Det var en gang….

TALES FROM EUROPE

Fairy tale is an exact example of cultural heritage which is unique for every

country or region. It shows cultural identities and it is important to unders-

tand the deep roots of each culture. Fairy tale can be expressed through

different types of art forms. The project’s partners can get to know more

about their own culture as well as other cultures.

Era uma vez...

Dawno, dawno temu....

Once upon a time...

PORTUGAL, NORWAY,POLAND,SLOVAKIA,TURKEY AND BULGARIA

2

KELOGLAN AND NASREDDIN HODJA

Keloğlan had gone to the town to sell chickens. When he arrived at the market, he started to look for a customer for the two chickens.

. A man offered to pay a gold coin for the chickens. Keloğlan didn’t accept this. He said that he absolutely wanted two gold coins for the chickens. The man saw that Keloğlan would not sell the chickens for a gold coin: “Keloğlan look, I have a treasure map. I ** alone, and I’ve already got old. That’s why I couldn’t look for the treasure. I used to work at Zenginoğlu’s mansion. Zenginoğlu gave me this map. Let me have the two chickens, have the map, look for and find the treasure, be happy all your life” he said. Keloğlan believed the man, and agreed. Keloğlan returned home in the late afternoon. His mother shouted: “Oh my stupid son! Can two chickens be bartered for this piece of paper? You were

meant to buy gas and salt after selling the chickens. You have been cheated. Sit in the dark, eat the meals without any salt and make up your mind”. Keloğlan didn’t care, he was only thinking about the treasure. He passed the night in difficulty and got up very early. Keloğlan said: “Mother, I ** going to look for the treasure. I prepared food for winter. Let there be no gas; you will go to bed early in the evenings. Let there be salt; you will get it from the neighbour. If I find the treasure, I will make you live like a sultan ”. He kissed his mother’s hand. Seeing that Keloğlan was determined, his mother desperately changed her mind. She saw Keloğlan off saying “Goodbye, Keloğlan. I hope you find the treasure” Keloğlan crossed mountains and hills, looking for days until finally he found the well on the map. The treasure was meant to be in this well. The stone he threw into the well made a sound like BANG. Keloğlan understood that there was no water in the well. However, three people who had gene down the well in his village and weren’t able to come out last year come to his mind. “I have a rope, which I brought with me from the village. He started worrying - What if I tie the rope to the edge of the well and go down; but then die like them because of the poisonous smoke in the well? That will be a bad state - firstly I need a helper who is manly, trustworthy and who is able to remove the danger in the well. Nasreddin Hodja came to mind while thinking where it might be possible to find somebody like this, and he said “Ok”, the Hodja will find a way to resolve this matter.” After a long journey he eventually arrived in Akşehir. There he asked to be shown Nasreddin Hodja’s house. He knocked on the door and Nasreddin Hodja opened it. He said “You are most welcome, my son”, “I ** Nasreddin Hodja. Would you like something?” “My hodja, I ** called Keloğlan in my village. I would likr your help for an important matter. I would be very happy if you would be so kind as to listen to me.” Hodja welcomed Keloğlan into his house. Keloğlan told him how he had got the treasure map; he told him that he said goodbye to his mother and left the village, had found the well on the map, he told himwhy he hadn’t been able to go down the well. He concluded his remarks by saying - if we find the treasure, we will share it fifty – fifty, my Hodja. What do you say? . Nasreddin Hodja replied: “Since there is not enough current, this poisonous air gathers in the wells which haven’t been used for a long time and into which poisonous air leaks from the layers of earth around them. If someone goes down into these wells, they will poison and kill the person. As you have told me, the depth of the well had been nearly 9 or 10 metres. It is too tiring and troublesome to dig and broaden the hole around the well, we can’t accomplish that. If we try to find a helper, it will spread from ear to ear, and the public will gather at the well. We must find another way Keloğlan. Stay with us for a couple of days as my guest, and I will think and find a suitable way.” Nasreddin Hodja made plans during the following two days, and drew up drafts. He brought the plans to the smith. He admonished him to give the equipments that he had; to make those he didn’t have according to the drawings. The equipment was ready in a week. He had bought a cart which two donkeys pulled. He put the equipments, and necessities like food and drink in the car. He said goodbye to his wife and mounted his donkey. Hodja with his donkey in the front, and Keloğlan in the cart at the back, set off. After a troublesome journey lasting for days, they reached the well in which the treasure was.

3

. Hodja scrutinized the well. He took down the big bellows, which they had got the smith to make, next to the well with Keloğlan. They dangled one of the tips of a pipe, which was nearly 10 centimetres wide, into the bottom of the well. They attached the other tip to the bellows. They started to pump the bellows. The still and poisonous air - which had accumulated for years - started to scatter, rise slowly and get out of the well from the effect of the fresh and pressurized air. The rate of poisonous air in the well, too. On the third day they come to the conclusion that the well had been cleaned. Just to make sure, Nasreddin Hodja put a cat, which he had brought in the cart, into a sack. After tying up the sack with a rope, he lowered it into the bottom of the well. He saw that the cat was alive and kicking after pulling it back two hours later. Tying the rope around his waist, Keloğlan had gone down the well. He took out the stone mentioned on the map. After digging the earth under the stone, he found the chest. He tied up the chest with the other rope near him and called out to Hodja to pull him. When Keloğlan had come out of the well, they pulled up the chest with Hodja. When they broke its lock and opened the chest, to their surprise they saw it was full of bright and shiny gold! They felt very happy. They shared the gold immediately. The next day, Nasreddin Hodja set off to Akşehir on his donkey; and Keloğlan set off to his village in the cart. Keloğlan got a legendary mansion built in his village. He hired maids and menservants. He bought fields, vineyards, gardens. He started to live like a sultan with his mother. The Sultan heard about Keloğlan’s extraordinary wealth. When he was out hunting one day, he stopped by Keloğlan’s mansion. Keloğlan showed respect for the Sultan, and treated him in the best way. The Sultan, who was very pleased with this close interest, invited Keloğlan to his palace for the festival, which was going to be celebrated the following month. Keloğlan went to the palace by coach and with manservants on the festival day. He met the Sultan’s extremely beautiful daughter, Violet, and fell in love. Violet loved Keloğlan at first sight and didn’t want him to leave . After the festival entertainments had finished, Keloğlan returned to his mansion. He told his mother that he had fallen in love with Sultan Violet at first sight and wouldn’t be able to live without her. They thought it over carefully and they decided to ask the Sultan’s consent to marry Violet. Later he went with his mother to ask the Sultan if he could marry his daughter. The Sultan accepted Violet’s marrying Keloğlan. Keloğlan returned to his mansion and started the wedding preparations. On the way he had sent messengers to Nasreddin Hodja to invite him to his wedding. After Nasreddin Hodja had returned to Akşehir with his share, he clothed the poor and the orphans, and spent most of his money on good deeds. And at the same time he heard from his friends’ conversation and from the travellers passing by that Keloğlan had got a mansion built in his village, had hired menservants, had bought fields and started to live like a sultan, and he felt happy about the things he heard. When he heard about Keloğlan’s wedding invitation and that he was going to marry Sultan Violet, he regained a lot of his good humour. He started the preparations to go to the wedding. He bought carpets, furs, and silk cloths. He bought jewellery like earrings and a necklace for Violet.

