OUR FAIRYTALES
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The Swan Queen
A Lithuanian Fairytale
Prepared by Ortaklar Science High School, Türkiye Team Asil Andaç KIZILDOGAN
The Swan Queen
The queen’s heart grew heavy, the tears poured from her eyes and she sang out in reply: “Do not throw me the wings, for you come too late – I won’t leave my son to an orphan’s fate.”Just then the king dame up to her. “Why are your eyes red with weeping?” asked he. “Our little son cried, and it made me cry, too,” the queen replied. On the next day her mother flew over her, and, on the days that followed, her brother and her sisters, and they all sand the same song, but the queen refused to heed any of them. The last to come flying over her was her own dear love, and he sang as he flew:“In that garden bright my beloved I see;
Though she has no wings, yet a swan is she.
Her fingers are covered with golden rings,
To her little son a songs she sings,
From a little gold book she reads him a tale,
A kerchief of silk behind her trails.
A pair of white wings to her I’ll throw,
And she’ll leave her son and with us she’ll go!”
The Swan Queen
nce upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman. Every morning they went out to clear a nearby forest of dry twigs and leaves, and the moment they left the house a white swan would come flying there. She would fold and put aside her wings, and, turning into a
maid, light the stove, cook the dinner, clean and wash everything and then fly away again.
The old people had not a care in the world, for they returned home each day to find everything done for them. But they were filled with wonder as to who their kind helper was.
One day the old man remained home alone. He hid behind a tub and waited to see what would happen. After a time who should come flying into the hut but a swan! She folded her wings, laid them aside, and, turning into a maid, went to the well for water, and the old man at once took the wings and burnt them.
The maid returned with two pailfuls of water, she looked and she saw that her wings were gone! She burst out crying and wept long and bitterly, for this meant that she was parted from her mother and father and her own dear love, too. But there was nothing she could do, so stay she did with the old people.
The Swan Queen
The queen could contain herself no longer and sang out in reply:“A pair of wings throw down to me, And with you I’ll fly beyond the sea!” The swan who was her own dear love threw a pair of wings down to her and she left her son and flew away with him. But he met his death soon after and her heart filled with sorrow again. As for the king her husband, he waited and waited for her, but as she did not come back married Lauma the Witch. The stepmother took a dislike to her stepson and treated him badly, but the swan his mother would come flying to the palace at night, fold her wings, wash and fondle her son and then fly away again, singing:“The king and his wifeRepose in their bed;The palace guards, too,Sleep the sleep of the dead.But all night without failMy son sobs and wails!”
The Swan Queen
Now, the king himself was once out hunting near the forest not far from where they lived. He saw the maid and liked her well and he said to the old people:
“I must have the maid for my own. Give her to me and you can have as many pieces of gold as you like.”
There was nothing for it and so the old people gave him the maid. The king brought her to his palace and married her and in due time a son was born to them.
One day the queen came out into the garden with her baby son and what did she see but a flock of swans come flying near. At their head flew her father, singing as he flew:
“In that garden bright my daughter I see;Though she has no wings, yet a swan is she.
Her fingers are covered with golden rings,
To her little son a songs she sings,
From a little gold book she reads him a tale,
A kerchief of silk behind her trails.
A pair of white wings to her I’ll throw,
And she’ll leave her son and with us she’ll go!”
The Swan Queen
But before flying away she would lull her son to sleep and he would not wake till she came back again.
The king was filled with wonder as to why his son slept so long.
One night he saw the swan come flying into the palace. She changed into human shape, lulled her son to sleep and then turned back again into a swan and flew away.
The king thought and thought how to keep her with him but could not think of anything.
Once, there came to the palace an old man, and the king asked him what he was to do in order to catch the swan.
Said the old man:
“Watch and see which of the windows the swan flies out of and put some tar on the sill. Her wings will be glued to it, and if you seize her with your left hand and tear them off with your right hand, she will get back her human shape again.”
The king did as the old man said. He put some tar on the window-sill, and when the swan’s wings were glued to it, seized her with his left hand and tore off her wings with his right hand, and lo! – the swan turned into his on dear queen again.
The king had Lauma the Witch put to death and three later after that he held a great feast to which came folk from far and near.
The Swan Queen
I was there, too, and was served mead and ale, but it ran down my beard and not a drop got in my mouth.A load of firewood I sold, I did;
in my new best shoes the gold coins I hid.
I lost them all but you found two or three
And if you’re a fool you’ll return them to me!
The Glass Mountain
A Polish Fairy Tale
Prepared by 15 Temmuz Şehitler Anatolian High School- İzmir/ TURKEY
Once upon a time there was a beautiful enchanted princess who lived in a castle made of pure gold. The rooms were made up of the most precious kinds of stones and metals. The grounds of the castle were beautiful as well, made of of the most precious exotic flowers that permated the air. A large apple tree was nestled in the front of the castle and birthed golden apples that would allow anyone who picked them to gain entrance to the castle. But for all the beauty that surronded her, the princess was lonely for the mountain her castle sat upon was made of glass that no man could climb.
Illustration by George W. Dasent.
Of course the promise of such riches and a lovely princess had led many knights to their death. No one had made it more than halfway up before falling right back down the steep mountain. For seven years she had watched from her window as these brave men tried and failed to rescue her, at this point it can be said she was beginning to give up hope. Nearing towards her 8th year of imprisonment the princess sighted a knight clad in gold armour taking his turn at the mountain. She at first felt sorrow at his for sure soon to come end, but as she anticipated his fall he gained more ground. Excitement flooded through her body for in one more moment he would reach the apple tree and gain entrance!
Illustration of the challenge by Ilia McAfee
Just as he reached for the tree an eagle of extreme size came from nowhere and used its incrediable wings to hit the knight's horse in the eye which caused the horse to lose its balance. Down the hill falling to his death went the princess's ray of hope.
After years of hearing his parents speak about the beautiful princess who lived in the golden castle atop the glass mountain, a young boy decided to try his luck. Although young he was very strong and very well grown. He knew that all who had tried had failed so he spent much time thinking of a plan. He finally decided to go into the forest and catch a lynx, after catching the animal he cut of it's claws and fastened them onto his hands and feet.
Illustration by Miko Maciaszek.
The young boy set off on his journey on his feet armed with his new claws. He soon realized that he had underestimated the mountain. He was not more than half-way up and he could go no farther. He was dehydrated and extremely worn out. He was only hanging by the claws on his hands as his feet were torn and bleeding. Night had taken over now and the only light came from the stars. The boy realized there was nothing left to do but await death. With his claws positioned firmly in the glass he felt safe enough to fall into a deep sleep. Meanwhile the eagle that guarded the tree spotted the young boy and thought him dead already. The eagle was really quite hungry and the corpse looked fresh so he flew down towards the boy.
The boy felt the eagle dig its claws into his flesh, but he made no sound for he had a plan. He grabbed the creatures feet with his hands and the eagle frightened took flight to try to get away from the boy But the young boy continued to hold on as the bird lifted into the night sky. He continued to hold on until he looked down and saw the golden apple tree. At the sight the boy removed his knife from his belt and cut off the eagles feet. The boy landed on the hard branches of the tree. He was in pain and agony but he had made it to the magical tree. He picked the golden apples and suddenly his wounds were healed and he felt better than ever.
Wikipedia
Before his eyes the castle gates opened and the gorgeous princess ran to greet her rescuer. He received all of her riches and treasures and her love. They were happy although they were never able to return to Earth as the eagle who had been the princess's guardian was their only way to return down the mountain. The princess and her husband lived happily ever after in their golden castle on top of the glass mountain. The princess's people were happy as well for with the eagles death its blood had restored life to all those who had lost theirs trying to resuce the beautiful girl.
Edmund Dulac’s cover page
THE END
The Girl who Became a BoyAlbanian Fairytale
Prepared by Alytaus Adolfo Ramanausko - Vanago High school
Once upon a time there was a man who had three daughters. When the king called up soldiers for the war, the man had no sons to send. As he sat and pondered what to do, his eldest daughter approached him and inquired, "What are you thinking about, father?" He answered, "Leave me alone, daughter. The king has called up soldiers to go to war and I have no sons. I only have you whom I can't send to war." To this she replied, "Marry me to someone!" Later the second daughter gave the very same answer. The youngest daughter, however, replied, "Don't worry, father, I'll go to war. Have a uniform made for me and cut off my hair so that no one will know that I am a girl. Then give me your horse and weapons." Her father did as she had requested and she set off with the other young men of the village. Everyone who saw the new young man was surprised. And so they departed.
That day, the king had ordered his own son to be taken out of the town to be eaten by a Kulshedra. Every year the Kulshedra would come and devour a number of people. One day the Kulshedra said, "If you don't want me to come back ever again, give me the king's son." And so they brought the king's son to the Kulshedra. When the boy was outside the town, the townspeople all watched the Kulshedra setting upon him to devour him and they were all so frightened that no one even thought of going to his assistance. The disguised girl, however, drew her sabre, slew the Kulshedra and saved the king's son. The news that the Kulshedra had been slain spread immediately to the king who was so overjoyed that he gave orders for a banquet and a gun salute. When the young man entered the palace with the king's son, the son whispered, "My father will offer you a kingdom, but ask only for his horse, because it can think and talk like we do."
