Halloween symbols start with colors. There are more than orange and black. Then we add a few wirches, ghosts, and related elements, continuingw with less-expected stuff!
Hansel and Gretel is much more than a story for kids. This classic fairy tale has astonishing mythological and religious undertones.
The story of Cinderella offers a wide array of literary themes. We will present only a fraction of the possibilities.
Brothers Grimm are much more than fairy tale collectors. Their personal story is magical as well.
Easter symbols are much more than coloured eggs and chocolate bunnies. In this article, we'll explore some of the most popular Easter symbols and how they relate to Christian and pagan traditions.
Jack and the Beanstalk is by far the most well-known traditional British fairy tale. It's a very popular story about a boy who confronts a giant risking his life to finally become a mature, responsible person.
Town Musicians of Bremen by the Grimm Brothers is a classic fairy tale with timeless messages. It's a story about respect, cooperation, and bravery.
Rumpelstiltskin is a classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It possesses everything a great story should have: tension, tempo, moral dilemma, suspension, twist, and, as expected, a happy ending.
The original story of Snow White was written by the Brothers Grimm. Or at least many believe so. Well, the rich history of this fairy tale definitely didn't start with Walt Disney.
Snow-White and Rose-Red is an old fairy tale, mostly known as the version from the collection by the Brothers Grimm. It's a relatively simple tale with rich symbolism that inspired some of the best illustrators in the past. We'll present it with their work and uncover a few surprising facts.
Red is simply the color you can't miss. What are the more and less obvious meanings behind red color? Which symbols are associated with it? How to use it in everyday lives in our favor?
Madame Leprince de Beaumont wrote many things but history remembers her almost exclusively by one single story: a fairy tale about the Beauty and the Beast. That's quite an irony considering she just rewrote already existing and published work by other authors. But that's the beginning...
What does a frog symbolize? Is it bad or good to dream about frogs? How the perception of frogs differ through cultures?
While everybody knows Hans Christian Andersen, the Grimm brothers, or Charles Perrault, they all 'borrowed' materials for their masterpieces from one single book written by Giambattista Basile. Who was this Italian writer, why is his work so important, and why have most of us never heard of him?
Constance Lloyd, for some time, referred as Mrs. Oscar Wilde played a major, although a mostly uncredited role in the life of her genius husband. As evidence shows she was extremely talented too.
Rapunzel is a classic fairy tale most known from (what else) Disney's adaptation titled Tangled. It is also a story about the search for freedom and fights against selfish control freaks.
The story of Bluebeard is based on real people and real events. Some know it as a fairy tale, others as a movie, but we all we should look at it as a cautionary tale. Who was real Bluebeard anyway?
It looks everybody knows the story about Little Red Hen in at least one of many known versions with different morals. It is a story with powerful message and many lessons to learn.
Andersen's Little Mermaid is much deeper and rewarding to the audience. than Disney animated movie. Why? It was originally written as a love letter!
Red Riding Hood is not just another story about good defeating evil. It is also great material for historical and social studies.
Many fairy tales share basic elements with classical myths. "Beauty and the Beast" can be interpreted as Cupid and Psyche retold, but it shares basic elements with many other myths too.
Well known story about the sleeping beauty has many variations and sometimes pretty surprising interpretations. It is probably the most important truth about the origin of fairy tales too.