Adapted into films, songs, and bedtime stories, there are various folktales and fairytales from all over the world that we’ve become increasingly familiar with. While these stories originate in different languages, many countries have come to translate them and build it into a part of childhood for the many young audiences there. America’s interpretation of the stories may differ from other countries, as each culture has its own unique method of telling a story. Let’s look into some of the most iconic “Once upon a time” tales.
When thinking “Once upon a time,” one of the first stories that may come to mind is princess tales. The reason behind it could be because Walt Disney’s studio has publicized many of these fairy tales by creating both animations and live-action films based on the stories. These include both old and new movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, etc. However, there are famous stories behind each of these movies that don’t always end the “happily-ever-after” way that Disney portrays them to be. These folktales originate from various parts of the world such as Germany, France, and Denmark, but have become an important part of America’s culture.
Some other fairy tales that don’t include princess stories are Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Three Little Pigs. While many of us recognize these as mere fairy tales from youth, they have important morals behind them. Goldilocks and the Three Bears introduces a story of Goldilocks, a young girl who breaks into a bear family’s cottage while they aren’t home. She uses their furniture and eats their food without permission. The moral of this story is that you should always be aware of how your actions may influence others. Goldilocks didn’t ask if she could use their chairs, sleep on their beds, and eat their food; therefore, she was being rude to the bear family. In Little Red Riding Hood, a young girl comes upon a stranger, a wolf, and carelessly tells him where she is going and ends up in danger. From this story, we can see that we shouldn’t always trust strangers. The last story, The Three Little Pigs, is about three pigs who build their houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. A wolf ends up blowing down the straw and stick houses, so we can learn that if we work hard like the pig who made a house of bricks instead of being lazy like the pigs who made a house of straw and sticks, the work will eventually pay off.
From these tales and stories both old and new, we see that although each country builds its identity through various factors, foreign tales are still influential since it shapes early memories and lessons learned by children. Starting from the past, sharing stories has continued around the world as films and books are being translated so these stories are accessible to more than one audience. Regardless of your cultural heritage, fairy tales, songs, or bedtime stories you hear as a young child can influence you later on in your life. What stories have made an impact on your childhood? Are they the same as those here? If not, what other stories are valued by audiences in your country?