When they got to the king, he asked, "Which kingdom would you like to have as your reward?" The young man replied, "My only wish is not to go to war." "Fine," said the king, "I will gladly free you from military service, but which kingdom do you want?" "Well, if you really want to give me something, give me the horse you're sitting on." The king refused, however, and so the young man departed. The king's son followed young man and when the people asked where he was going, he replied, "I am going away with my new father. He saved my life and now he is like a father to me. If my real father cares more for his horse than he does for me, his son, then it is better for me to depart." When the king heard what his son had said, he changed his mind. They brought the young man the horse and placed a golden saddle on it. The young man (we will call him so though he was actually a girl) mounted the horse and rode off to another kingdom.
When he arrived, he saw a crowd of people standing before a moat. The young man's horse saw the crowd in the distance and asked its master, "My lord, can you see what they are doing?" "I can see them all right, but I cannot make out what is going on." "The king had the moat dug because he wants to marry his daughter to someone," replied the horse. "The person who can jump over the moat with his horse and catch an apple can have the king's daughter for his wife. It looks, though, as if no one has yet succeeded. I'll jump over the moat. You just hold on tightly. Don't be afraid, and keep an eye out for the apple. When I jump, I'll stumble at the edge of the moat, so grab my mane and hang on." As they talked, the horse approached. Then it took a run at the moat and leapt over it. When it reached the other side, it stumbled on one leg. The young man seized the mane and the horse leapt into the air again so that the young man was able to catch the apple.
Everyone was surprised because many people had tried to jump the moat, but no one had ever succeeded in catching the apple. The king immediately arranged for the wedding and gave his daughter away in marriage. When the marriage ceremony was over, the bride and the groom went to bed, though of course both of them were girls. The next morning, as is custom, the wife was asked how she had spent the night. "Nothing happened," she replied. The second and third nights were the same. The people at the court decided that they would have to kill the young man, but somehow they felt sorry for him. "I know what to do," said one courtier, "we'll send him into the forest to take food to the woodcutters. There is a Kulshedra in the forest who will come and devour him." The groom, however, was standing behind the door and overheard everything. He went back to his horse and sat down despondently. "Why are you so sad?" asked the horse. "Why shouldn't I be?" he replied, "The king wants to send me into the forest so that the Kulshedra will devour me." "Don't be afraid," declared the horse, "Ask him for a cart to carry the food and for a team of oxen, and I'll tell you what to do when we get there." A little later, the father in law summoned the young man and said to him, "Go into the forest and take the woodcutters something to eat." "All right," replied the young man, "but I will need a cart to carry the food." So they gave him what he needed and he set off.
On their way, the horse explained to him, "When we get to the middle of the forest, release one of the oxen and call the woodcutters. The Kulshedra will hear you and rush forth to devour you. But don't worry! Seize it by the ear and put it to the yoke." Hardly had the horse finished explaining when they found themselves in the middle of the forest. The young man released an ox and called the woodcutters. The Kulshedra heard him calling and set upon him, but the young man simply seized it by the ear and put it to the yoke in place of the ox. Then they returned quickly to the king. When the townspeople saw the Kulshedra under the yoke, they were horrified and hid in their houses. The horse then told the young man to release the Kulshedra, which he did.
The bride and groom slept with one another again, but the bride admitted that she had spent the night the same way as she had spent the others. This time the courtiers said, "We'll send him to water the wild mare who devours all living creatures. She will devour him too." The young man overheard everything again and returned despondently to his horse that asked him why he was so sad. The young man recounted, "I escaped from the Kulshedra, but now I am supposed to water a mare which devours all living creatures." "Don't be afraid," said the horse, "she is my mother. Just ask the king for two pails of honey." A little later, the king summoned him and told him to water the mare. The young man then requested two pails of honey, which he received, and set off with his horse.
On their way, the horse said to him, "When we get to the well, draw two pails of water out, pour the two pails of honey into the well and mix everything well. Then hang your saddle nearby so that the mare can see it, and climb up a tall tree. When the mare arrives, she will drink the water, see the golden saddle and say, 'Such sweet water and such a golden saddle! I need a human to sit on me and play with me!' You shout down, 'Here I am, but I'm afraid you will eat me.' She will say, 'No, I won't', and you reply, 'Swear by the head of Demirçil the horse.' She will swear by my head and you can then climb down and mount her."
The young man did as the horse had told him. The mare arrived, drank some water, looked at the golden saddle and said, "Such sweet water and such a golden saddle! I need a human to sit on me and play with me!" The young man shouted, "Here I am, but I'm afraid you will eat me." "No, I won't." "Swear by the head of Demirçil the horse." She swore and he climbed down the tree, mounted the mare and rode around with her. The mare then said, "I would be even happier if Demirçil were here." "I have your son here too," said the young man, called his horse and they all frolicked together.
After a while, the young man and his horse returned to the town and the mare accompanied them. When the townspeople saw the wild mare coming, they scream at it to frighten it off. But the mare would not leave. Finally her son begged her to return home and promised her that he would come to play with her again. And so she departed. The groom returned to the king and slept with the bride once more. Again nothing happened. This time the king resolved to send the young man to a church full of snakes to collect the taxes which the snakes had not been paying for years. The young man overheard everything from behind the door and returned despondently to his horse. The horse asked, "Why are you so sad, my lord?" "This time I am really going to die," he replied, "the king is going to send me to a church full of snakes." "Don't worry," responded the horse, "ask for a waggon covered with bells and for some donkeys to transport the money." The young man did as the horse had said and his father in law told him that he would have to go to the church. When they left, they took the wild mare with them, and the horse and mare explained to the young man what he had to do. "My mother and I," said the stallion, "will guard the doors and neigh loudly. You climb in through the window with all the bells and ring them. The snakes will then cry out and ask whether we are gods come to torture them. You demand the king's taxes and say that God will destroy them if they don't pay up."
When they got to the church, they did everything as planned. The snakes were so frightened by the bells and the noise the horses were making that they brought out heaps of money. When the three were on their way home, the snakes slithered after them and set upon the young man, but were unable to do him any harm.
Then they cursed him, saying, "If you who have taken our money away are a boy, may you be transformed into a girl, and if you are a girl, may you be transformed into a boy," and the girl suddenly realized that she had been turned into a boy.
They returned to the king and when the bride and groom got up the next morning, the young woman, on being asked how she had spent the night, replied, "You don't need to ask any more questions. I spent a wonderful night."
The fairy tale is over and wishes you all the best.
THE EAGLE'S TALE by Şehit Abdülkadir Kılavuz Anatolian High School
The Eagle's Tale is an Albanian folk tale about Albania and how Albanians got their distinctive names.
A young man is hunting in the mountains. At that time, an eagle flying over it lands on a steep rocky hill. The eagle has broad wings and holds a snake in its beak. After a while, the eagle flies away from the cliff where its nest is located. The young man then climbs to the top of the cliff where he sees him. In the nest an eaglet plays with a dead snake. But the snake isn't dead yet! It suddenly comes to life, baring its teeth, and preparing to bite the eaglet with its deadly venom. The young man immediately took his bow and killed the snake with his arrow. Then the eagle takes its young and sets off for its nest. Suddenly he hears the eagle's great wings flutter above him.
"Why are you kidnapping my baby?" The eagle cried.
The young man replies, "Your baby belongs to me now because I saved it from the snake you couldn't kill."
“Give me back my baby! Let me reward you with the sharpness of my eyes and the strength of my wings. You will be invincible and you will be called by my name.”
Thus, the baby eagle returns its young. Once the eaglet is grown, it always flies over the head of the young man, who is now an adult and has killed many wild animals in the forest with his bow and arrows, and many enemies of his country with his sword.He faithfully follows and guides the young man through all these heroisms.
The amazing thing about this eagle is that it has two heads.
