Dancing with Trees
Page 16
Tradition: England, folklore
Allison watched Chris Bostock, a master storyteller from Northern England, tell this to an audience filled with little girls dressed as fairies, in Cumbria. He encouraged the children to turn around three times and shut their eyes – even the adults in the audience had fun twirling giddily around.
Original Source: Katharine M. Briggs, A Dictionary of British Folktales, Part A Folk Narratives (Routledge, London and New York, 1971), pp.436–439
Also Appears in: Angela Carter, The Virago Book of Fairy Tales (Virago, 1990, 2006), pp.114–117
Michael Floss, Folk Tales of the British Isles (Book Club Associates: London, 1977), pp. 93–97
One Tree Hill
Tradition: England, folklore
Alette first learned this story for a story walk when leading at a Celtic Festival on the grounds of the lovely, old, wooded estate of Newbattle Abbey College. Children brought potted primroses to lay in the lap of an ancient, gracious beech tree growing there.
Original Source: Ruth Tongue, Forgotten Tales of the English Counties (Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1970)
Also Appears in: Katharine M. Briggs, A Dictionary of British Folktales, Part A Folk Narratives (Routledge, London and New York, 1970), pp.439–441
Margaret Read Macdonald, ‘Three Green Ladies’ in Earth Care: World Folktales to Talk About (Linnet Books, North Haven Connecticut, 1999), pp.1–7 (our retelling owes much to this poetic version)
Eric Maddern, ‘The Green Ladies of One Tree Hill’, in Helen East, Eric Maddern and Alan Marks (eds), Spirit of the Forest: Tree Tales from Around the World (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, London, 2002), pp.22–25
St Brigid and the Wolf
Tradition: Celtic Christian, but with roots in ancient Celtic traditions
Thanks must go to storyteller Joshua Bryant for asking Aletter one evening, after a Café Voices session in Edinburgh, if she knew any stories where the wolf was not the villain. This story was the gift at the end Alette’s quest for a European story about a good wolf. It is St Brigid, as usual, who offers us another way of being and acting in the world.
Original Source: Abbie Farwell Brown, ‘Saint Bridget and the King’s Wolf’ in The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1900), which can be found on the Baldwin Children’s Literature Project: www.mainlesson.com
Also Appears in: Amy Steedman, ‘Saint Bridget and the King’s Wolf’, Our Island Saints (T.C. & E.C. Jack Ltd, 1912), which can be found at www.heritage-history.com
St Mungo and the Robin
Tradition: Scotland, Celtic Christian, but it has Irish roots
Alette first heard this story while on a cycling trip around the Kingdom of Fife with storyteller Andy Hunter, who ran a small company called ‘Story Bikes’, until his untimely death in 2015. Andy was a strong advocate for nature and the environment, leading many a story-lover on bicycle trips, long and short, treating them to a feast of local stories and legends along the way.
Original Source: The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 1900)
Also Appears in: Charles Kingsley, ‘St Columba’ in The Hermits (J.P. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, 1869), pp.286–287
Courtney Davis and Elaine Gill, The Book of Celtic Saints (Blandford Press, 1995), p.76.
David Campbell, Out of the Mouth of the Morning, Tales of the Celt (Luath Press Ltd, Edinburgh, 2009), pp.71–72
Saving the Forest
Tradition: Scotland, ancient Celtic
This is one of the first stories Alette ever told at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The retelling here owes much to Judy Hamilton’s version.
