Category Archives: Fairy Tale Facts

Fairy Tale Facts: The Princess Who Never Smiled

For today’s installment of Fairy Tale Facts, we’re headed for a different part of the world. Specifically, Russia. Between 1855 and 1863, Russian writer Alexander Afanasyev collected and published over 600 Russian fairy tales and folk tales. This is tale number 297, and if you’re interested, you can read the whole thing here.

Fairy Tale Facts: Snow-White and Rose-Red

In 1815, the Brothers Grimm published their second volume of collected fairy tales. It contained over 70 different tales, including The Goose Girl and today’s topic: Snow-White and Rose-Red. The full story can be read here, but I wanted to take a look into it today.

Fairy Tale Facts: The Nightingale

By 1843, Hans Christian Andersen was a well known writer. His 1837 publication of “The Little Mermaid” had thrust him into the international spotlight. His 1843 collection, the first volume of “New Fairy Tales”, included yet another popular tale, “The Nightingale.” Despite being less well known today, “The Nightingale” is actually a story I’ve knownContinue reading “Fairy Tale Facts: The Nightingale”

Fairy Tale Facts: Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, there was a old lady (or maybe it was a little girl) who found a house in the woods that belonged to three bachelor bears (or maybe it was a family of bears?). That’s right, today we’re taking about Goldilocks and the Three Bears!

Myth or Magic: A Simple Spell

A friend of mine recently posed an interesting question. “The evil queen uses magic to change her appearance and poison Snow White. Why doesn’t she just use that magic to make Snow White uglier instead of going through the complicated process of trying to kill her?” -Rachel She makes a very good point. So IContinue reading “Myth or Magic: A Simple Spell”

The Modern Fairy Tale

What ever happened to fairy tales? Sure, we still see them in popular culture today, but as a genre, fairy tales seem to have faded into obscurity. Mostly, the term is applied to Disney movies or new adaptations. And most writers, if they say they’re writing a fairy tale, really mean that they’re retelling aContinue reading “The Modern Fairy Tale”

Myth or Magic: A Castle in Ruins

I’m reviving all my favorite series! That’s right, Myth or Magic is back again! “The princess and the people in the castle fall into a sleep for 100 years, but what happens to all the food in the castle, or the furniture, or the castle walls? Wouldn’t it all decay and rot away? What kindContinue reading “Myth or Magic: A Castle in Ruins”

Evolution of Fairy Tales: Aladdin

Yeah, I don’t really remember how I usually open these things. I guess we’ll just jump right in! Aladdin! The Arabian folktale made famous by Disney’s 1992 animated movie (and the comic genius, Robin Williams, who voiced the genie). The remake came out last weekend and one of my friends asked me to do anContinue reading “Evolution of Fairy Tales: Aladdin”