The people of the country, impressed by the deeds of this brave hunter, chose him as king and named him Shqipëtar, which means Son of the Eagle in Albanian. His kingdom is also known as Shqipëria, Land of Eagles.
the End
The Twins (Albanian tale) by Adil Akan Secondary School
The twins' birth
A king loses his kingdom. All that remains of his wealth are two gold rings, each adorned with a gem, a mare, a brave female dog, and a vegetable garden where he lives with his wife. He spends his days hoeing the garden, while his wife spins linen and wool. They are happy in the quiet of the fields and the tranquility of a solitary life. The only thing they miss is having a son.[10] One morning, the king goes to the seashore and catches a large, red fish. He discovers that the red fish is magical and can speak. The fish tells the king to divide the fish's body into four pieces: the side of the head, the middle, the tail, and the bones. It instructs the king to give his wife the side of the head, eat the middle part himself, feed the tail to the mare and the dog, and bury the bones in the garden. The king follows the fish's instructions. His wife gives birth to two male twins, Zjerma[f] and Handa;[g] one has the Sun on his forehead, and the other has the Moon. The mare gives birth to two foals, the dog two puppies, and two silver swords appear in the garden. The king's wife raises her twins carefully. The king teaches them to ride their horses without a saddle, fight with a variety of weapons, and hunt in the mountains and forests.[13]
The king dies and the twins leave
When the twins are nineteen years old, the king becomes ill and realizes that he was joined by the ora. He summons his sons to his bedside, reminding them that they have royal blood and to love each other, take care of their mother, and do good. Before dying, he gives each of them one of his gold rings. They bury him with his weapons, mourning him for nine days and nights. The queen grieves for her husband, but her sons comfort her as they promised their father. After mourning, the queen returns to spinning linen and wool; the brothers hire a farmer to work in the garden, and his wife does the housework.[14]
A year later, Zjerma tells Handa that he wants to travel the world to win fame and conquer their father's kingdom so they could regain their ancestors' glory. He suggests girding their silver swords, mounting their steeds, taking their two dogs (who are unafraid to attack a drangue), and leaving their home. He is unconcerned about their mother, who is old but healthy and has people helping her. Handa accepts his brother's proposal, so they say goodbye to their mother and leave with the horses and dogs.[15]
On their journey, they come to a water source at the foot of a flowering almond tree where the road splits. They decide to separate and follow their fate according to the choice of the horses, vowing to reunite there every year on the same day. If one of the twins was in danger and needed help from the other, the gem in the ring would lose its brightness and turn black. The two brothers hug each other; Zjerma's horse takes the right path, and Handa's the left.[15]
Zjerma's journey
Kulshedra: the seven-headed dragon
After a few days, Zjerma comes to a city whose streets are empty and houses shuttered. He approaches the temple of the Sun, where he sees an old man crying. Zjerma asks the old man what is going on.[15] The man says that the kulshedra had blocked the source of the river about a month earlier; the heroes who tried to kill the monster all died. The elders suggested that the king bargain with the monster to release the water. The kulshedra offers to release the water if she receives an offering of a beautiful maiden daily. The old man says that his daughter had been sent the day before and the king's daughter, Bardhakuqja, had been sent that day. The king promises his daughter in marriage to whoever slays the dragon.[16]
Zjerma promises the old man that he will avenge his daughter, and leaves with his animal companions.[16] He reaches a dark river valley in the mountains. The source of the river is a deep, wide abyss where the monster lives. The princess is tied to a boulder, almost lifeless. Zjerma's blood stirs in his veins when he sees the still-radiant princess, who sees him and tells him to leave to save his life. Zjerma refuses, dismounts, and frees the princess. Exhausted, he rests his head on the princess' knees and falls asleep.[16]
At noon, the water begins to move and the princess realizes that the kulshedra is about to emerge. Not wanting to wake Zjerma, she begins to cry. A tear falls on Zjerma's face and awakens him; he mounts his horse and brandishes the silver sword, waiting for the monster. The water boils, and from it the seven heads of the kulshedra emerge; the central one is horned, with a seven-pointed crown. Poison flows through her teeth; her forked tongues hiss, and her mouths spit fire. When the kulshedra jumps to the ground, Zjerma sees that her body is like a giant lizard's with segmented armor made of steel-hard bone. Her serpentine tail has nine knots, covered with hard scales. Her legs are short, wide and strong, with curved claws as hard as iron. On her back she has a fish-type fin which opens and closes with antennae like boar tusks. She has wings like a bat, nine times larger than those of a hawk.[17]
Dragon-slayer
When the kulshedra is about to pounce, Zjerma and his horse approach her; Zjerma's dog follows. Zjerma attacks the monster, while his dog bites her behind. The kulshedra writhes, spitting flames. She hisses, trying to bite her enemies and crush them with her tail. The horse tramples her, denting her bony armor and breaking the scales protecting her body. Zjerma cuts off her heads with his sword, but the heads reattach to the monster's bloody necks; he realizes that he will have to cut off her central head to kill her. A dark cloud covers the valley, with thunder and lightning. Zjerma cuts off the kusheldra's central head; a torrent of boiling black blood and flames erupt from the monster's neck, accompanied by a loud screech. The cloud dissipates, the sun shines, and the river begins to flow again.
Zjerma cuts off the kulshedra's tongues and puts them in his saddlebag with her crowned head. He washes himself in the river with his horse and dog. Zjerma helps the princess mount the horse and brings her back to the city, where he is greeted with celebrations and honors. Meanwhile, Barkulku ("Wolfbelly") passes the source of the river and sees the dead kulshedra. Not knowing what had happened, he cuts off the remaining heads and put them in a sack in the hope of receiving a reward. Barkulku arrives in the city when Zjerma and Bardhakuqja are being married. He approaches the throne, announces that he has killed the kulshedra, and claims the reward. The king asks him to substantiate his claim, and Barkulku pulls out the heads of the kulshedra. Zjerma points out that the crowned head and tongues are missing, and takes them out of his saddlebag. The king swears by the Sun that if Barkulku has no other arguments to defend himself, he will give the order to burn him. Barkulku attacks Zjerma, and the dragonslayer kills him.
When Zjerma and Bardhakuqja are about to put garlands on their heads, Zjerma realizes that the gem on his ring has darkened. He stops the ceremony, saying that he must leave immediately. Zjerma kisses his bride, telling her to wait for him for a year, a month and a day; if he has not returned, she will be free to remarry. He says goodbye, and leaves with his horse and dog to rescue his brother.
Handa's journey
After leaving his brother, Handa and his animal companions cross plains, hills and mountains before reaching a dense forest. He proceeds with difficulty, cutting through the vegetation to make his way. When the forest thins out, Handa sees a hut near a stream where an old man is resting. They greet each other, and the man advises Handa not to continue because he will face risks worse than death. Handa says that he must follow his destiny, and continues. Handa arrives in the garden of the Zanas. White-clothed nymphs welcome him with laughter, songs and dances, charming the young man with kisses and caresses. They tell him that e Bukura e Dheut ("the Earthly Beauty") lives in the cave at the foot of the mountain. Inebriated, Handa wants to find the Earthly Beauty.
He leaves the Zanas, arriving with his horse and dog at the entrance of a garden surrounded by a hedge of brambles and briars. An old woman asks him what he is looking for; Handa replies that he wants to meet (and marry) the Earthly Beauty. The old woman allows him to enter if he passes a test of intelligence, sword-wielding and riding ability. The test consists of solving a riddle, cutting a woolen bow in two, and climbing over the hedge onto his horse's back without touching it. Handa fails all of them. The witch sprays him, his horse, and his dog with an herbal ointment which turns them into stone; Zjerma then notices the darkening of his ring.
Rescue by Zjerma
Zjerma reaches the source under the flowering almond tree, follows the path Handa had taken, and arrives at the old man's hut. The old man tells Zjerma that his brother followed the path leading to the garden of the Earthly Beauty; he tried to convince Handa not to go, but he did not listen. The old man says that before meeting Handa, he saw many other men take the same path and never return. The wise old man invites Zjerma into his hut, where he shares secret teachings to help save Handa. Zjerma says goodbye the old man and leaves. In the garden of the Zanas, the nymphs try to entertain him with songs and dances. He does not stop, telling them that they are very beautiful but not for him.
At the entrance of the garden of the Earthly Beauty, Zjerma meets the witch and accepts her challenge. He solves the witch's riddle, uses the silver sword to cut the woolen bow in two, and jumps the hedge with his horse. Before the witch sprays the herbal ointment on him, he catches her and ties her to a tree. Zjerma threatens to kill her if she does not show him his brother. Trembling, she shows him many petrified men (including Handa). He asks the witch to tell him how to bring his brother back to life. She tells Zjerma to anoint Handa's eyes and lips with the dew from the calyx of the white lily. Unable to find the flower, he orders the witch to tell him where it is and she obeys. Finding the flower, Zjerma sprinkles its dew on Handa's eyes and lips. When Handa comes back to life, Zjerma embraces him. He then sprinkles the dew on Handa's animal companions and the other men. When Zjerma wakes everyone else up, the witch yells at him to stop but he ignores her. Enraged, she transforms herself into a black bolla and tries to free herself by twisting her body. The witch clings to a nearby tree and tries to uproot the tree to which she is tied. She fails; her body splits in two, and she dies.
When the petrified men come back to life, the twins realize that they were all brave young noblemen. Handa suggests that he and the other men compete in a tournament for the Earthly Beauty's hand. To show Zjerma their gratitude for saving their lives, they allow Handa to marry the Earthly Beauty without a fight. Zjerma asks the men to follow him and Handa when they visit the Beauty, and they accept. The twins and their followers arrive at the Earthly Beauty's cave and find her in the shade of a vine and a cypress tree, surrounded by her maids. She greets them, and offers her hand to Handa. The Earthly Beauty's eyes are lighter than the Moon, and as bright as Venus. Zjerma makes two laurel wreaths, and places them on the Earthly Beauty and Handa's heads. A nine-day celebration follows.
The twins' kingdoms
Zjerma gathers his companions and invites them to help free the kingdom of the twins' ancestors from foreign domination. Everyone agrees, and leaves for the war. Although the twins' army is small, their strength – comparable to that of a drangue – allows them to prevail for several months. When the foreign king realizes that he can no longer win or save himself, he joins his army in combat. Handa kills the king with his silver sword. Heir of his father-in-law's throne, Zjerma leaves Handa what he owed of his ancestor's crown and recognizes his brother as king. The twins retrieve their mother and return her to her kingdom. Zjerma and his army then go to the Earthly Beauty's cave to bring her to his brother. After the long journey, he becomes ill. The last day for Zjerma to return to Bardhakuqja approaches; too weak to get out of bed, he sends Handa.