He also bought two coaches, which four horses would puul, and he also hired two menservants. He wore his most valuable clothes and his showiest fur. He set out with his wife a couple of days before the wedding. The Hodja arrived at the palace with his entourage, very ostentatiously. Keloğlan welcomed the Hodja at the door. He kissed his hand. They embraced and hugged each other. The Hodja told a lot of stories about events that he had lived, including witty remarks, until the wedding day. He made the guests have a funny time. Keloğlan and Sultan Violet married among the entertainments with musical instruments and much conversation. There were no words to describe their happiness. They lived happily for

many years.

4

THE BAKER OF ALJUBARROTA

Once upon a time there was a woman

who became very popular in the His-

tory of Portugal. Her name was Brites de Almeida. She was

born in Faro, in the Algarve in the XIV century. Her pa-

rents owned a tavern in Faro and she used to help them.

Her parents died when she was 20 years old and she deci-

ded to sell everything and leave to the North of Por-tugal.

On her way she met different people and in particular a certain amount of soldiers. She was very

fond of fighting and using weapons and so she asked them to teach her how to use the sword. At the

time Portugal was at war with the Span-ish and the Muslims.

She was a tall, fat, ugly but very strong woman. The soldiers were amused to watch her fighting with

other men. One day a soldier fell in love with Brites and asked her to marry him. She asked him to

fight with her first. During the struggle he died. Brites was distressed.

She was convicted by law to go to prison but she managed to escape. She travelled to Spain by boat,

dressed as a man with other villains. Some pirates caught her and the villains and they were made

slaves and sold to a rich Muslim. Being so brave, Brites managed to escape and returned to Portugal.

She decided to live a normal life. She was told that in Al-jubarrota she would find a job as a baker.

After some time she married to a fat, strong honest farmer. One day they were told that there was

going to be a battle nearby. Brites decided to help and fought the Spanish. Tired from the battle,

Brites and her husband return home to their bakery. In the bak-ery some noise got their attention.

There was a strange noise coming out from the big

oven. They looked closer and discovered that some

Spanish sol-diers were hiding inside. Brites

grabbed her shovel and struck them hard. There

were seven soldiers, so they say. It is also said

that after the successful Brites have grouped

women and formed a sort of military force that

chased the Spaniards, killing them merci-lessly.

Today she is still the most famous baker of

Portugal!

5

Wawelski Dragon Smok wawelski

Author: unknown

Long, long time ago, a great Polish king Krak

lived in Kraków- the old capital of Poland. He was a good ruler and he

had a great and happy kingdom.

Dawno, dawno temu żył sobie wspaniały polski król Krak w Krakowie- dawnej stolicy Polski. Był

dobrym władcą a jego królestwo było piękne i szczęśliwe

One day, a scary and terrible dragon

came to live in the nearby cave. People

from the city were scared. The beast

breathed fire, eat sheep and some-

times even people .

Kiedyś w grocie pod zamkiem zamieszkał zły smok, który zionął ogniem, porywał owce, a

czasami nawet ludzi.

The King was worried about his

kingdom and people.

He said: “ He who kills the

dragon gets a half of my king-

dom and my daughter for a

wife”. Many knights were trying to kill the beast but no one could do it

Pewnego dnia król ogłosił; “ Kto zabije smoka, dostanie w nagrodę połowę mojego królestwa I

rękę mojej córki”. Wielu rycerzy próbowało zgładzić smoka, ale żadnemu się nie udało.

6

There was a small village near Kraków. A young and poor shoemaker lived there. His name was

Dratewka. He also wanted the dragon to disappear. He had a tricky plan. He took one of his sheep,

stuffed it with old rugs, some sulphur and tar. He sewed the sheep with a strong thread and left it

in front of the drag-

on`s cave.In the

morning, the beast

saw its “breakfast”

and ate it at once .

W małej wsi pod

Krakowem mieszkał

szewczyk Dratewka,

który również zastanawiał się jak zgładzić bestię. Pomyślał: wezmę skórę barana, napcham ja

szmatami, siarką, smołą, a potem zaszyję i podrzucę smokowi pod jamę. Tak też uczynił.

Wieczorem zrealizował swój plan.

Suddenly, every

person in the city

could hear a terri-

ble roar! The drag-

on was suffering.

It felt a great pain

in its stomach. It

went to the near-

est river Vistula

and started drinking water. It became bigger and bigger… and it exploded!

Everybody in the Kingdom was happy about the good news- the dragon was killed!

Nagle wszyscy w mieście usłyszeli głośny ryk. Smok strasznie cierpiał. Poszedł do rzeki Wisły i

pił, pił , pił… aż pękł. Wszyscy w królestwie byli szczęśliwi. Smoka już nie było!!!

The King gave

the brave

shoemaker a

half of his

kingdom.

Dratewka mar-

ried the King`s

daughter and

they lived long and happily ever after.

Król podarował szewczykowi połowę swojego królestwa. Dratewka poślubil księżniczkę i żyli długi

i szczęśliwie. THE END

KONIEC

7

The Pancake

ONCE ON a time there was a good housewife who had seven hungry children.

One day she was busy frying pancakes for them, and this time she had used new

milk in the making of them. One was lying in the pan, frizzling away – ah! so beau-

tiful and thick – it was a pleasure to look at it. The children were standing round

the fire, and the husband sat in the corner and looked on.

"Oh, give me a bit of pancake, mother, I am so hungry!" said one child.

"Ah, do! dear mother," said the second.

"Ah, do! dear, good mother," said the third.

"Ah, do! dear, good, kind mother," said the fourth.

"Ah, do! dear, good, kind, nice mother," said the fifth.

"Ah, do! dear, good, kind, nice, sweet mother," said the sixth.

"Ah, do! dear, good, kind, nice, sweet, darling mother," said the seventh. And thus they were all

begging for pancakes, the one more prettily than the other, because they were so hungry, and such

good little children.

"Yes, children dear, wait a bit until it turns itself," she answered – she ought to have said "until I

turn it" – "and then you shall all have pancakes, beautiful pancakes, made of new milk – only look

how thick and happy it lies there."

When the pancake heard this, it got frightened, and all of a sudden, it turned itself and wanted to

get out of the pan, but it fell down in it again on the other side, and when it had been fried a little

on that side too, it felt a little stronger in the back, jumped out on the floor, and rolled away, like a

wheel, right through the door and down the road.

