Mythology & Folklore

 This week I learned how to use Automotivator to make motivational posters! Of course, I did one involving cats! Enjoy!

(A demon throwing Rostam into the sea) Tortoise Bowl-On-The-Back and the Fox There once was a tortoise sowing seed when a fox stopped by saying “may Gog give you strength.” Soon the seed was ready for reaping and the fox came by to say the same thing as before. He came again at harvest time, but this time he came for his share. The two began to fight, leading to a proposed race. The tortoise had his brother hide in the threshing floor since he knew he couldn’t beat the fox. When the fox got to the barn, he realized he lost. He had been tricked. The greedy are put to shame.  The Story of the Wolf-Bride Once there was a father who had a son and one day an akhund prophesied his son would be torn apart by wolves. The father built an underground chamber for his son to live. As he grew older, it was time for him to marry so the son married the father’s brother’s daughter. In the chamber, the girl turned into a wolf and tore him to pieces. When daylight came, the woman found the dead brid...

  (As-nas Cards in the Brooklyn Museum: Wikipedia) Fayiz and the Peri Wife There once was a married man named Fayiz who was handsome and had a good heart. One day he went to the mountains to play his flute when a maiden woman can to accompany him. They fell in love and she asked to go to her house in the mountains. Fayiz didn't know anything about her, but they went off together and got to her house which was beautiful. She sent for the mulla to wed them.  She said to the mulla that if the man is faithful he will always be happy, but if he isn't faithful, he will constantly be in trouble. They got married and a few years later they had two sons. The wife was always threatening the husband to not share their secret or else he could never see their sons again. The man had a yearning to go home though, and he asked for permission. She cried out and recited something, transporting them to a place where flocks resided. The peri gave him permission to go home as long as he kept the ...

 Persian Tales These Persian Tales were all short stories that accumulated into one big story. There are many Jewish references in regard to Persian Jews. The stories came from Iranian territory which I found to be quite interesting and there were many cultural elements. I enjoyed these stories very much. (Arash the Archer at Saadabad, Tehran) The Wold and the Goat Once upon a time there was nobody on earth but God. There was a goat who had four children and one day he told them to sit back while he goes to retrieve grass for them. He warned them if the wolf comes and knocks on the door, don't open the door. Ask him to slip his hand through the crack and if it's black you know it's the wolf and if it's red you know it's me. Little did they know the wolf had been listening the entire time and he had dyed his hand red with henna.  The wolf came to the door and shoved his red hand through it and the children opened the door. He took off with three children, but Black E...

 Hi, y'all! For this week's tech tip, I decided to learn how to make picture collages. I used the online site, BeFunky-Collage Maker . It was so fun looking at the different layouts and all the fun stock photos offered! I chose to make a silly cat collage for a fun way to end the week! Enjoy!

I know everyone has heard the story of sweet Cinderella, but I am not as sweet as everyone makes me out to be. What can I say I get into trouble every now and then but I’m just having fun! The story you have heard about Cinderella coming home at midnight isn’t quite the whole truth! Let me tell you what really happened that ehh wonderful night!   Once upon a time, there was a very affluent man and wife who had a rather charming daughter named Cinderella. The wife became rather ill that winter and passed away from repeated drug use that stopped her heart. As Cinderella and her father carried her out into the storm to bury her under the willow tree, blood flowed from her eyes, staining the snow crimson.    Cinderella’s father began to weep. He told little Cindy “when you grow up, remember to stay out of trouble and allows follow the rules.” Cinderella pondered on these words for what seemed like thirty seconds and then shoved them to the back of her mind, forgetting them fo...

  (Aladdin finds the Lamp: Wikipedia ) Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1 There was a poor tailor who had a son who was named Aladdin. Aladdin was a carefree boy who loved playing with other boys which upset his father, causing him to die and his mother to weep. One day he was approached in the streets by being asked if he was Mustapha's son. He told the stranger his father died a long time ago and the stranger told him he was his uncle. His uncle was an African magician. Aladdin went home to tell him mom about his uncle and she ordered Aladdin to find his uncle and bring him to dinner. When the uncle asked Aladdin of his trade, his mother burst into tears so the uncle promised he would help Aladdin.  His uncle brought Aladdin to some beautiful gardens and through the mountains as he told him stories. After tiring, they built a fire and the magician uncle threw powder onto it and out came a flat stone with a brass ring in the middle. Aladdin tried running away, but his uncle pus...