When Handa arrives in the city freed by his brother, he is mistaken for Zjerma and celebrated. Forced to go to bed with his sister-in-law, he tells her who he is and places his sword between them. In the morning, a recovered Zjerma arrives unexpectedly. He enters the room and sees Handa and Bardhakuqja in bed together. Feeling betrayed, he considers killing them in their sleep before he sees Handa's silver sword separating them. Realizing what happened, he laughs; this awakens Handa and Bardhakuqja. The twins go with Bardhakuqja to Handa's kingdom, where Bardhakuqja meets their mother and Handa's wife; after three months, Zjerma and his wife return home. Since Zjerma's father-in-law is very old and wants to rest, he give his throne to Zjerma and places the gold crown on his head.
THE END
"The Twins" (Albanian: Binoshët; Italian: I Gemelli) is an Albanian folk tale firstly recorded by Arbëreshë folklorist Giuseppe Schirò in Piana degli Albanesi and published in his 1923 book, Canti tradizionali ed altri saggi delle colonie albanesi di Sicilia, in Albanian and Italian.[6] American journalist George Post Wheeler published an English translation of a similar tale from Albania in his 1936 book, Albanian Wonder Tales, entitling his version "The Boy who was Brother to the Drague", with the same twin protagonsits but also including a drangue as a blood brother of one of the twins.[5]
The legend about the name of the city of Lviv. (Ukraine)
by Kornel D. from Zespół Placówek Oświatowych in Kadzidło, Poland.
The legend about the name of the city of Lviv.
A long, long time ago, at the Times when the surrouning hills were sinking in the impenetrable Green of the primeval forest, the first settlers appeared in the area of today’s Lviv. They gazed with delight at the richness of the mighty forests, at the River flowing in a muddy Bed, and not thinking too long, they founded their first villages.Sparing no ef fort, they tore up the fertile land, felling mighty thousand-year-old oaks. The flatter of hundreds of primitive axes continued uninterruptedly from dawn to dusk, disturbing the former silence. Finally, when they took over the valley and it would seem that from now on they are the masters of these areas, something unexpected happened. A mighty roar from the highest hill announced the arrival of the beast.
The monster hunted at night, despising no creature. He killed anything that came within reach of his huge paws. Its fangs tore through the flesh like the sharpest knives, and a sticky brown gore lined the clearings where it feasted on its prey. Initially, his victims were mainly wild animals, but when these prudently escaped from his hunting grounds, he decided to taste those that lived closer to these strange, two-legged creatures.
A huge lion, because as it turned out, he was the reason for the terror, kidnapped goats from the pens and tore the cattle. He did not care about the traps set by the settlers and avoided them with great ease. Finally, terrified people, so far hiding in the four walls of their homes, decided to hunt the monster.
On a starless night, with due caution, they called a council and sat around the great fire. The glow of the flames danced softly across the tired faces of the people, who kept coming up with bold ideas to help slay the beast. After many hours, they decided that the bravest and strongest youths should be equipped with the best weapons at their disposal and go up the hill during the day, where the lion should rest quietly after the night's hunting in his cave.
As they decided, so they did, and on a bright day, having prepared various weapons in advance, a team consisting of the bravest peasants set out to kill the creature. They climbed the hill with their soul in their arms. No one even dared to raise their voices or speak to their companion. Only clinging to the shaft of their spears, they pressed on, listening for a lion lurking nearby.Finally they reached the top and approached the entrance of the cave. The stench of rotting meat and crushed bones strewn about made it clear to them that they had come to the right place. The oldest of the hunters nodded to the others and pointed to the entrance to the cave.
A sickening smell entered their nostrils as they entered the darkness, causing them to lose their breath. Wanting to get used to the darkness, they squinted their eyes and then heard a bloodcurdling growl. Trembling with fear, they huddled together as tightly as the confines of the cave would allow them, and raised their javelins.
Then they saw him. The eyes, shining like two tar torches, stared at them for a long moment. The peasants did not even have time to scream when the huge lion in a fraction of a second fell on them, as if the laws of gravity did not apply to him. The tight formation that was supposed to protect the hunters instantly buckled under the onslaught of the beast.
When the first in line were torn apart by the monster's sharp claws, panic flooded the hearts of the remaining daredevils. They realized that there was no help for them. Trying to escape, they trampled each other, stepping on each other and bumping into hard rocks. The lion, in a fit of wild rage, seized the neck of one of the warriors with his strong jaws and tightened them instantly. The wretch's moan was drowned out by the crunch of breaking vertebrae. The screams stopped after a few minutes, when the last of the daredevils gave up the ghost, seeing his insides bursting out of his ripped belly before dying.
The hard times of terror have come. The lion, having tasted human flesh, began to hunt anyone who came within its territory. The inhabitants of the surrounding villages, seeing no hope for improvement, decided that it was time to leave their homes.
Then, an unknown knight came to a small inn located at the crossroads. He sat down at the pine table, sticky with old grease, and ordered food. He sat motionless, listening to the conversations of drunken guests, telling incredible things about a huge animal that terrorized the whole area. When he decided he had heard enough, he got up and walked over to the innkeeper.
"I will kill this creature." Just tell me where I can find the elders, and I'll talk about a proper pay. He said without taking his eyes off the suspiciously glaring innkeeper. He scratched his matted beard and chuckled. – You alone, Lord? Against this monster? Well, if you're in such a hurry to the other world, why not. I will take you to the village.
Despite the initial protests of the frightened chicks, the vat slowly filled with scarlet liquid. The newcomer was just waiting for it. He drew a razor-sharp sword, then dipped it in the sticky liquid up to the hilt, uttering aloud incantations unknown to anyone. Then he did the same with his armor and shield. When he finished the ritual, he explained to the wary-looking inhabitants that thanks to the blood of the girls and the spells spoken, his weapons are ready to face the danger.
The next day, the warrior rose in time with the rising sun and set out for the lion's den. Like his predecessors, he struggled up steep slopes, but unlike them, he was not afraid of his destination. On the contrary, with the approaching danger, he walked faster and faster, as if the awareness of the inevitable clash with the monster gave him strength.
At last, the crackling of the bleached bones of men and animals beneath his feet announced that he had arrived. However, he did not enter the cave. He just stood in front of her and began to strike the iron blade of his sword against the iron umbro of the shield.
The noise lured the lion out of the cave. The awakened animal, at the sight of the lone knight, opened its mouth and roared so that the surrounding rocks trembled. Then he fixed his eyes on the newcomer and licked his snout with a rough tongue, as if already tasting his flesh. He bent his great head to the ground and moved gently veering to the left side with his muscles tensed, ready for a lightning attack. The knight did what the beast did. He leaned slightly, held his shield out in front of him, and, still staring at the lion, began to move in the same direction as his opponent.
They stared at each other for a good few seconds, until finally the lion decided it was time to end this absurd dance of death. The hind legs dug into the stony ground, accumulating energy and instantly shot at the knight like an arrow.
The knight was just waiting for it. At the last moment, he dodged, protecting himself from the claws with his shield and, making a turn, slashed the beast in the right side. The lion, losing his balance, fell behind him, raising clouds of dust. The animal got up and shook its huge head, as if disbelieving what had just happened. However, bleeding profusely, it moved to attack once again.
This time the lion rushed at the hunter, not calculating, he just wanted to knock the victim down with his weight and dig its fangs into the juicy artery. The knight, however, was well prepared. He knew perfectly well that both shield and armor, strengthened by ancient magic, would resist the mad attack.
The lion gained momentum and jumped on the warrior, who thrust his sword with all his strength into the belly of the beast. The lion howled shrilly as the blade sliced through his insides and he fell on the warrior, knocking him off his feet.
The monster's body twitched convulsively on the knight imprisoned beneath it. The fight was over as quickly as it had begun.
In honor of this event, the mountain that was the arena of this skirmish was named Lion Mountain. On the other hand, the village, which over time turned into a thriving city, was called Lviv. And what happened to the brave hero? Apparently, he deleted the sum promised to him and moved on in search of orders for monsters.
The knight jumped off the burning stallion onto the parched ground and looked around. Those who have not yet managed to escape watched the mysterious newcomer from the arcades of their houses. No one was in a hurry to meet him. The hospitality that the villagers were once famous for was stifled by overwhelming fear. Finally, the oldest member of the community plucked up the courage to ask in a hoarse voice.
"What do you want, newcomer?"
The warrior approached the old man slowly. He looked at him with piercing eyes and after a moment of silence replied. " I will kill the beast, but you must help me prepare for this duel." Then he grabbed his grandfather's arm and entered the building behind them.
The whole village immediately gathered around the house, listening to what was being done inside. After setting a price for the monster's head, which turned out to be not too high, the knight ordered all the girls in the area to draw three drops of blood. The blood would then be placed in a large vat where the hunter intended to dip his weapons and armor.
