-
The Hammer Heist: A Norse Tale
Today’s story is all about what a bad idea it can be to steal from the wrong person. Specifically, what happens when you steal from Thor Odinson. The Lay of Thrym comes to us from the Poetic Edda which was probably written in the second half of the 13th century. This manuscript is a collection of old Norse poems and stories. Its authorship is unknown but while some think it is the work of Snorri, a master in Old Norse poetry and storytelling, it is also believed to have been compiled by a variety of minstrels and poets similar to…
-
Katabasis: The Myth of Orpheus
R.F Kuang’s highly anticipated novel, Katabasis, was published recently and it has brought on a wave of discourse around journeying into the underworld as a physical and metaphorical storytelling device! ‘Katabasis’ itself is a Greek term for the hero’s descent into the underworld usually referring to Hades. We have covered many stories where our hero or protagonist journeys into the underworld as a symbol of death and resurrection (seasons) like Persephone in the Greek Hymn to Demeter, and the Sumerian stories of Inanna. We’ve also covered stories which feature voluntary travel to the underworld to fetch something, such as in…
-
The Mythology and Monsters of K-Pop Demon Hunters
The Mythology and Monsters of K-Pop Demon Hunters Welcome to Tales from the Box Office where Fox and Sparrow moonlight as TV and Movie reviewers who focus on the myths and monsters behind the fictional folklore fanfare! In this part, we will focus on the various monsters and their myths. Sony Picture Animation’s K-Pop Demon Hunters has taken the world by storm! The movie was co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and features a fictional K-Pop girl group called Huntr/x who sing to reinforce the Honmoon, a magical barrier protecting the world from demons. In our last post we…
-
The Shamans and Swords of K-Pop Demon Hunters
The Shamans and Swords of K-Pop Demon Hunters Welcome to Tales from the Box Office where Fox and Sparrow moonlight as TV and Movie reviewers who focus on the myths and monsters behind the fictional folklore fanfare! In this part, we will focus on Shamanism and Huntr/x. K-Pop Demon Hunters is the blockbuster of the summer and it was only just released in June! The movie which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans features a fictional K-Pop girl group called Huntr/x who just so happen to also be demon hunters. This post…
-
The Little Girl and the Whirlwinds
Bulgaria, 7 minute read A wicked Winter Witch decides to prolong winter forever and casts a spell to hide the sun from the Earth. No one volunteers to go seek help from the Frost Wizard- no one except a brave little girl with a warm heart. The Bulgarian tale of the “Little Girl and the Whirlwinds” or “The Little Girl and the Forever Winter” is hard to pinpoint. Our research led us to various retellings and other Bulgarian folktales, but no clear link to where this tale came from. Other versions are closely tied to the Russian story of the…
-
How the Moon was Made: New Zealand
New Zealand, 10 minute read We found this story in a book titled Maoriland Fairy Tales (1913) by Edith Howes. With all that said, it’s unclear if this story is an exact retelling, if it’s changed slightly or if it was just inspired by Māori folklore. There are some more popular stories regarding the moon including Rona and the Moon where Rona curses at the moon after it disappears behind a cloud while she is carrying water, causing her to spill it. Incensed, the Moon shakes the ground and causes such a storm that it lifts Rona off the ground.…
-
Luck o’ the Leprechaun
Learn more about Joseph Jacobs’ “Field of Boliuans” and Irish folktales with this fun story of Leprechaun trickery! Fantastic finds on Irish mythology, stereotypes, superstitions, beer, and magical creatures!
Tales from the Enchanted Forest 