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The Apothecary and the Mermaid
This episode was released last February to celebrate African-American storytelling traditions. For those of our listeners not from Canada or the United States, every February, we celebrate Black History Month with an emphasis in schools on learning about the slave trade, the Underground Railroad and the civil rights movement. Now, on this podcast, we aim to cover a wide variety of international stories, and while we’ve covered North American Native tales, this will be our first African American story. America is truly a mosaic of legends, fairy tales and folktales that are as rich and unique as the generations of…
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Running Deer and the Wampus Mask
Today, we are going to settle in with a story from the Appalachians, more specifically, with a from the Cherokee First Nations. Snuggle in and get ready for the thrilling story behind the nightmare creature- the Wampus Cat. The Wampus cat, the Whistling Wampus or the Gallywampus as it is called, is a half-dog/half-cat creature that lurks in dark places, piercing the hearts and souls of those it comes across. However, the Wampus stories’ potential origin could be the story of Running Deer. So, before we run out of time, here is our story for today, Deer Travellers. The Spirit…
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Nigerian Animal Tales
The Election of the King Bird There was once a King of Calabar named Essiya. Like many kings and those of royal blood, King Essiya was very wealthy and powerful. Despite that, he didn’t own any slaves. At least not any human slaves. Instead, he would call upon animals to aid his people with their work. But he wanted to make sure that the work was being communicated quickly and efficiently to all the animals. So, one day, he decided to appoint the chief head for all the different kinds of animals. These creatures will be referred to as kings.…
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The Mermaid of the Magdalenes
The Magdalen Islands in Quebec, Canada offer more than just a breathtaking landscape; they are also home to the Great Lobster stories. Settle in as we tell the tale of the self-indulgent Maiden, a box of Sardines and a Vengeful Lobster. Originally this mournful tale of the ‘The Mermaid of the Magdalenes’ comes from Professor Cyrus MacMillan’s Canadian Fairy Tales.
Tales from the Enchanted Forest 