THE END
OUR FAIRYTALES
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Transcript
OUR FAIRYTALES
Enjoy reading!
The Swan Queen
A Lithuanian Fairytale
Prepared by Ortaklar Science High School, Türkiye Team Asil Andaç KIZILDOGAN
The Swan Queen
The queen’s heart grew heavy, the tears poured from her eyes and she sang out in reply: “Do not throw me the wings, for you come too late – I won’t leave my son to an orphan’s fate.”Just then the king dame up to her. “Why are your eyes red with weeping?” asked he. “Our little son cried, and it made me cry, too,” the queen replied. On the next day her mother flew over her, and, on the days that followed, her brother and her sisters, and they all sand the same song, but the queen refused to heed any of them. The last to come flying over her was her own dear love, and he sang as he flew:“In that garden bright my beloved I see; Though she has no wings, yet a swan is she. Her fingers are covered with golden rings, To her little son a songs she sings, From a little gold book she reads him a tale, A kerchief of silk behind her trails. A pair of white wings to her I’ll throw, And she’ll leave her son and with us she’ll go!”
The Swan Queen
nce upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman. Every morning they went out to clear a nearby forest of dry twigs and leaves, and the moment they left the house a white swan would come flying there. She would fold and put aside her wings, and, turning into a
maid, light the stove, cook the dinner, clean and wash everything and then fly away again. The old people had not a care in the world, for they returned home each day to find everything done for them. But they were filled with wonder as to who their kind helper was. One day the old man remained home alone. He hid behind a tub and waited to see what would happen. After a time who should come flying into the hut but a swan! She folded her wings, laid them aside, and, turning into a maid, went to the well for water, and the old man at once took the wings and burnt them. The maid returned with two pailfuls of water, she looked and she saw that her wings were gone! She burst out crying and wept long and bitterly, for this meant that she was parted from her mother and father and her own dear love, too. But there was nothing she could do, so stay she did with the old people.
The Swan Queen
The queen could contain herself no longer and sang out in reply:“A pair of wings throw down to me, And with you I’ll fly beyond the sea!” The swan who was her own dear love threw a pair of wings down to her and she left her son and flew away with him. But he met his death soon after and her heart filled with sorrow again. As for the king her husband, he waited and waited for her, but as she did not come back married Lauma the Witch. The stepmother took a dislike to her stepson and treated him badly, but the swan his mother would come flying to the palace at night, fold her wings, wash and fondle her son and then fly away again, singing:“The king and his wifeRepose in their bed;The palace guards, too,Sleep the sleep of the dead.But all night without failMy son sobs and wails!”
The Swan Queen
Now, the king himself was once out hunting near the forest not far from where they lived. He saw the maid and liked her well and he said to the old people: “I must have the maid for my own. Give her to me and you can have as many pieces of gold as you like.” There was nothing for it and so the old people gave him the maid. The king brought her to his palace and married her and in due time a son was born to them. One day the queen came out into the garden with her baby son and what did she see but a flock of swans come flying near. At their head flew her father, singing as he flew: “In that garden bright my daughter I see;Though she has no wings, yet a swan is she. Her fingers are covered with golden rings, To her little son a songs she sings, From a little gold book she reads him a tale, A kerchief of silk behind her trails. A pair of white wings to her I’ll throw, And she’ll leave her son and with us she’ll go!”
The Swan Queen
But before flying away she would lull her son to sleep and he would not wake till she came back again. The king was filled with wonder as to why his son slept so long. One night he saw the swan come flying into the palace. She changed into human shape, lulled her son to sleep and then turned back again into a swan and flew away. The king thought and thought how to keep her with him but could not think of anything. Once, there came to the palace an old man, and the king asked him what he was to do in order to catch the swan. Said the old man: “Watch and see which of the windows the swan flies out of and put some tar on the sill. Her wings will be glued to it, and if you seize her with your left hand and tear them off with your right hand, she will get back her human shape again.” The king did as the old man said. He put some tar on the window-sill, and when the swan’s wings were glued to it, seized her with his left hand and tore off her wings with his right hand, and lo! – the swan turned into his on dear queen again. The king had Lauma the Witch put to death and three later after that he held a great feast to which came folk from far and near.
The Swan Queen
I was there, too, and was served mead and ale, but it ran down my beard and not a drop got in my mouth.A load of firewood I sold, I did; in my new best shoes the gold coins I hid. I lost them all but you found two or three And if you’re a fool you’ll return them to me!
The Glass Mountain
A Polish Fairy Tale
Prepared by 15 Temmuz Şehitler Anatolian High School- İzmir/ TURKEY
Once upon a time there was a beautiful enchanted princess who lived in a castle made of pure gold. The rooms were made up of the most precious kinds of stones and metals. The grounds of the castle were beautiful as well, made of of the most precious exotic flowers that permated the air. A large apple tree was nestled in the front of the castle and birthed golden apples that would allow anyone who picked them to gain entrance to the castle. But for all the beauty that surronded her, the princess was lonely for the mountain her castle sat upon was made of glass that no man could climb.
Illustration by George W. Dasent.
Of course the promise of such riches and a lovely princess had led many knights to their death. No one had made it more than halfway up before falling right back down the steep mountain. For seven years she had watched from her window as these brave men tried and failed to rescue her, at this point it can be said she was beginning to give up hope. Nearing towards her 8th year of imprisonment the princess sighted a knight clad in gold armour taking his turn at the mountain. She at first felt sorrow at his for sure soon to come end, but as she anticipated his fall he gained more ground. Excitement flooded through her body for in one more moment he would reach the apple tree and gain entrance!
Illustration of the challenge by Ilia McAfee
Just as he reached for the tree an eagle of extreme size came from nowhere and used its incrediable wings to hit the knight's horse in the eye which caused the horse to lose its balance. Down the hill falling to his death went the princess's ray of hope. After years of hearing his parents speak about the beautiful princess who lived in the golden castle atop the glass mountain, a young boy decided to try his luck. Although young he was very strong and very well grown. He knew that all who had tried had failed so he spent much time thinking of a plan. He finally decided to go into the forest and catch a lynx, after catching the animal he cut of it's claws and fastened them onto his hands and feet.
Illustration by Miko Maciaszek.
The young boy set off on his journey on his feet armed with his new claws. He soon realized that he had underestimated the mountain. He was not more than half-way up and he could go no farther. He was dehydrated and extremely worn out. He was only hanging by the claws on his hands as his feet were torn and bleeding. Night had taken over now and the only light came from the stars. The boy realized there was nothing left to do but await death. With his claws positioned firmly in the glass he felt safe enough to fall into a deep sleep. Meanwhile the eagle that guarded the tree spotted the young boy and thought him dead already. The eagle was really quite hungry and the corpse looked fresh so he flew down towards the boy.
The boy felt the eagle dig its claws into his flesh, but he made no sound for he had a plan. He grabbed the creatures feet with his hands and the eagle frightened took flight to try to get away from the boy But the young boy continued to hold on as the bird lifted into the night sky. He continued to hold on until he looked down and saw the golden apple tree. At the sight the boy removed his knife from his belt and cut off the eagles feet. The boy landed on the hard branches of the tree. He was in pain and agony but he had made it to the magical tree. He picked the golden apples and suddenly his wounds were healed and he felt better than ever.
Wikipedia
Before his eyes the castle gates opened and the gorgeous princess ran to greet her rescuer. He received all of her riches and treasures and her love. They were happy although they were never able to return to Earth as the eagle who had been the princess's guardian was their only way to return down the mountain. The princess and her husband lived happily ever after in their golden castle on top of the glass mountain. The princess's people were happy as well for with the eagles death its blood had restored life to all those who had lost theirs trying to resuce the beautiful girl.
Edmund Dulac’s cover page
THE END
The Girl who Became a BoyAlbanian Fairytale
Prepared by Alytaus Adolfo Ramanausko - Vanago High school
Once upon a time there was a man who had three daughters. When the king called up soldiers for the war, the man had no sons to send. As he sat and pondered what to do, his eldest daughter approached him and inquired, "What are you thinking about, father?" He answered, "Leave me alone, daughter. The king has called up soldiers to go to war and I have no sons. I only have you whom I can't send to war." To this she replied, "Marry me to someone!" Later the second daughter gave the very same answer. The youngest daughter, however, replied, "Don't worry, father, I'll go to war. Have a uniform made for me and cut off my hair so that no one will know that I am a girl. Then give me your horse and weapons." Her father did as she had requested and she set off with the other young men of the village. Everyone who saw the new young man was surprised. And so they departed.
That day, the king had ordered his own son to be taken out of the town to be eaten by a Kulshedra. Every year the Kulshedra would come and devour a number of people. One day the Kulshedra said, "If you don't want me to come back ever again, give me the king's son." And so they brought the king's son to the Kulshedra. When the boy was outside the town, the townspeople all watched the Kulshedra setting upon him to devour him and they were all so frightened that no one even thought of going to his assistance. The disguised girl, however, drew her sabre, slew the Kulshedra and saved the king's son. The news that the Kulshedra had been slain spread immediately to the king who was so overjoyed that he gave orders for a banquet and a gun salute. When the young man entered the palace with the king's son, the son whispered, "My father will offer you a kingdom, but ask only for his horse, because it can think and talk like we do."