 I chose this story, Arabian Nights, because as a young girl I was obsessed with the movie Aladdin. I loved the music, the colorful clothing, and of course, the magic carpet. I even saw Aladdin on Broadway a few years back with my mom. This version is a modern retelling of Arabian Nights by Scheherazade. I am excited to read this version and I hope it's packed with magic, talking animals, dancing, and magic carpet rides! Let's jump right in! Scheherazade The Sultan Schahriar had a wonderful wife who brought him great happiness. He showered her with the finest things the world could offer, but one day he found out she had deceived him and he felt obliged to put her to death. This made him bitter and he believed all women were wicked. From then on, every evening he married a new wife and by nightfall he would strangle her to death. The town was horrified and everyone was weeping for the loss of their daughters. There was a curse over them. The grand-vizier was the father of two d...

 Storybook Theme For my storybook project, I want to take a dark twist on classic fairytales. I want to tell the criminal stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, and the Evil Stepmother from their point of view. I want them to recount the night they got into trouble and ultimately ended up at the Fairytale Police Department. Cinderella is in prison for breaking curfew, Rapunzel has been imprisoned for assault, horse theft, and false imprisonment, and the Evil Stepmother was caught overdosing on wicked pills to make her the meanest mom in the kingdom. It will be three separate stories but they will all be told from inside prison bars. These are stories you have never heard before. I got all my story inspiration from Dan Ashliman's website of collections of classic fairytales from all around the world.  Bibliography Sources:  http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0510a.html https://insidethemagic.net/2020/01/artist-portrays-disney-princesses-as-criminals-getting-mugshots-tm1/ https://mash...

 I am doing my storybook project on Untold Stories from the Fairytale Police Station! I am going to share the criminal accounts of Cinderella, Rapunzel, and the Evil Stepmother! (Fairytale Prison: Pinterest ) Link to my storybook

Microfictions I wrote three micro-fictions on the untold stories of Adam and Eve. I am very familiar with the book of Genesis so it was very interesting hearing interpretations of the story. I had so much fun making these mini-stories that get the point across in a quick manner. Hope y'all enjoy it!  The Fall The serpent appeared to Eve in the garden. Eve told the serpent “I must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden for it would kill me.” The serpent tempted Eve by telling her “you will not die from eating this delicious fruit.” Overcome with temptation, Eve ate from the tree. She gave to Adam too and their eyes were opened to their sin. They became ashamed of their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves. God called out to them, but the couple would not confess their sins. The Lord cursed Adam and Eve. Leaving the Garden God planted a garden next to a sea that could wash a man from sin. God did not place Adam and Eve near the water to wash themselv...

  The Forgotten Books of Eden (The Fall, by Michelangelo: Wikipedia ) Leaving the Garden Summary: On the third day, God created the Garden of Eden on the eastward side of the earth. To the east, the sun would rise and to the north of the garden was the sea of wafer. This sea was so clean and pure when a man washes, he becomes ceremonially clean. God created this water because it was good and that when a man leaves the garden on account of transgression, he could die among the righteous. God would then raise their souls on the last day and they should return in flesh to bathe in the water, repenting of their sins. When Adam left the garden, he didn't come to close to the water. He didn't allow Adam and Eve to cleanse themselves of their sins in the water since their punishment was severe. God placed him on the south side of the garden where the wind blew delicious smells of the trees. This made Adam forget his transgression which frustrated God. For this, God made Adam dwell on ...

 I chose to read the story of Adam and Eve because of my close connection with my faith, as well as my current bible study involving the story of Genesis. Since I am currently reading the book of Genesis, I am familiar with the story, but I was intrigued to read the modern retelling of it! Adam and Eve were the first human created on God and they ultimately brought sin into the world. Since they were tempted by Satan, God punished the lineage and brought suffering into the world. (The Creation of Man by Ephraim Moses Lilien: Wikipedia ) Genesis Characters: Adam, Eve, God Summary: God created Adam in His image and he created him through the dust on the ground. After Adam was given a name, he chose to name all the animals and creatures that were on the earth. God didn't want Adam to be alone, so he created Eve. He put Adam into a deep sleep and used a piece of Adam's rib to form woman. The two were intimately connected.  God placed Adam and Eve into a garden filled with an abund...