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Unleash your imagination this National Storytelling Week, beginning on January 30! Since ancient times, stories have been at the heart of human interaction, a respected tradition passed down through generations. Originating in the UK in 2000, this event has blossomed into a worldwide celebration of all things storytelling. Throughout this week, we recognize the captivating art of storytelling and its power to transport us to fantastical worlds, tell of bold and daring adventurers, and even teach us profound life lessons. Grab your favorite book or gather round the fire and get ready for an amazing adventure that awaits!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Fairy Tales Boom</div><div class='timeline-text'>The 19th Century was a boom for storytelling, with authors like Hans Christian Andersen and Brothers Grimm popularizing fairy tales.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1922</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Radio Storytelling</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Golden Age of Radio began, bringing storytelling to a new medium allowing families to gather around the radio for stories.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1956</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Storytelling on TV</div><div class='timeline-text'>Television becomes a major source of storytelling with popular series such as "The Twilight Zone" captivating audiences.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1967</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Public Storytelling Events</div><div class='timeline-text'>The National Storytelling Festival was founded in Jonesborough, Tennessee, focusing on the preservation and enrichment of oral storytelling.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Storytelling Week Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Society for Storytelling in the UK launched the first National Storytelling Week to celebrate and promote the tradition of storytelling.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Digital Storytelling</div><div class='timeline-text'>Amidst the global pandemic, many storytelling events and celebrations moved online, using digital platforms to continue the tradition of storytelling.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create a Story Circle</h3><p class='facts-text'>Gather with friends and family in a circle and begin a storytelling game. One person may start a story, and it moves around the circle with each person adding their own piece to the tale. The plot twists and turns await!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a Virtual Storytelling Event</h3><p class='facts-text'>Use online platforms like Zoom or Skype to host a virtual storytelling event. Share folktales or family stories, or choose a theme for everyone to share their own original tale. </p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Attend a Storytelling Workshop or Webinar</h3><p class='facts-text'>Look out for online workshops or webinars about storytelling techniques. This can be a great opportunity to learn from experienced storytellers and gain insights into improving your own tales.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Campfire Storytelling Night</h3><p class='facts-text'>Nothing beats the ambiance of cracking fire on a cool night for storytelling. Spend the evening under the stars, roasting marshmallows & sharing stories around a campfire. A spine-chilling ghost story is just the cherry on top!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Write a Picture Storybook</h3><p class='facts-text'>Try writing and illustrating your own short story. Let your creative spirit flow–you never know where your imagination might take you! If you have little ones in the family, this can be a great communal activity and a perfect keepsake.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Storytelling invokes creativity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>National Storytelling Week is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to tap into their inventive minds and return to a world of curiosity and creativity. It could also spark new ideas and dreams, whilst also teaching the important skill of narrative building.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It connects people together</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Even in a time where physical gatherings might be restricted, storytelling brings people close together in spirit, from virtual storytelling sessions to interactive story circles. It can create bonds between people of all ages and from all walks of life, through shared listening and telling of stories.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It preserves traditions and cultures</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Traditional tales that have been passed down through generations are an integral part of cultural heritage. By engaging in storytelling, these stories are kept alive and continue to teach future generations about their cultural origins and values.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The oldest known tale dates back 4000 years</h3><p class='facts-content'>The ancient city of Uruk, in what is now Iraq, is home to the "Epic of Gilgamesh," one of the oldest written stories known to exist, dating back to 2000 BC.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Storytelling affects our brains beyond imagination</h3><p class='facts-content'>Neurological research has shown that hearing a tale can make our brains come alive, activating areas responsible for associating with experiences as if we were living the story ourselves.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Aesop’s Fables are still being told after 25 centuries</h3><p class='facts-content'>Aesop’s Fables from ancient Greece have endured over 25 centuries. Stories such as "The Tortoise and the Hare" and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" are still widely told and recognized today.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Storytelling predates writing</h3><p class='facts-content'>Long before humans began writing, they told stories. Cave drawings found in France and Spain date back as far as 30,000 to 40,000 years, showing man’s early desire to record and convey stories.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Japan's Rakugo involves a single storyteller</h3><p class='facts-content'>Japan has a long history of storytelling through a form of entertainment called Rakugo, where a solitary storyteller sits on stage and depicts a long and complicated comical story using only two props: a fan and a small cloth.</p></div></div>
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