When they got to the king, he asked, "Which kingdom would you like to have as your reward?" The young man replied, "My only wish is not to go to war." "Fine," said the king, "I will gladly free you from military service, but which kingdom do you want?" "Well, if you really want to give me something, give me the horse you're sitting on." The king refused, however, and so the young man departed. The king's son followed young man and when the people asked where he was going, he replied, "I am going away with my new father. He saved my life and now he is like a father to me. If my real father cares more for his horse than he does for me, his son, then it is better for me to depart." When the king heard what his son had said, he changed his mind. They brought the young man the horse and placed a golden saddle on it. The young man (we will call him so though he was actually a girl) mounted the horse and rode off to another kingdom.
When he arrived, he saw a crowd of people standing before a moat. The young man's horse saw the crowd in the distance and asked its master, "My lord, can you see what they are doing?" "I can see them all right, but I cannot make out what is going on." "The king had the moat dug because he wants to marry his daughter to someone," replied the horse. "The person who can jump over the moat with his horse and catch an apple can have the king's daughter for his wife. It looks, though, as if no one has yet succeeded. I'll jump over the moat. You just hold on tightly. Don't be afraid, and keep an eye out for the apple. When I jump, I'll stumble at the edge of the moat, so grab my mane and hang on." As they talked, the horse approached. Then it took a run at the moat and leapt over it. When it reached the other side, it stumbled on one leg. The young man seized the mane and the horse leapt into the air again so that the young man was able to catch the apple.
Everyone was surprised because many people had tried to jump the moat, but no one had ever succeeded in catching the apple. The king immediately arranged for the wedding and gave his daughter away in marriage. When the marriage ceremony was over, the bride and the groom went to bed, though of course both of them were girls. The next morning, as is custom, the wife was asked how she had spent the night. "Nothing happened," she replied. The second and third nights were the same. The people at the court decided that they would have to kill the young man, but somehow they felt sorry for him. "I know what to do," said one courtier, "we'll send him into the forest to take food to the woodcutters. There is a Kulshedra in the forest who will come and devour him." The groom, however, was standing behind the door and overheard everything. He went back to his horse and sat down despondently. "Why are you so sad?" asked the horse. "Why shouldn't I be?" he replied, "The king wants to send me into the forest so that the Kulshedra will devour me." "Don't be afraid," declared the horse, "Ask him for a cart to carry the food and for a team of oxen, and I'll tell you what to do when we get there." A little later, the father in law summoned the young man and said to him, "Go into the forest and take the woodcutters something to eat." "All right," replied the young man, "but I will need a cart to carry the food." So they gave him what he needed and he set off.
On their way, the horse explained to him, "When we get to the middle of the forest, release one of the oxen and call the woodcutters. The Kulshedra will hear you and rush forth to devour you. But don't worry! Seize it by the ear and put it to the yoke." Hardly had the horse finished explaining when they found themselves in the middle of the forest. The young man released an ox and called the woodcutters. The Kulshedra heard him calling and set upon him, but the young man simply seized it by the ear and put it to the yoke in place of the ox. Then they returned quickly to the king. When the townspeople saw the Kulshedra under the yoke, they were horrified and hid in their houses. The horse then told the young man to release the Kulshedra, which he did.
The bride and groom slept with one another again, but the bride admitted that she had spent the night the same way as she had spent the others. This time the courtiers said, "We'll send him to water the wild mare who devours all living creatures. She will devour him too." The young man overheard everything again and returned despondently to his horse that asked him why he was so sad. The young man recounted, "I escaped from the Kulshedra, but now I am supposed to water a mare which devours all living creatures." "Don't be afraid," said the horse, "she is my mother. Just ask the king for two pails of honey." A little later, the king summoned him and told him to water the mare. The young man then requested two pails of honey, which he received, and set off with his horse.
On their way, the horse said to him, "When we get to the well, draw two pails of water out, pour the two pails of honey into the well and mix everything well. Then hang your saddle nearby so that the mare can see it, and climb up a tall tree. When the mare arrives, she will drink the water, see the golden saddle and say, 'Such sweet water and such a golden saddle! I need a human to sit on me and play with me!' You shout down, 'Here I am, but I'm afraid you will eat me.' She will say, 'No, I won't', and you reply, 'Swear by the head of Demirçil the horse.' She will swear by my head and you can then climb down and mount her." The young man did as the horse had told him. The mare arrived, drank some water, looked at the golden saddle and said, "Such sweet water and such a golden saddle! I need a human to sit on me and play with me!" The young man shouted, "Here I am, but I'm afraid you will eat me." "No, I won't." "Swear by the head of Demirçil the horse." She swore and he climbed down the tree, mounted the mare and rode around with her. The mare then said, "I would be even happier if Demirçil were here." "I have your son here too," said the young man, called his horse and they all frolicked together.
After a while, the young man and his horse returned to the town and the mare accompanied them. When the townspeople saw the wild mare coming, they scream at it to frighten it off. But the mare would not leave. Finally her son begged her to return home and promised her that he would come to play with her again. And so she departed. The groom returned to the king and slept with the bride once more. Again nothing happened. This time the king resolved to send the young man to a church full of snakes to collect the taxes which the snakes had not been paying for years. The young man overheard everything from behind the door and returned despondently to his horse. The horse asked, "Why are you so sad, my lord?" "This time I am really going to die," he replied, "the king is going to send me to a church full of snakes." "Don't worry," responded the horse, "ask for a waggon covered with bells and for some donkeys to transport the money." The young man did as the horse had said and his father in law told him that he would have to go to the church. When they left, they took the wild mare with them, and the horse and mare explained to the young man what he had to do. "My mother and I," said the stallion, "will guard the doors and neigh loudly. You climb in through the window with all the bells and ring them. The snakes will then cry out and ask whether we are gods come to torture them. You demand the king's taxes and say that God will destroy them if they don't pay up."
When they got to the church, they did everything as planned. The snakes were so frightened by the bells and the noise the horses were making that they brought out heaps of money. When the three were on their way home, the snakes slithered after them and set upon the young man, but were unable to do him any harm. Then they cursed him, saying, "If you who have taken our money away are a boy, may you be transformed into a girl, and if you are a girl, may you be transformed into a boy," and the girl suddenly realized that she had been turned into a boy. They returned to the king and when the bride and groom got up the next morning, the young woman, on being asked how she had spent the night, replied, "You don't need to ask any more questions. I spent a wonderful night."
The fairy tale is over and wishes you all the best.
THE EAGLE'S TALE by Şehit Abdülkadir Kılavuz Anatolian High School
The Eagle's Tale is an Albanian folk tale about Albania and how Albanians got their distinctive names.
A young man is hunting in the mountains. At that time, an eagle flying over it lands on a steep rocky hill. The eagle has broad wings and holds a snake in its beak. After a while, the eagle flies away from the cliff where its nest is located. The young man then climbs to the top of the cliff where he sees him. In the nest an eaglet plays with a dead snake. But the snake isn't dead yet! It suddenly comes to life, baring its teeth, and preparing to bite the eaglet with its deadly venom. The young man immediately took his bow and killed the snake with his arrow. Then the eagle takes its young and sets off for its nest. Suddenly he hears the eagle's great wings flutter above him.
"Why are you kidnapping my baby?" The eagle cried. The young man replies, "Your baby belongs to me now because I saved it from the snake you couldn't kill."
“Give me back my baby! Let me reward you with the sharpness of my eyes and the strength of my wings. You will be invincible and you will be called by my name.” Thus, the baby eagle returns its young. Once the eaglet is grown, it always flies over the head of the young man, who is now an adult and has killed many wild animals in the forest with his bow and arrows, and many enemies of his country with his sword.He faithfully follows and guides the young man through all these heroisms.
