchen inform us she can be redeemed. But in the 20th century there are two choices: she’s pure innocence…
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Sylvan Carnivores Beware! by Sulé Greg Wilson
It’s amazing – the Little Red Riding Hood icon is everywhere. From a medieval wariness of sylvan carnivores to doe-eyed Amanda Seyfried in the 2011 photoplay on who the village’s werewolf really is…she lives! There is so much for a storyteller/musician to choose from: Cajun swamp, French Salon, German mass market, AfrAm urban, and feminist…
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The Old Shall Be Made New – forwarded by Andrea Coulter
Paramount to Co-Finance 'Hansel and Gretel' With MGM The 3D film, starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, will be released March 2, 2012. MGM has decided to co-finance Paramount's Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, which will now be shot in 3D. The $60 million movie also has a release date: March 2, 2012. Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) is…
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Fourteen Angels Watch Do Keep by Andrea Coulter
There is a strong sense of religion in Hansel and Gretel. They call on God to help survive their abandonment and also to help survive the abuse by their mother and the witch. There are three references to God in the first edition of the story written by the Grimm Brothers. · They overhear their…
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Chicken or Egg? by Mark Compton
We learn from the very capable and scholarly duo Anna E. Altmann and Gail de Vos that Beauty and the Beast was originally a literary tale and then became an oral tale – the opposite of most folk & fairy tales. In their well researched book Tales, Then and Now they trace the history of Beauty…
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A Fabulous New Rumpelstiltskin – Reviewed by Laura Rutherford
A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce is a fabulous debut novel that retells the Rumplestiltskin folktale. The story takes place just at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution when much of the mechanics of life are still run by water, horses, or people. Steam is a new technology, just beginning to take…
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Were Hansel and Gretel Stand-ins for the Brothers Grimm? by Andrea Coulter
The story of Hansel and Gretel was collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The manuscript was created in 1810. The first edition was written in 1812 and the seventh and final edition was written in 1857. Author Jack Zipes believes that Hansel and Gretel are representations of the Grimm Brothers themselves. He believes this because…
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Proud Owner of a Genuine Bodhrán
Last year around Halloween, my musical partner John Good announced that he was going to learn to play the harp. I said if he could commit to learning the harp, I could commit to learning the bodhrán. John bought a beautiful harp, took lessons, and can now play it. Before I left in late…
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Dandelions at Dunamase
In addition to the hawthorn at Dunamase, there were lots of dandelions just waiting to be plucked and wafted. Ashley and Alysha (above), and Adriana (below) were happy to oblige. This summer we have three Ashleys, one Alysha, and an Alyssa. We also have Katie, Caitlin, Katelyn, Kailee, and two Samanthas. You might think…
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Banish Misfortune
Last night I went to Flannery’s (my favorite pub in Athlone) with my colleague Chas Moore who is teaching music this summer. We got there about 8:00 and it was still quite bright outside. There were a few musicians there and Chas sat in. I only stayed about an hour. Of course many more people…