"Hallo!" cried the good wife, and away she ran after it, with the frying pan in one hand and the ladle

in the other, as fast as she could, and the children behind her, while the husband came limping af-

ter, last of all.

"Halloo, won't you stop? Catch it, stop it. Halloo there!" they all

screamed, the one louder than the

other, trying to catch it on the run, but the pancake rolled and

rolled, and before long, it was so far

ahead, that they could not see it, for the pancake was much smar-

ter on its 'legs' than any of them.

When it had rolled a time, it met a man.

"Good-day, pancake!" said the man.

"Well met, Manny Panny," said the pancake.

"Dear pancake," said the man, "don't roll so fast, but wait a bit and let me eat you."

"When I have run away from Goody Poody and the husband and seven squalling children, I must

run away from you too, Manny Panny," said the pancake, and rolled on and on, until it met a hen.

"Good day, pancake," said the hen.

"Good day, Henny Penny," said the pancake.

"My dear pancake, don't roll so fast, but wait a bit and let me eat you," said the hen.

"When I have run away from Goody Poody and the husband and seven squalling children, and from

Manny Panny, I must run away from you too, Henny Penny," said the pancake, and rolled on like a

wheel down the road. Then it met a cock.

"Good-day, pancake," said the cock.

8

"Good-day, Cocky Locky," said the pancake.

"My dear pancake, don't roll so fast, but wait a bit and let me eat you," said the cock.

"When I have run away from Goody Poody and the husband and seven squalling children, from

Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, I must run away from you too, Cocky Locky," said the pancake,

and rolled and rolled on as fast as it could. When it had rolled a long time, it met a duck.

"Good-day, pancake," said the duck.

"Good-day, Ducky Lucky," said the pancake.

"My dear pancake, don't roll so fast, but wait a bit and let me eat you," said the duck.

"When I have run away from Goody Poody and the husband and seven squalling children, from

Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, and Cocky Locky, I must run away from you too, Ducky Lucky,"

said the pancake, and with that it fell to rolling and rolling as fast as ever it could. When it had

rolled a long, long time, it met a goose.

"Good-day, pancake," said the goose.

"Good-day, Goosey Poosey," said the pancake.

"My dear pancake, don't roll so fast, but wait a bit and let me eat you," said the goose.

"When I have run away from Goody Poody and the husband and seven squalling children, from

Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, and Cocky Locky, and Ducky Lucky, I must run away from you

too, Goosey Poosey," said the pancake, and away it rolled. So when it had rolled a long, very long

time, it met a gander."Good-day, pancake," said the gander.

"Good-day, Gander Pander," said the pancake.

"My dear pancake, don't roll so fast, but wait a bit and let me eat you," said the gander.

"When I have run away from Goody Poody and the husband and seven squalling children, from

Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, and Cocky Locky, and Ducky Lucky, and Goosey Poosey, I must

run away from you too, Gander Pander," said the pancake, and rolled and rolled as fast as it could.

When it had rolled on a long, long time, it met a pig.

"Good-day, pancake," said the pig.

"Good-day, Piggy Wiggy," said the pancake, and began to roll on faster than ever.

Nay, wait a bit," said the pig, "you needn't be in such a hurry-scurry; we two can walk quietly

together and keep each other company through the wood, because they say it isn't very safe there."

«Ouf, ouf,» grunted the pig

The pancake thought there might be something in that, and so they walked together through the

wood; but when they had gone some distance, they came to a brook.

The pig was so fat it wasn't much trouble for him to swim across, but the pancake couldn't get over.

"Sit on my snout," said the pig, "and I will ferry you over."

he pancake did so.

"Ouf, ouf," grunted the pig, and swallowed the pancake in one gulp, and as the pancake couldn't get

any farther – well, you see we can't go on with this story any farther, either.

9

SERRA DA ESTRELA LEGEND

The king once heard that

every night there was a

shepherd that had the ability

to talk to a Star (Estrela),

the most beautiful of all, on

the top of the mountain. The

King called the shepherd and

commanded him to give him

this star in exchange for a

great fortune. The shepherd

said that he preferred to

stay poor and still keep his

friend the special Star, since he couldn’t live without it. When he came back to

his poor cottage, on the top of the mountain, he heard a soft melody, and the

Star told him about the fear that she had that he could have been convinced

by the idea of becoming rich. The shepherd told her about his denial and great

dedication to her. He wouldn't evr exchange its friendship for all the gold on

earth. Extremely happy with the shepherd's loyalty the star pro-mised him

that she would be his friend forever and ever.Then the old shepherd said: -

From now on this mountain will be

called: Serra da Estrela!’ And it is

said that from the top of the

mountain we can see a Star that

shines in a strange and different

way, as if it was still looking for

the good shepherd.

10

George and the fish

English version Once upon a time, there was a small village. There lived many good people in the

village. In a small cottage under the mountain, lived George, a bonny boy. Every

day, he worked on a field next to a pond. He grew grain, corn, potatoes and an-

other vegetable there.

One day, when the sun was high on the sky, George decided to relax for a while under the willow tree, next to

the pond. He used to go fishing there every day, but he didn’t catch anything. But today, it was different. He

cranked a rod, lay on the grass to have a break, but suddenly some fish strongly pulled the rod. Fortunately,

George was strong boy and caught the fish. “From now, you’re only mine“, said George and took it at home.

He was sorry to kill the fish, so he dag a hole, poured a water into it and put the

fish into the hole. “My little fish, you will live here with me, don’t worry, I’ll take

care of you.” Then he went back on the field to finish his work. At that time, he

did not have an idea, that the fish isn’t an ordinary fish, but it is a magic girl Anne.

She was enchanted by a bad witch Camila many years ago.

She was from poor family, and the only one thing she wanted to do was to help her

parents. So she decided to go to a near town to find a job. But she was walking in vain, and asking everyone,

however nobody needed her. As she was walking home, she was crying all the time, and suddenly she met an old

woman. But it wasn’t good woman, The next morning, he again prepared for the work, climbed on the tree and

stayed there to watch again. The fish changed again. When the girl came in, he climbed down the tree. He was

watching Anne through the window for a while. She was really beautiful and George fell in love with her imme-

diately. Anne didn’t have any idea that George was watching her, so she was doing everything as usually.

George ran into the house and their sights met. Anne told George what happened to her and about the bad

witch Camila. When the evening was almost there and the time of Anne’s transformation was so close, George

hugged her and said: “Stay here with me and be my wife”. As he said it, it strongly thundered outside and a big

lightning appeared. From that time, Anne never changed to fish again.

Next morning, George woke up and went to look at his fish. “Oh, my little fish, you’re happily swimming here,

and I have to go on the field again. I wish I weren’t alone, said George. “Then as every morning, he cut a slice

of bread, took a piece of bacon and went working. When he left the house, a wind strongly blew and the fish

he caught yesterday changed to a beautiful girl. Anne came into the house, cooked tasty dinner, washed dirty

clothes and cleaned up. When the time of George’s coming occurred, Anne changed to the fish again.