The amazing thing about this eagle is that it has two heads. The people of the country, impressed by the deeds of this brave hunter, chose him as king and named him Shqipëtar, which means Son of the Eagle in Albanian. His kingdom is also known as Shqipëria, Land of Eagles.
the End
The Twins (Albanian tale) by Adil Akan Secondary School
The twins' birth
A king loses his kingdom. All that remains of his wealth are two gold rings, each adorned with a gem, a mare, a brave female dog, and a vegetable garden where he lives with his wife. He spends his days hoeing the garden, while his wife spins linen and wool. They are happy in the quiet of the fields and the tranquility of a solitary life. The only thing they miss is having a son.[10] One morning, the king goes to the seashore and catches a large, red fish. He discovers that the red fish is magical and can speak. The fish tells the king to divide the fish's body into four pieces: the side of the head, the middle, the tail, and the bones. It instructs the king to give his wife the side of the head, eat the middle part himself, feed the tail to the mare and the dog, and bury the bones in the garden. The king follows the fish's instructions. His wife gives birth to two male twins, Zjerma[f] and Handa;[g] one has the Sun on his forehead, and the other has the Moon. The mare gives birth to two foals, the dog two puppies, and two silver swords appear in the garden. The king's wife raises her twins carefully. The king teaches them to ride their horses without a saddle, fight with a variety of weapons, and hunt in the mountains and forests.[13]
The king dies and the twins leave
When the twins are nineteen years old, the king becomes ill and realizes that he was joined by the ora. He summons his sons to his bedside, reminding them that they have royal blood and to love each other, take care of their mother, and do good. Before dying, he gives each of them one of his gold rings. They bury him with his weapons, mourning him for nine days and nights. The queen grieves for her husband, but her sons comfort her as they promised their father. After mourning, the queen returns to spinning linen and wool; the brothers hire a farmer to work in the garden, and his wife does the housework.[14] A year later, Zjerma tells Handa that he wants to travel the world to win fame and conquer their father's kingdom so they could regain their ancestors' glory. He suggests girding their silver swords, mounting their steeds, taking their two dogs (who are unafraid to attack a drangue), and leaving their home. He is unconcerned about their mother, who is old but healthy and has people helping her. Handa accepts his brother's proposal, so they say goodbye to their mother and leave with the horses and dogs.[15] On their journey, they come to a water source at the foot of a flowering almond tree where the road splits. They decide to separate and follow their fate according to the choice of the horses, vowing to reunite there every year on the same day. If one of the twins was in danger and needed help from the other, the gem in the ring would lose its brightness and turn black. The two brothers hug each other; Zjerma's horse takes the right path, and Handa's the left.[15]
Zjerma's journey Kulshedra: the seven-headed dragon
After a few days, Zjerma comes to a city whose streets are empty and houses shuttered. He approaches the temple of the Sun, where he sees an old man crying. Zjerma asks the old man what is going on.[15] The man says that the kulshedra had blocked the source of the river about a month earlier; the heroes who tried to kill the monster all died. The elders suggested that the king bargain with the monster to release the water. The kulshedra offers to release the water if she receives an offering of a beautiful maiden daily. The old man says that his daughter had been sent the day before and the king's daughter, Bardhakuqja, had been sent that day. The king promises his daughter in marriage to whoever slays the dragon.[16] Zjerma promises the old man that he will avenge his daughter, and leaves with his animal companions.[16] He reaches a dark river valley in the mountains. The source of the river is a deep, wide abyss where the monster lives. The princess is tied to a boulder, almost lifeless. Zjerma's blood stirs in his veins when he sees the still-radiant princess, who sees him and tells him to leave to save his life. Zjerma refuses, dismounts, and frees the princess. Exhausted, he rests his head on the princess' knees and falls asleep.[16] At noon, the water begins to move and the princess realizes that the kulshedra is about to emerge. Not wanting to wake Zjerma, she begins to cry. A tear falls on Zjerma's face and awakens him; he mounts his horse and brandishes the silver sword, waiting for the monster. The water boils, and from it the seven heads of the kulshedra emerge; the central one is horned, with a seven-pointed crown. Poison flows through her teeth; her forked tongues hiss, and her mouths spit fire. When the kulshedra jumps to the ground, Zjerma sees that her body is like a giant lizard's with segmented armor made of steel-hard bone. Her serpentine tail has nine knots, covered with hard scales. Her legs are short, wide and strong, with curved claws as hard as iron. On her back she has a fish-type fin which opens and closes with antennae like boar tusks. She has wings like a bat, nine times larger than those of a hawk.[17]
Dragon-slayer
When the kulshedra is about to pounce, Zjerma and his horse approach her; Zjerma's dog follows. Zjerma attacks the monster, while his dog bites her behind. The kulshedra writhes, spitting flames. She hisses, trying to bite her enemies and crush them with her tail. The horse tramples her, denting her bony armor and breaking the scales protecting her body. Zjerma cuts off her heads with his sword, but the heads reattach to the monster's bloody necks; he realizes that he will have to cut off her central head to kill her. A dark cloud covers the valley, with thunder and lightning. Zjerma cuts off the kusheldra's central head; a torrent of boiling black blood and flames erupt from the monster's neck, accompanied by a loud screech. The cloud dissipates, the sun shines, and the river begins to flow again. Zjerma cuts off the kulshedra's tongues and puts them in his saddlebag with her crowned head. He washes himself in the river with his horse and dog. Zjerma helps the princess mount the horse and brings her back to the city, where he is greeted with celebrations and honors. Meanwhile, Barkulku ("Wolfbelly") passes the source of the river and sees the dead kulshedra. Not knowing what had happened, he cuts off the remaining heads and put them in a sack in the hope of receiving a reward. Barkulku arrives in the city when Zjerma and Bardhakuqja are being married. He approaches the throne, announces that he has killed the kulshedra, and claims the reward. The king asks him to substantiate his claim, and Barkulku pulls out the heads of the kulshedra. Zjerma points out that the crowned head and tongues are missing, and takes them out of his saddlebag. The king swears by the Sun that if Barkulku has no other arguments to defend himself, he will give the order to burn him. Barkulku attacks Zjerma, and the dragonslayer kills him. When Zjerma and Bardhakuqja are about to put garlands on their heads, Zjerma realizes that the gem on his ring has darkened. He stops the ceremony, saying that he must leave immediately. Zjerma kisses his bride, telling her to wait for him for a year, a month and a day; if he has not returned, she will be free to remarry. He says goodbye, and leaves with his horse and dog to rescue his brother.
Handa's journey
After leaving his brother, Handa and his animal companions cross plains, hills and mountains before reaching a dense forest. He proceeds with difficulty, cutting through the vegetation to make his way. When the forest thins out, Handa sees a hut near a stream where an old man is resting. They greet each other, and the man advises Handa not to continue because he will face risks worse than death. Handa says that he must follow his destiny, and continues. Handa arrives in the garden of the Zanas. White-clothed nymphs welcome him with laughter, songs and dances, charming the young man with kisses and caresses. They tell him that e Bukura e Dheut ("the Earthly Beauty") lives in the cave at the foot of the mountain. Inebriated, Handa wants to find the Earthly Beauty. He leaves the Zanas, arriving with his horse and dog at the entrance of a garden surrounded by a hedge of brambles and briars. An old woman asks him what he is looking for; Handa replies that he wants to meet (and marry) the Earthly Beauty. The old woman allows him to enter if he passes a test of intelligence, sword-wielding and riding ability. The test consists of solving a riddle, cutting a woolen bow in two, and climbing over the hedge onto his horse's back without touching it. Handa fails all of them. The witch sprays him, his horse, and his dog with an herbal ointment which turns them into stone; Zjerma then notices the darkening of his ring.
Rescue by Zjerma
Zjerma reaches the source under the flowering almond tree, follows the path Handa had taken, and arrives at the old man's hut. The old man tells Zjerma that his brother followed the path leading to the garden of the Earthly Beauty; he tried to convince Handa not to go, but he did not listen. The old man says that before meeting Handa, he saw many other men take the same path and never return. The wise old man invites Zjerma into his hut, where he shares secret teachings to help save Handa. Zjerma says goodbye the old man and leaves. In the garden of the Zanas, the nymphs try to entertain him with songs and dances. He does not stop, telling them that they are very beautiful but not for him. At the entrance of the garden of the Earthly Beauty, Zjerma meets the witch and accepts her challenge. He solves the witch's riddle, uses the silver sword to cut the woolen bow in two, and jumps the hedge with his horse. Before the witch sprays the herbal ointment on him, he catches her and ties her to a tree. Zjerma threatens to kill her if she does not show him his brother. Trembling, she shows him many petrified men (including Handa). He asks the witch to tell him how to bring his brother back to life. She tells Zjerma to anoint Handa's eyes and lips with the dew from the calyx of the white lily. Unable to find the flower, he orders the witch to tell him where it is and she obeys. Finding the flower, Zjerma sprinkles its dew on Handa's eyes and lips. When Handa comes back to life, Zjerma embraces him. He then sprinkles the dew on Handa's animal companions and the other men. When Zjerma wakes everyone else up, the witch yells at him to stop but he ignores her. Enraged, she transforms herself into a black bolla and tries to free herself by twisting her body. The witch clings to a nearby tree and tries to uproot the tree to which she is tied. She fails; her body splits in two, and she dies. When the petrified men come back to life, the twins realize that they were all brave young noblemen. Handa suggests that he and the other men compete in a tournament for the Earthly Beauty's hand. To show Zjerma their gratitude for saving their lives, they allow Handa to marry the Earthly Beauty without a fight. Zjerma asks the men to follow him and Handa when they visit the Beauty, and they accept. The twins and their followers arrive at the Earthly Beauty's cave and find her in the shade of a vine and a cypress tree, surrounded by her maids. She greets them, and offers her hand to Handa. The Earthly Beauty's eyes are lighter than the Moon, and as bright as Venus. Zjerma makes two laurel wreaths, and places them on the Earthly Beauty and Handa's heads. A nine-day celebration follows.
