Once in Russia, there lived a Tsar and a Tsarina. They had one daughter, Marya Tsarevna. After some time, the old Tsarina died and the Tsar married another woman who was in reality a witch. Now, the witch had three daughters, one of whom had one eye, the next two eyes, and the third had […]
There was a tiny island. It was ruled by a wise and good chief. The island had an annual ritual. Every year a grand festival in honour of the deity, Bhumidev was held. On this occasion, the chief would select the most beautiful flower in the garden to offer to their deity. For the past
In a small Russian city, a merchant lived with his wife. They had a son, Vasili, who was wiser than his age. Once, when all of them were having their lunch, a nightingale who sat in a cage over the table started singing sadly. The merchant was angry and could not bear it. He said,
Bony was a baby bat. Like all bats he was blind and scared of lights. At night when Bony went to sleep, he would often wake up with a start. “The street lights are still on, Mama!” he would call out anxiously. “Don’t worry, my child; we will go to a darker place,” comforted his
Once upon a time, two old serfs lived together for many years without a child. In their old age, they prayed for a child. After seven years, their prayers were answered and the old woman gave birth to seven sons, who were all named Simeons. When they were ten years old, their father died. Simeons
Once upon a time, there were three brothers. They lived in a small village on the shore of the Volga River. The two elder brothers were married. They were merchants. The youngest Emelya was foolish, lazy, and despised work. While Emelya’s brothers went out to work, he sat on a warm stove in the kitchen.
It was a Black School run by the Devil. Students in this school were taught witchcraft and magic. It was located in a dark dungeon below the Earth. Many children attended the school. But the Devil had a strange custom he would keep back a boy with him from the graduating batch of students as
In all the legends, St. Nicholas is regarded as a kind character. This quality was attributed to him in the story in which he and Prophet Ilya were introduced together. It was autumn. One afternoon, a Russian peasant was driving along a heavy road. All of a sudden, his cart stuck fast in the mire.
Once upon a time, an old man planted a turnip. After a few days, it grew and became an enormous turnip. The old man decided to pull the turnip out of the ground. He tried very hard but couldn’t pull it out. So, he called out to his wife for help. The wife took hold
Once upon a time, a hunter shot and wounded a bird. The bird begged him not to kill her but to take her home, and when she went to sleep, strike her head. The hunter did exactly like that and the bird transformed into a beautiful woman. She proposed to the hunter for marriage, and
In a certain kingdom, there lived a King who was getting old and his vision had become poor. He had heard of a garden with apples of youth that would make a man grow young, and well with the water of life that would restore his vision. He called his three sons and asked them
Once, there lived a mighty Tsar named Visalev who had a magnificent orchard of which he was very proud. But every night, a firebird came to his favourite apple tree and stole away golden apples. Feeling upset, he called his three sons to help. The Tsar said, “Whoever catches this firebird, I will give him
Farmers of a village were happy. They had reaped a good harvest of wheat this year. They rejoiced and made merry at their good fortune. But they forgot to thank God for their good fortune. They became idle and selfish. They did not work in their fields anymore. Next year there was no crop to
Once upon a time, there was a King who had twelve beautiful daughters. All of them slept together in one room in twelve beds. When they went to bed, the doors were shut and locked up. Nevertheless, every morning their shoes looked quite worn as if the princesses had danced all night. But nobody knew
In a small Russian village, there lived an old man and an old woman. They had a daughter named Alyonushka and a son named Ivanushka. Soon, the couple died, and Alyonushka and Ivanushka were left all alone in the world. Alyonushka had to go out to work and Ivanushka went along as he was too