George was so surprised after his coming back home. “Whwho, whwho,” he stuttered, “who was in my house?”

Because it was very late and he was really tired, he ate prepared dinner and went to the bed. In the morning,

as the morning before, he went out to feed poultry and animals in a stall. Then he talked to the fish for a

while and went on the field again. Suddenly the wind blew and the fish changed to the girl again. Anne came

into the house, cooked dinner and cleaned up.

When the sun started to shine less and less, Anne changed to the fish again. When George came back home,

he speechlessly stood in front of the opened door, and was really afraid to came in. “Is it magic or it’s just an

exhaustion from work and I’m dreaming?” But then he ate tasty dinner and went to the bed.

11

In the morning he was very curious, so when he prepared for the work, he didn’t go there. He climbed on the

tree in front of his house instead, and was watching quietly. When he saw it, he almost fell down the tree. He

saw as the fish changed to the girl, and that girl came into his house. In the evening he came home, and again,

everything was prepared and cleaned. Than night he couldn’t sleep and was thinking till the morning.

The next morning, he again prepared for the work, climbed on the tree and stayed there to watch again. The

fish changed again. When the girl came in, he climbed down the tree. He was watching Anne through the win-

dow for a while. She was really beautiful and George fell in love with her immediately. Anne didn’t have any

idea that George was watching her, so she was doing everything as usually. George ran into the house and their

sights met. Anne told George what happened to her and about the bad witch Camila. When the evening was al-

most there and the time of Anne’s transformation was so close, George hugged her and said: “Stay here with

me and be my wife”. As he said it, it strongly thundered outside and a big lightning appeared. From that time,

Anne never changed to fish again.

They had joyful wedding, full of dance, food, drink and happiness. Anne finally met her family, and George was-

n’t alone anymore. And they lived happily ever after.....

12

Juraj a ryba

Slovak version

Kde bolo tam bolo, bola raz jedna malá dedinka, žilo v nej veľa

dobrých ľudí. Každý s každým sa poznali. Pod horou v skromnej

chalúpke žil Juraj, švárny chlapec. Denne chodil obrábať pole, ktoré sa nachádzalo pri

rybníku. Pestoval tam jačmeň, kukuricu, zemiaky a inú zeleninu.

Jedného dňa, keď slnko vystúpilo vysoko na nebo, si Juraj išiel oddýchnuť pod vŕbu pri

rybníku. Každý deň tam zvykol chytať ryby, ale nikdy nič nechytil. No dnes to bolo iné.

Nahodil udicu do vody a ľahol si, že si trochu oddýchne, kým znova pôjde na pole a v tom

trhla ryba prudko udicou. Div že mu udicu neodtiahla do hĺbky. No Juraj bol statný mladík

a s rybou sa popasoval. „No rybička, riadne si sa bránila, ale mám ťa, si už len moja“ povedal

Juraj a rybu si vzal domov.

Ľúto mu bolo rybu zabiť, tak jej na dvore

vykopal jamu kde napustil vodu a vypustil rybu.

„Rybička moja, teraz tu budeš so mnou bývať,

neboj sa ty ničoho, ja sa o teba postarám“

vravel rybe Juraj a vrátil sa na pole znova

pracovať, aby stihol dokončiť prácu, ktorú

začal, ešte pred zotmením. To ešte ani netušil,

že to nie je obyčajná ryba, ale začarovaná dievčina Anička. Začarovala ju pred rokmi zlá

striga Kamila.

Bola to chudobná dievčina, ktorá chcela pomôcť rodičom a nasýtiť svojich hladných

súrodencov, tak sa vybrala do mesta, že si službu nájde. No márne chodila a každého prosila,

nikto nepotreboval pomocníčku. Plačúc cestou domov, stretla starenku. No nebola to

starenka, bola to zlá striga Kamila. „Poď ty dievča ku mne do služby, dobre sa ti u mňa

povodí“ vravela striga. Anička celá zronená súhlasila. No nevodilo sa jej dobre. Striga jej

každý deň nadávala a ťahala za vrkoče. Jedného dňa sa odhodlala, že ujde, no striga ju

prichytila. Prichytila ju práve pri rybníku, kde si máčala svoje ubolené a doráňané nohy. „Keď

sa ti tak vo vode páči nevďačnica jedna, tak tu zostaneš“ povedala striga a premenila ju na

rybu.

Juraj ráno vstal a išiel skontrolovať svoj včerajší úlovok. „Och rybička moja, ty si tu plávaš,

a ja znova na pole. Aspoň keby som nebol sám, dvom je predsa len veselšie“ povedal Juraj

rybe. Potom tak ako aj každé ráno, odkrojil si krajec chleba, vzal kúsok slaninky a hybaj na

pole. V tom hneď ako päty z domu vytiahol, zafúkal vetrík, rozozvučal lístočky na stromoch

a ryba, ktorú chytil, sa premenila na krásnu dievčinu. Anička vošla do domu, uvarila Jurajovi

chutnú večeru, poprala špinavú bielizeň a poupratovala. Už ako sa blížil čas Jurajovho

príchodu, znova zafúkal vetrík a premenila sa Anička späť na rybu.

13

Juraj sa po príchode domov nestíhal čudovať. „KKto, kkto“ koktal do prekvapenia, „kto bol

v mojom dome?“ Bolo už veľmi neskoro, tak zjedol pripravenú večeru a ľahol si do postele

a od únavy zaspal. Ráno tak ako aj deň predtým, išiel nakŕmiť hydinu, opatriť zvieratká

v maštali. Prihovoril sa chvíľočku rybe a znovu na pole. V tom zafúkal vetrík, rozozvučal

lístočky na stromoch a ryba sa znovu premenila na krásnu dievčinu. Anička vošla znova do

domu, uvarila Jurajovi chutnú večeru a pratala. Ako slniečko začalo svoje zlaté vlasy opierať

na horu, Anička sa znova premenila na rybu. Juraj po príchode domov len nemo stál medzi

dverami a bál sa aj vojsť dovnútra. „Aké čary sa to tu dejú, alebo to už len z práce na mňa

únava dolieha a ja už snívam?“ No zjedol chutnú večeru a tuho zaspal.

No ráno mu nedalo, vychystal sa do roboty ako každé ráno, ale nešiel na pole. Vyliezol na

strom pred domov a sledoval, ktože mu chodí do domu. Ako to videl div že do stromu

nespadol. Videl ako sa ryba premenila na dievča a vošla do jeho domu. Večer prišiel domov

a znova večera pripravená na stole, čistá košeľa na truhlici a všetko upratané. Celú noc dumal

a nemohol zaspať.