Original Source: Lord Archibald Campbell, ‘The Norse King’s Daughter’ in Waifs and Strays of the Celtic Tradition (Argyllshire Series, 1891)
Also Appears in: Judy Hamilton, ‘The Saving of the Forest’ in Scottish Myths and Legends, (Geddes and Grosset, New Lanark, 2003), pp.56–59 (the version included here is most influenced by this particular telling)
Fitzroy MacLean, ‘The Norse King’s Daughter’ in West Highland Tales (Birlinn, 1985, 2005), pp.61–62
This story also appears in the School of Scottish Studies Archives as ‘Dubh A’Ghiubhais’, recorded from Miss A. Munro, Laide, Ross-Shire by C.I. MacLean, 15 September 1955, SA 1955/164/B7
Seal Island
Tradition: Scotland, Travellers
When Allison met Duncan Williamson, he told her that the ‘seal stories’ were very special. He passed the stories on from the crofters, fishermen, Travellers, and characters he met during his remarkable life. His stories are a precious gift, which we hope you will enjoy and also pass on. All of Duncan’s collections of stories are well worth reading and sharing.
Original Source: Duncan Williamson, ‘The Fisherman and His Sons’ in The Broonie Silkies and Fairies, Travellers’ Tales (Canongate, 1985), pp.109–117
Also Appears in: Duncan Williamson, ‘The Fisherman and his Sons’, Tales of the Seal People, Scottish Folktales (Interlink, 1992, 2005), pp.127–134
Michael J. Caduto, ‘The Silkies and the Fisherman’s Sons’, Earth Tales from Around the World (Fulcrum Publishing, Golden Colorado, 1997), pp.163–167
The Selkie Bride
Tradition: Scotland, folklore
There are many variants of the selkie story, but this one from Ayrshire is unique. In most stories the selkie wife does not come back, but this one does.
Original Source: Anna Blair, ‘Seal Bride’, Tales of Ayrshire (Shepherd-Walwyn, 1993), pp.31–35
Additional Sources: Judy Hamilton, ‘The Crofter and the Seal Woman’ in Scottish Myths and Legends (Geddes and Grosset, New Lanark, 2003), pp.26–29
Donald MacDougall, ‘Maccodrum’s Seal Wife’ in A.J. Bruford and D.A. Macdonald (eds) Scottish Traditional Tales (Birlinn, 1994, 2007), pp.365–367
The Sleeping King
Tradition: Wales, Arthurian legend
The story of the sleeping king or hero is a very common one from Asia, through the Middle East and into Europe and the British Isles. The story of King Arthur sleeping under a hill with all his knights is perhaps currently the most well-known version of this tale. Our version owes much to the lovely retelling by the gifted storyteller Hugh Lupton, which you can listen to online.
Original Source:
W. Jenkyn Thomas, ‘Arthur in the Cave’, The Welsh Fairy Book (New York: F.A. Stokes, 1908)
Also Appears in: Hugh Lupton, ‘The Sleeping King’, The Story Museum, www.storymuseum.org.uk
Stolen by Fairies
Tradition: England, folklore
Original Source: Katharine M. Briggs, ‘The Stanhope Fairies’ in A Dictionary of British Folktales, Part B Folk Legends (Routledge, London and New York, 1970), p.357
Also Appears in: Sybil Marshall, ‘The Weardale Fairies’ in English Folktales (Phoenix Giant, 1981,1996), pp. 42–48
The Sunken Palace
Tradition: Irish, folklore
Legends about sunken palaces can be found along coastal communities worldwide, because they will have been subjected to flooding over the centuries. There are versions of this story all over the British Isles, we chose a lovely Irish one for our collection.
Original Source: Thomas Crofton Croker, Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, Volumes 1–3 (J. Murray, Publisher, 1828)
Also Appears in: Marion Lochhead, ‘The Sunken Palace: King Corc and Fior Usga’ in The Battle of the Birds and Other Celtic Tales (The Mercat Press, Edinburgh, 1981), pp.82–83
Thomas the Thatcher
Tradition: Scotland, Travellers
When Alette first heard Linda Williamson tell this story during one of the Scottish International Storytelling Festivals, she knew it was one that she wanted to add to her repertoire for environmental education. This is another story from the late great storyteller, Duncan Williamson.