The twins' kingdoms
Zjerma gathers his companions and invites them to help free the kingdom of the twins' ancestors from foreign domination. Everyone agrees, and leaves for the war. Although the twins' army is small, their strength – comparable to that of a drangue – allows them to prevail for several months. When the foreign king realizes that he can no longer win or save himself, he joins his army in combat. Handa kills the king with his silver sword. Heir of his father-in-law's throne, Zjerma leaves Handa what he owed of his ancestor's crown and recognizes his brother as king. The twins retrieve their mother and return her to her kingdom. Zjerma and his army then go to the Earthly Beauty's cave to bring her to his brother. After the long journey, he becomes ill. The last day for Zjerma to return to Bardhakuqja approaches; too weak to get out of bed, he sends Handa. When Handa arrives in the city freed by his brother, he is mistaken for Zjerma and celebrated. Forced to go to bed with his sister-in-law, he tells her who he is and places his sword between them. In the morning, a recovered Zjerma arrives unexpectedly. He enters the room and sees Handa and Bardhakuqja in bed together. Feeling betrayed, he considers killing them in their sleep before he sees Handa's silver sword separating them. Realizing what happened, he laughs; this awakens Handa and Bardhakuqja. The twins go with Bardhakuqja to Handa's kingdom, where Bardhakuqja meets their mother and Handa's wife; after three months, Zjerma and his wife return home. Since Zjerma's father-in-law is very old and wants to rest, he give his throne to Zjerma and places the gold crown on his head.
THE END
"The Twins" (Albanian: Binoshët; Italian: I Gemelli) is an Albanian folk tale firstly recorded by Arbëreshë folklorist Giuseppe Schirò in Piana degli Albanesi and published in his 1923 book, Canti tradizionali ed altri saggi delle colonie albanesi di Sicilia, in Albanian and Italian.[6] American journalist George Post Wheeler published an English translation of a similar tale from Albania in his 1936 book, Albanian Wonder Tales, entitling his version "The Boy who was Brother to the Drague", with the same twin protagonsits but also including a drangue as a blood brother of one of the twins.[5]
The legend about the name of the city of Lviv. (Ukraine)
by Kornel D. from Zespół Placówek Oświatowych in Kadzidło, Poland.
The legend about the name of the city of Lviv.
A long, long time ago, at the Times when the surrouning hills were sinking in the impenetrable Green of the primeval forest, the first settlers appeared in the area of today’s Lviv. They gazed with delight at the richness of the mighty forests, at the River flowing in a muddy Bed, and not thinking too long, they founded their first villages.Sparing no ef fort, they tore up the fertile land, felling mighty thousand-year-old oaks. The flatter of hundreds of primitive axes continued uninterruptedly from dawn to dusk, disturbing the former silence. Finally, when they took over the valley and it would seem that from now on they are the masters of these areas, something unexpected happened. A mighty roar from the highest hill announced the arrival of the beast.
The monster hunted at night, despising no creature. He killed anything that came within reach of his huge paws. Its fangs tore through the flesh like the sharpest knives, and a sticky brown gore lined the clearings where it feasted on its prey. Initially, his victims were mainly wild animals, but when these prudently escaped from his hunting grounds, he decided to taste those that lived closer to these strange, two-legged creatures. A huge lion, because as it turned out, he was the reason for the terror, kidnapped goats from the pens and tore the cattle. He did not care about the traps set by the settlers and avoided them with great ease. Finally, terrified people, so far hiding in the four walls of their homes, decided to hunt the monster. On a starless night, with due caution, they called a council and sat around the great fire. The glow of the flames danced softly across the tired faces of the people, who kept coming up with bold ideas to help slay the beast. After many hours, they decided that the bravest and strongest youths should be equipped with the best weapons at their disposal and go up the hill during the day, where the lion should rest quietly after the night's hunting in his cave.
As they decided, so they did, and on a bright day, having prepared various weapons in advance, a team consisting of the bravest peasants set out to kill the creature. They climbed the hill with their soul in their arms. No one even dared to raise their voices or speak to their companion. Only clinging to the shaft of their spears, they pressed on, listening for a lion lurking nearby.Finally they reached the top and approached the entrance of the cave. The stench of rotting meat and crushed bones strewn about made it clear to them that they had come to the right place. The oldest of the hunters nodded to the others and pointed to the entrance to the cave.
A sickening smell entered their nostrils as they entered the darkness, causing them to lose their breath. Wanting to get used to the darkness, they squinted their eyes and then heard a bloodcurdling growl. Trembling with fear, they huddled together as tightly as the confines of the cave would allow them, and raised their javelins. Then they saw him. The eyes, shining like two tar torches, stared at them for a long moment. The peasants did not even have time to scream when the huge lion in a fraction of a second fell on them, as if the laws of gravity did not apply to him. The tight formation that was supposed to protect the hunters instantly buckled under the onslaught of the beast. When the first in line were torn apart by the monster's sharp claws, panic flooded the hearts of the remaining daredevils. They realized that there was no help for them. Trying to escape, they trampled each other, stepping on each other and bumping into hard rocks. The lion, in a fit of wild rage, seized the neck of one of the warriors with his strong jaws and tightened them instantly. The wretch's moan was drowned out by the crunch of breaking vertebrae. The screams stopped after a few minutes, when the last of the daredevils gave up the ghost, seeing his insides bursting out of his ripped belly before dying.
The hard times of terror have come. The lion, having tasted human flesh, began to hunt anyone who came within its territory. The inhabitants of the surrounding villages, seeing no hope for improvement, decided that it was time to leave their homes. Then, an unknown knight came to a small inn located at the crossroads. He sat down at the pine table, sticky with old grease, and ordered food. He sat motionless, listening to the conversations of drunken guests, telling incredible things about a huge animal that terrorized the whole area. When he decided he had heard enough, he got up and walked over to the innkeeper. "I will kill this creature." Just tell me where I can find the elders, and I'll talk about a proper pay. He said without taking his eyes off the suspiciously glaring innkeeper. He scratched his matted beard and chuckled. – You alone, Lord? Against this monster? Well, if you're in such a hurry to the other world, why not. I will take you to the village.
Despite the initial protests of the frightened chicks, the vat slowly filled with scarlet liquid. The newcomer was just waiting for it. He drew a razor-sharp sword, then dipped it in the sticky liquid up to the hilt, uttering aloud incantations unknown to anyone. Then he did the same with his armor and shield. When he finished the ritual, he explained to the wary-looking inhabitants that thanks to the blood of the girls and the spells spoken, his weapons are ready to face the danger. The next day, the warrior rose in time with the rising sun and set out for the lion's den. Like his predecessors, he struggled up steep slopes, but unlike them, he was not afraid of his destination. On the contrary, with the approaching danger, he walked faster and faster, as if the awareness of the inevitable clash with the monster gave him strength.
At last, the crackling of the bleached bones of men and animals beneath his feet announced that he had arrived. However, he did not enter the cave. He just stood in front of her and began to strike the iron blade of his sword against the iron umbro of the shield. The noise lured the lion out of the cave. The awakened animal, at the sight of the lone knight, opened its mouth and roared so that the surrounding rocks trembled. Then he fixed his eyes on the newcomer and licked his snout with a rough tongue, as if already tasting his flesh. He bent his great head to the ground and moved gently veering to the left side with his muscles tensed, ready for a lightning attack. The knight did what the beast did. He leaned slightly, held his shield out in front of him, and, still staring at the lion, began to move in the same direction as his opponent. They stared at each other for a good few seconds, until finally the lion decided it was time to end this absurd dance of death. The hind legs dug into the stony ground, accumulating energy and instantly shot at the knight like an arrow. The knight was just waiting for it. At the last moment, he dodged, protecting himself from the claws with his shield and, making a turn, slashed the beast in the right side. The lion, losing his balance, fell behind him, raising clouds of dust. The animal got up and shook its huge head, as if disbelieving what had just happened. However, bleeding profusely, it moved to attack once again.
This time the lion rushed at the hunter, not calculating, he just wanted to knock the victim down with his weight and dig its fangs into the juicy artery. The knight, however, was well prepared. He knew perfectly well that both shield and armor, strengthened by ancient magic, would resist the mad attack. The lion gained momentum and jumped on the warrior, who thrust his sword with all his strength into the belly of the beast. The lion howled shrilly as the blade sliced through his insides and he fell on the warrior, knocking him off his feet. The monster's body twitched convulsively on the knight imprisoned beneath it. The fight was over as quickly as it had begun. In honor of this event, the mountain that was the arena of this skirmish was named Lion Mountain. On the other hand, the village, which over time turned into a thriving city, was called Lviv. And what happened to the brave hero? Apparently, he deleted the sum promised to him and moved on in search of orders for monsters.
The knight jumped off the burning stallion onto the parched ground and looked around. Those who have not yet managed to escape watched the mysterious newcomer from the arcades of their houses. No one was in a hurry to meet him. The hospitality that the villagers were once famous for was stifled by overwhelming fear. Finally, the oldest member of the community plucked up the courage to ask in a hoarse voice. "What do you want, newcomer?" The warrior approached the old man slowly. He looked at him with piercing eyes and after a moment of silence replied. " I will kill the beast, but you must help me prepare for this duel." Then he grabbed his grandfather's arm and entered the building behind them. The whole village immediately gathered around the house, listening to what was being done inside. After setting a price for the monster's head, which turned out to be not too high, the knight ordered all the girls in the area to draw three drops of blood. The blood would then be placed in a large vat where the hunter intended to dip his weapons and armor.
THE END