Ráno znova, tak ako po iné dni, nakŕmil zvieratá na dvore a vybral sa na pole. Vyliezol znova

na strom a sledoval čo sa bude diať. Veruže sa dialo, videl ako sa ryba premenila na dievča

a vchádza do domu. Zliezol zo stromu a sledoval Aničku cez okno na verande. Bolo to dievča

ak lusk a Jurajovi sa zapáčila na prvý pohľad. Dumal, dumal a veru že vydumal. Anička

netušila, že ju Juraj sleduje a robila to, čo obvykle. Juraj vbehol do domu a pohľady sa im

stretli. Anička vyrozprávala Jurajovi, že ju zakliala striga Kamila. Už slniečko skláňalo hlávku

nad horou a blížil sa čas, keď sa Anička premení na rybu. Juraj ju objal a povedal jej:

„Anička, ja ťa odtiaľto nepustím, staň sa mojou ženou“. Len čo do dopovedal, udrel blesk

a zahrmelo, veľmi sa zľakli. Od tej doby sa Anička už nikdy viac nepremenila na rybu.

Bola svadba radostná, všetci tancovali, jedli, pili a veľmi sa radovali. Anička konečne videla

svoju rodinu a Juraj už nikdy nebol sám. Žili spolu šťastne.....

14

HE WHO DOES NOT WORK, NEITHER SHELL HE EAT

Once upon a time there was one really lazy, yet beautiful girl. The time for her to

marry soon came. Candidates came to the village, after they heard about her unri-

valled beauty. On parting her daughter, her mother told them:

– Do not make my daughter work, for she is not used to. Do not make her sweep

the house and the yard or she will get dust in her eyes. Do not make her bring the

coppers from the pond because her shoulders are fragile and cannot bear full with water coppers. Put the

softest feather pillow on her bed since she is used to being comfortable and she might get a headache. Her

new family looked each other with a puzzled look, but her mother continued:

– Promise me that you will never speak a bad word in front of her. She is really sensitive and she is not used to

hearing bad things.

– As for the bad words, do not worry, we do not use them in our home. – said the groom’s father. After that

they got in the carriage. They travelled to their village for a whole day since their home was really far away.

They arrived after dark and the bride’s mother in-law rolled up her sleeves, made a big pie, and then went into

the cellar and got some wine.

Meanwhile the lazy young bride sat near the table and thought, “My new mother in law is as agile and skillful as

my own mother. My life in this house will be really good and easy.” After they ate, everybody went to sleep. At

down, the bride’s father in law got up early and woke up everyone:

– Come on, get up to go the field!

– What will we do there? – Asked the bride yawning in her sleep.

– We will have to work on the corn.

– With mattocks? – Asked the bride.

– With mattocks of course, with what else? – Said her father in law.

– I will not come.

– Why? – asked her husband, surprised by her answer.

– Because mattocks are heavy, and I should not lift anything heavy.

– Let’s stay – the father said. – We need somebody in the house as well. She can tidy up and cook something

delicious for when we get back.

All went to the field. The bride just laid around the house, doing nothing. She looked through all pots and cup-

boards but she found nothing, so she just went to the garden. There were growing beautiful roses and other

flowers. Bees were buzzing happily and were flying from flower to flower.

– Where are you in such a hurry, little guys? – Wondered the bride and lazily headed to the nearby cherry

tree. She picked some cherries to full her hunger, after that she laid on the grass under the tree and started

to yawn. This is the way to spent whole day.

In the evening the three workers came, exhausted and hungry. But what they saw puzzled them – empty cop-

pers, extinguished fire, unfed pigs, the house untidy and dirty and the bride sleeping under the cherry tree.

The mother quickly started to work around the house – first she brought some water with the coppers, set a

big fire and boiled some potatoes. She made a round loaf, and while baking it.fed the pig and tided up. Mean-

while the young bride was sitting in a chair, shaking her legs. When dinner was ready, all were invited to the

table. The lazy bride sat there first. The father split the loaf on three pieces. One he gave his wife, the sec-

ond – his son, and the third left for him self.

– What about the bride? – The mother in law asked.

– She hasn’t done anything today so she is not hungry.

and quickly made a big loaf of bread. The father did exactly the same thing – he split the loaf in three and not

give anything to the bride.

– Why not give bread to the bride? – The mother asked.

15

Because she did not work and she should not eat! – The father in law replied. The bride could not sleep from

hunger again, she turned into the bed for a whole night and she managed to fall asleep just at dawn. When she

finally woke up, the three workers had already left and she was alone in the house.

The bride quickly jumped from the bed, she swept the house, brought water with the coppers, set up a fire

and made a big meal. She fed the chickens and the pig. Then she baked a big loaf of bread. Since there were

no more chores left she took the distaff and started spinning it while sitting on the doorstep.

When the tired workers got back from the field and saw what she had done, their faces shone from happi-

ness.

The young woman set up the table, gave the bread to her father in law and waited eagerly to see what will hap-

pen. He split the bread into four pieces.

He gave the largest one to his new daughter and said:

– Here daughter. Today you earned this bread, more of us all.

The young bride took the pieces of bread and started eating.

A couple of weeks passed and the young women worked every day. On the third her parents came to visit. All

went to the yard to greet them. The bride ran before all. She opened the gate and cried:

Mom, Dad…! Get out of the carriage and go to work. This is not like our house. He who does not work here, nei-

ther shall he eat.

16

CINDERELA .

AUTHOR: GRIMM BROTHERS - PICTURES: POLISH STUDENTS

Once upon a time there was a very happy family. Both, father and a

mother loved their small daughter very much. Their house was re-

garded as full of joy and fun. The happiness lasted till Cinderella`s mother fell ill. She died a week

later. This situation plunged Cinderella and her father into sadness and sorrow. Cinderella became

withdrawn and miserable.

One day, Cinderella`s father met a widow with two daughters. He

decided to introduce Cinderella to them. Then he decided to share

his house with the widow and her children. He married the widow,

but marriage didn`t help him t o

become happy. He died soon

because of sadness.

Cinderella was abandoned now

and had to live with her new

family members. The step-

mother and stepsisters treated Cinderella as if she was a

housemaid. She had to listen to their orders and clean the

house all over the time.

One day, the widow and her daughters found out that the

Prince was going to have a party in his palace. He was going to find his future wife there. Every girl

from the kingdom was invited.

The widow wanted to go there so she ordered Cinderella to sew

beautiful dresses for her and her daughters.

Cinderella wanted to go there, too, but the widow didn`t let her go.

When the women left the house, a fairy came to Cinderella`s room.

She said she would create a carriage and a beautiful dress for her

with a flick of a magic wand. The fair did as she promised turning

mice into horses and a pumpkin into a carriage.

17

She created also a posh dress for Cinderella . But she warned the girl that she would have to come

back from the party before midnight. The magic would van-

ish and all the things would disappear, even Cinderella`s

dress.

Cinderella went to the palace. But she was sure that the

Prince would never notice her. The prince saw her, invited

her to dance and immediately fell in love with her.