Original Source: Duncan Williamson, The Coming of the Unicorn: Scottish Folk Tales for Child
ren (edited by Linda Williamson), (Floris Books, Edinburgh, 2012), pp. 94–97
The Tiddy Mun
Tradition: England, folklore
Original Source: M.C. Balfour, Legends of the Cars (in Folklore 2, No.2, June 1891), pp.149–56
Since 1993, the Society for Storytelling has championed the art of oral storytelling and the benefits it can provide – such as improving memory more than rote learning, promoting healing by stimulating the release of neuropeptides, or simply great entertainment! Storytellers, enthusiasts and academics support and are supported by this registered charity to ensure the art is nurtured and developed throughout the UK.
Many activities of the Society are available to all, such as locating storytellers on the Society website, taking part in our annual National Storytelling Week at the start of every February, purchasing our quarterly magazine Storylines, or attending our Annual Gathering – a chance to revel in engaging performances, inspiring workshops, and the company of like-minded people.
You can also become a member of the Society to support the work we do. In return, you receive free access to Storylines, discounted tickets to the Annual Gathering and other storytelling events, the opportunity to join our mentorship scheme for new storytellers, and more. Among our great deals for members is a 30% discount off titles in the Folk Tales series from The History Press website.
For more information, including how to join, please visit
www.sfs.org.uk
FURTHER READING
BOOKS ON STORYTELLING
Baldwin, Christina, Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story (New World Library, 2007) – a paradigm for sharing stories in community for individual, community and planetary healing
Felce, Josie, Storytelling for Life: Why Stories Matter and Ways of Telling Them (Floris Books, 2012) – a quite personal guide to storytelling
Gersie, Alida, Anthony Nanson and Edward Schieffelin (eds), Storytelling for a Greener World: Environment, Community and Story-based Learning (Hawthorn Press, 2014) – a collection of essays from a number of British storytellers who use storytelling in environmental education
Ramsden, Ashley and Sue Hollingsworth, The Storyteller’s Way: Sourcebook for Inspired Storytelling (Hawthorn Press, 2013) – a comprehensive introduction to the art of storytelling by two teachers at the International School of Storytelling in Forest Row in East Sussex, England
COLLECTIONS OF TRADITIONAL TALES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SENSIBILITIES FROM OTHER CULTURES
Bruchac, Joseph, Native American Animal Stories (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, Colorado, 1992)
Caduto, Michael J., Earth Tales from Around the World (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, Colorado, 1997)
Caduto, Michael J. and Joseph Bruchac, Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, Colorado, 1988)
Caduto, Michael J. and Joseph Bruchac, Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, Colorado, 1991)
Caduto, Michael J. and Joseph Bruchac, Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, Colorado, 1994)
Caduto, Michael J. and Joseph Bruchac, Keepers of the Light: Native American Stories and Nocturnal Activities for Children (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, Colorado 1994)
Caldecott, Moyra, Myths of the Sacred Tree (Destiny Books: Rochester, Vermont, 1993)
East, Helen, Eric Maddern and Alan Marks, Spirit of the Forest: Tree Tales from Around the World (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books: London, 2002)
Edwards, Ian Tales from the Forest (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2011) – a collection of traditional stories that focus on animals or trees
Read MacDonald, Margaret, Earth Care: World Folktales to Talk About (Linnet Books: North Haven Connecticut, 1999)
Strauss, Kevin, Tales with Tails: Storytelling the Wonders of the Natural World (Libraries Unlimited, Westport, Connecticut, London, 2006)
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is delighted to be associated with the Folk Tales series developed by The History Press. Its talented storytellers continue the Scottish tradition, revealing the regional riches of Scotland in these volumes. These include the different environments, languages and cultures encompassed in our big wee country. The Scottish Storytelling Centre provides a base and communications point for the national storytelling network, along with national networks for Traditional Music and Song and Traditions of Dance, all under the umbrella of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland). See www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk for further information. The Traditional Arts community of Scotland is also delighted to be working with all the nations and regions of Great Britain and Ireland through the Folk Tales series.
Donald Smith
Director, Tracs
Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland
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