Unfortunately, the midnight was coming and the girl had to

run away. She lost her slipper while she was running down

the stairs.

The prince decided to find her. He ordered his ministers to

find the girl- the one, who lost the slipper.

The ministers went from house to house looking for the slipper`s owner. When they came to Cinder-

ella`s house, the widow and her daughters tried on the shoe. But it was too big or too small. The

ministers were just about to leave when they saw Cinderella in the corner. They asked her to put on

a slipper. It fitted perfectly! She was the one, who Prince had fallen in love with! Her stepmother

and stepsisters were shocked and surprised but also angry with Cinderella. The Prince Married the

girl and they lived long and happily ever after...

18

HITUR PETUR (SLY PETER)

Hitur Petur, Sly or Clever Petur is a Bulgarian peasant trickster character. He’s

crafty, sometimes slightly sinister and sometimes even quite cruel.

HITUR PETUR AND THE RICH MAN

One day Hitur Petur was walking down the street when he met a rich man. “Hey you,” said the rich man, “Why

did you not bow to me?”

“Why should I bow to you?” asked Hitur Petur.

“Because I’m rich and have 1000 gold pieces.”

“So you’ve got 1000 gold pieces. They are yours, not mine so why should I bow to you?” replied Hitar Petur.

“What if I give you 500 of my gold pieces? Will you bow to me then?” asked the rich man.

“If you give me 500 you’ll have 500 and I’ll have 500 and we’ll be equal. Why should I bow to you then?” said

Hitur Petur.

“What if I’m tired of being rich and give you all my gold pieces?” asked the rich man.

“If you give me all your gold coins, that will be good. I’ll have 1000 and you’ll have nothing. But why then should

I bow to you?” and Hitur Petur turned and walked away.

19

NASREDDIN HODJA JOKES

1. I WAS IN IT

One morning, Hodja’s neighbour

asked; “Last night we heard noises coming from your house. It

sounded like something falling down the stairs. What happened?”

Hoca replied; “My wife threw my robe down the stairs.”

“Come on, Hodja! A robe doesnt make that much noise.”

“But l was in it,” Hodja said.

2.WHO IS GREATER?

They ask Hodja: “Effendi, who is greater, the Sultan or

farmer?”

Hodja says: “Of course the farmer,” and adds: “Because if

the farmer doesn’t grow wheat, the Sultan dies of hunger.”

3. HOW MUCH LONGER?

Nasreddin Hodja’s fellow villagers were always trying to

baffle him with abstract questions.

“How long will people continue to be born and to die?” they asked one day. Nasreddin Hodja was unruffled.

“That’s an easy one.” he said, “Until, of course, the heaven and the hell are completely full.“

20

East of the Sun and West of the Moon - Author: Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe

Ilustrations by Kay Nielsen

Once upon a time there was a poor peasant who had so many children that he did

not have enough of either food or clothing to give them. Pretty children they all

were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter, who was so lovely

there was no end to her loveliness.

One day — it was on a Thursday evening late in the fall — the weather

was wild and rough outside, and it was cruelly dark. The rain was fall-

ing and the wind blowing, until the walls of the cottage shook. They

were all sitting around the fire busy with this thing and that. Then all

at once something gave three taps on the window. The father went

out to see what was the matter. Outside, what should he see but a

great big white bear.

“Good evening to you,” said the white bear.

“The same to you,” said the man.

“Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I’ll make you as

rich as you are now poor,” said the bear.

Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich; but still he

thought he must have a bit of a talk with his daughter first; so he went in and told them how there was a

great white bear waiting outside, who had given his word to make them so rich if he could only have the young-

est daughter.

The girl said “No!” outright. Nothing could get her to say anything else; so the man went out and settled it

with the white bear, that he should come again the next Thursday evening and get an answer. Meantime he

talked to his daughter, and kept on telling her of all the riches they would get, and how well off she herself

would be. At last she agreed to it, so she washed and mended her rags, and made herself as smart as she

could. Soon she was ready for the trip, for she didn’t have much to take along.

The next Thursday evening came the white bear to fetch her. She got on his back with her bundle, and off

they went. After they had gone a good way, the white bear said, “Are you afraid?”

No, she wasn’t.

“Just hold tight to my shaggy coat, and there’s nothing to be afraid of,” said the bear.

She rode a long, long way, until they came to a large steep cliff. The white bear knocked on it. A door

opened, and they came into a castle, where there were many rooms all lit up; rooms gleaming with silver and

gold. Further, there was a table set there, and it was all as grand as grand could be. Then the white bear gave

her a silver bell; and when she wanted anything, she only had to ring it, and she would get it at once.

Well, after she had eaten, and it became evening, she felt sleepy from her journey, and thought she would

like to go to bed, so she rang the bell. She had barely rung it before she found herself in a room, where there

was a bed made as fair and white as anyone would wish to sleep in, with silken pillows and curtains, and gold

fringe. All that was in the room was gold or silver. After she had gone to bed, and put out the light, a man

came and laid himself alongside her. It was the white bear, who cast off his pelt at night; but she never saw

him, for he always came after she had put out the light. Before the day dawned he was up and off again.

Things went on happily for a while, but at last she became quiet and sad. She was alone all day long, and she

became very homesick to see her father and mother and brothers and sisters. So one day, when the white

bear asked what was wrong with her, she said it was so lonely there, and how she longed to go home to see her

father and mother and brothers and sisters, and that was why she was so sad, because she couldn’t get to

them.

“Well,” said the bear, “that can happen all right, but you must promise me, not to talk alone with your moth-

er, but only when the others are around to hear. She will want to take you by the hand and lead you into a

room to talk alone with her. But you must not do that, or else you’ll bring bad luck on both of us.”

So one Sunday the white bear came and said they could now set off to see her father and mother. Off they

went, she sitting on his back; and they went far and long. At last they came to a grand house. Her bothers and

sisters were outside running about and playing. Everything was so pretty, it was a joy to see.

21

“This is where your father and mother live now,” said the white bear. “Now don’t forget what I told you,

else you’ll make us both unhappy.”

No, heaven forbid, she’d not forget. When they reached the house, the white bear turned around and left

her.

She went in to see her father and mother, and there was such joy, that there was no end to it. None of

them could thank her enough for all she had done for them. They now had everything they could wish for, as

good as good could be. Then they wanted to know how she was.

Well, she said, it was very good to live where she did; she had all she wished. I don’t

know what else she said, but I don’t think she told any of them the whole story. That

afternoon, after they had eaten dinner, everything happened as the white bear had

said it would. Her mother wanted to talk with her alone in her bedroom; but she re-

membered what the white bear had said, and wouldn’t go with her.

“What we have to talk about we can talk about any time,” she said, and put her moth-

er off. But somehow or other, her mother got to her at last, and she had to tell her

the whole story. She told her, how every night, after she had gone to bed, a man

came and lay down beside her as soon as she had put out the light, and how she never

saw him, because he was always up and away before the morning dawned; and how she

was terribly sad, for she wanted so much to see him, and how she was by herself all

day long, and how dreary, and lonesome it was.

“Oh dear,” said her mother; “it may well be a troll you are sleeping with! But now I’ll

give you some good advice how to see him. I’ll give you a candle stub, which you can

carry home in your bosom; just light it while he is asleep, but be careful not to drop

any tallow on him.”

Yes, she took the candle, and hid it in her bosom, and that evening the white bear came and took her away.

But when they had gone a piece, the white bear asked if all hadn’t happened as he had said.

She couldn’t deny that it had.

“Take care,” said he, “if you have listened to your mother’s advice, you will bring bad luck on us both, and it

will be finished with the two of us.”

No, by no means!

So when she reached home, and had gone to bed, it was the same as before. A man came and lay down be-

side her; but in the middle of the night, when she heard that he was fast asleep, she got up and lit the candle.

She let the light shine on him, and saw that he was the most handsome prince one ever set eyes on. She fell so

deeply in love with him, that she thought she couldn’t live if she didn’t give him a kiss at once. And so she did,

but as she kissed him she let three drops of hot tallow drip onto his shirt, and he woke up.

“What have you done?” he cried; “now you have made us both unlucky, for had you held out only this one

year, I would have been free! I have a stepmother who has bewitched me, so that I am a white bear by day,

and a man by night. But now all ties are broken between us. Now I must leave you for her. She lives in a castle

east of the sun and west of the moon, and there, too, is a princess, one with a nose three yards long, and now I

will have to marry her.”

She cried and grieved, but there was no help for it; he had to go.

Then she asked if she could go with him.

No, she could not.

“Tell me the way, then” she said, “so I can look for you; surely I may do that.”

Yes, she could do that, but there was no way leading to the place. It lay east of the sun and west of the

moon, and she’d never find her way there.

The next morning, when she woke up, both the prince and the castle were gone, and she was lying on a little

green patch, in the midst of the thick, dark forest, and by her side lay the same bundle of rags she had

brought with her from her old home.

When she had rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and cried until she was tired, she set out on her way, and

walked many, many days, until she came to a high cliff. An old woman sat under it, and played with a golden ap-

ple which she tossed about.

22

The girl asked her if she knew the way to the prince, who lived with his stepmother in the castle east of the

sun and west of the moon, and who was to marry the princess with a nose three yards long.

“How did you come to know about him?” asked the old woman. “Maybe you are the girl who should have had

him?”

Yes, she was.

“So, so; it’s you, is it?” said the old woman. “Well, all I know about him is, that he lives in the castle east of

the sun and west of the moon, and that you’ll get there too late or never; but still you may borrow my horse,

and you can ride him to my next neighbor. Maybe she’ll be able to tell you; and when you get there just give

the horse a switch under the left ear, and beg him to be off home. And you can take this golden apple along

with you.”

So she got on the horse, and rode a long, long time, until she came to another cliff, under which sat another

old woman, with a golden carding comb. The girl asked her if she knew the way to the castle that lay east of

the sun and west of the moon, and she answered, like the first old woman, that she knew nothing about it, ex-

cept that it was east of the sun and west of the moon.

“And you’ll get there too late or never; but you can borrow my horse to my next neighbor; maybe she’ll tell

you all about it; and when you get there, just switch the horse under the left ear, and beg him to be off for

home.”

This old woman gave her the golden carding comb; she might find some use for it, she said. So the girl got

up on the horse, and again rode a long, long way. At last she came to another great cliff, under which sat an-

other old woman, spinning with a golden spinning wheel. She asked her, as well, if she knew the way to the

prince, and where the castle was that lay east of the sun and west of the moon. But it was the same thing over

again.

“Perhaps you are the one who should have had the prince?” said the old woman.

Yes, that she was.

But she didn’t know the way any better than the other two. She knew it was east of the sun and west of the

moon, but that was all.

“And you’ll get there too late or never; but I’ll lend you my horse, and then I think you’d best ride to the

east wind and ask him; maybe he knows his way around those parts, and can blow you there. When you get to

him, just give the horse a switch under the left ear, and he’ll trot home by himself.”

She too gave her golden spinning wheel. “Maybe you’ll find a use for it,” said the old woman.

She rode many weary days, before she got to the east wind’s house, but at last she did reach it, and she

asked the east wind if he could tell her the way to the prince who lived east of the sun and west of the moon.

Yes, the east wind had often heard tell of it, the prince and the castle, but he didn’t know the way there, for

he had never blown so far.

“But, if you want, I’ll go with you to my brother the west wind. Maybe he knows, for he’s much stronger. If

you will just get on my back I’ll carry you there.”

Yes, she got on his back, and off they went in a rush.

When they arrived at the west wind’s house, the east wind said the girl he had brought was the one who was

supposed to have had the prince who lived in the castle east of the sun and west of the moon. She had set out

to find him, and he had brought her here, and would be glad to know if the west wind knew how to get to the

castle.

“No,” said the west wind, “I’ve never blown so far; but if you want, I’ll go with you to our brother the south

wind, for he’s much stronger than either of us, and he has flown far and wide. Maybe he’ll tell you. Get on my

back, and I’ll carry you to him.”

Yes, she got on his back, and so they traveled to the south wind, and I think it didn’t take long at all.

When they got there, the west wind asked him if he could tell her the way to the castle that lay east of the

sun and west of the moon, for she was the one who was supposed to have had the prince who lived there.

“Is that so?” said the south wind. “Is she the one? Well, I have visited a lot of places in my time, but I have

not yet blown there. If you want, I’ll take you to my brother the north wind; he is the oldest and strongest of

us all, and if he doesn’t know where it is, you’ll never find anyone in the world to tell you. Get on my back, and

I’ll carry you there.”

Yes, she got on his back, and away he left his house at a good clip. They were not long underway. When they

reached the north wind’s house he was so wild and cross, that he blew cold gusts at them from a long way off.

23

“Blast you both, what do you want?” he roared at them from afar, so that it struck them with an icy shiver.

“Well,” said the south wind, “you don’t need to bluster so, for here I am, your brother, the south wind, and

here is the girl who was supposed to have had the prince who lives in the castle that lies east of the sun and

west of the moon, and now she wants to ask you if you ever were there, and can show her the way, for she

wants so much to find him again.”

“Yes, I know where it is,” said the north wind; “a single time I blew an aspen leaf there, but afterward I was

so tired that I couldn’t blow a puff for many days. But if you really wish to go there, and aren’t afraid to come

along with me, I’ll take you on my back and see if I can blow you there.”

Yes, with all her heart; she wanted to and had to get there if it were at all possible; and she wouldn’t be

afraid, however madly he went.

“Very well, then,” said the north wind, “but you must sleep here tonight, for we must have the whole day be-

fore us, if we’re to get there at all.”

Early next morning the north wind woke her, and puffed himself up, and blew himself out, and made himself

so stout and big. that he was gruesome to look at. Off they went high up through the air, as if they would not

stop until they reached the end of the world.

Here on earth there was a terrible storm; acres of forest and many houses were blown down, and when it

swept over the sea, ships wrecked by the hundred.

They tore on and on — no one can believe how far they went — and all the while they still went over the sea,

and the north wind got more and more weary, and so out of breath he could barely bring out a puff, and his

wings drooped and drooped, until at last he sunk so low that the tops of the waves splashed over his heels.

“Are you afraid?” said the north wind.

No, she wasn’t.

They weren’t very far from land by now, and the north wind had enough strength left that he managed to

throw her up on the shore under the windows of the castle which lay east of the sun and west of the moon.

But then he was so weak and worn out, that he had to stay there and rest many days before he could go home

again.

The next morning the girl sat down under the castle window, and began to play with the golden apple. The

first person she saw was the long-nosed princess who was to have the prince.

“What do you want for your golden apple, you girl?” said the long-nosed one, as she opened the window.

“It’s not for sale, for gold or money,” said the girl.

“If it’s not for sale for gold or money, what is it that you will sell it

for? You may name your own price,” said the princess.

“Well, you can have it, if I may get to the prince, who lives here, and be

with him tonight,” said the girl whom the north wind had brought.

Yes, that could be done. So the princess took the golden apple; but

when the girl came up to the prince’s bedroom that night, he was fast

asleep. She called him and shook him, and cried and grieved, but she could

not wake him up. The next morning. as soon as day broke, the princess

with the long nose came and drove her out.

That day she sat down under the castle windows and began to card with

her golden carding comb, and the same thing happened. The princess

asked what she wanted for it. She said it wasn’t for sale for gold or mon-

ey, but if she could have permission to go to the prince and be with him

that night, the princess could have it. But when she went to his room she

found him fast asleep again, and however much she called, and shook, and

cried, and prayed, she couldn’t get life into him. As soon as the first gray peep of day came, the princess with

the long nose came, and chased her out again .

That day the girl sat down outside under the castle window and began to spin with her golden spinning wheel,

and the princess with the long nose wanted to have it as well. She opened the window and asked what she

wanted for it. The girl said, as she had said twice before, that it wasn’t for sale for gold or money, but if she

could go to the prince who was there, and be alone with him that night she could have it.

prince.

24

Yes, she would be welcome to do that. But now you must know that there were some Christians who had been

taken there, and while they were sitting in their room, which was next to the prince’s, they had heard how a

woman had been in there, crying, praying, and calling to him for two nights in a row, and they told this to the

That evening, when the princess came with a sleeping potion, the prince pretended to drink it, but threw it

over his shoulder, for he could guess it was a sleeping potion. So, when the girl came in, she found the prince

wide awake, and then she told him the whole story of how she had come there.

“Ah,” said the prince, “you’ve come in the very nick of time, for tomorrow is to be our wedding day. But now

I won’t have the long-nose, and you are the only woman in the world who can set me free. I’ll say that I want to

see what my wife is fit for, and beg her to wash the shirt which has the three spots of tallow on it. She’ll

agree, for she doesn’t know that you are the one who put them there. Only Christians, and not such a pack of

trolls, can wash them out again. I’ll say that I will marry only the woman who can wash them out, and ask you to

try it.”

So there was great joy and love between them all the night. But next day, when the wedding was planned,

the prince said, “First of all, I’d like to see what my bride is fit for.”

“Yes!” said the stepmother, with all her heart.

“Well,” said the prince, “I’ve got a fine shirt which I’d like for my wedding shirt, but somehow or other it

got three spots of tallow on it, which I must have washed out. I have sworn to marry only the woman who is

able to do that. If she can’t, then she’s not worth having.”

Well, that was no big thing they said, so they agreed, and the one with the long nose began to wash away as

hard as she could, but the more she rubbed and scrubbed, the bigger the spots grew.

“Ah!” said the old troll woman, her mother, “you can’t wash. Let me try.”

But she had hardly touched the shirt, before it got far worse than before, and with all her rubbing, and

wringing, and scrubbing, the spots grew bigger and blacker, and the shirt got ever darker and uglier.

Then all the other trolls began to wash, but the longer it lasted, the blacker and uglier the shirt grew, until

at last it was as black all over as if it been up the chimney.

“Ah!” said the prince, “none of you is worth a straw; you can’t wash. Why there, outside, sits a beggar girl,

I’ll bet she knows how to wash better than the whole lot of you. Come in, girl!” he shouted.

She came in.

“Can you wash this shirt clean, girl, you?” he said.

“I don’t know,” she said, “but I think I can.”

And almost before she had taken it and dipped it

into the water, it was as white as driven snow, and

whiter still.

“Yes, you are the girl for me,” said the prince.

At that the old troll woman flew into such a rage,

she exploded on the spot, and the princess with the

long nose after her, and the whole pack of trolls after

her — at least I’ve never heard a word about them

since.

As for the prince and princess, they set free all the

poor Christians who had been captured and shut up

there; and they took with them all the silver and gold,

and flew away as far as they could from the castle

that lay east of the sun and west of the moon.

Ilustrations by

Kay Nielsen

25

TALES FROM

HE WHO DOES NOT WORK, NEITHER SHELL HE EAT

HITUR PETUR (SLY PETER)

KELOGLAN AND NASREDDIN HODJA

NASREDDIN HODJA JOKES

THE BAKER OF ALJUBARROTA

SERRA DA ESTRELA LEGEND

The Pancake

East of the Sun and West of the Moon ,

Ilustrations by Kay Nielsen

George and the fish - English version

Juraj a ryba . Slovak version

Wawelski Dragon

Cinderela, pictures bypolish students

26

“DIFFERENCES ARE THE WEALTH FOR THE WORLD”

2013 / 2014

TALES FROM EUROPE

COMPILED BY:

MARIA JOÃO COSTA— PORTUGUESE COORDINATOR

Agrupamento Escolas Manteigas - Escola Básica nº1 de Manteigas-PORTUGAL

http://eb23manteigas.webnode.com.pt

COLLABORATION / PARTICIPATION :

EVA JOSSUND—NORWEGIAN COORDINATOR

Hagen Skole—NORWAY

www.nittedal.kommune.no/skoler/hagen-skole/

KAMILA STRZEMINSKA - POLISH COORDINATOR

GIMNAZJUM W ROKITNICY—POLAND

ZHERA YÜKSEL—COMENIUS COORDINATOR

Değirmenli Ortaokulu—Nigde— TURKEY

LENKA NIžNANSKÁ - SLOVAKIAN COORDINATOR

Základná škola Pusté Úľany—SLOVAKIA

http://www.zspustulany.edu.sk/

Hristo Botev Primary School—BULGARIA