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Leap into a world brimming with enchantment, allegorical insights and timeless lessons, as we celebrate World Folktales & Fables Week this March 17! The captivating sagas passed down from generation to generation have served not only as bedtime stories but also as cultural markers and moral compasses. Originating from diverse cultures around the globe, these folktales and fables are nuggets of traditional wisdom, each one bearing an inherent moral or lesson. This fascinating week seeking to animate and value these legends, was thrust into the global limelight in the late 20th century as a way to foster global awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity. So, gear up to travel across continents, hearing the echo of voices from the past, unraveling profound wisdom and joining the global storytelling adventure!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>600 BC</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Aesop's Fables Origination</div><div class='timeline-text'>Aesop, a Greek storyteller, crafted a collection of stories known as Aesop's Fables. These stories, full of clever animals and moral lessons, have endured through millennia.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1835</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Grimm Brothers Collect Tales</div><div class='timeline-text'>Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their collection of folktales, known as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which includes stories like "Cinderella" and "Snow White."</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1877</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Folktale Collection in Japan</div><div class='timeline-text'>Keigo Seki publishes the first book collection of Japanese folktales, contributing significantly to the preservation of the country's oral tradition.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1943</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>"The Little Prince" Publication</div><div class='timeline-text'>Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince", a fable cum novella, was published. Today it's one of the most translated and best-selling books in the world.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1999</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>World Folktales & Fables Week</div><div class='timeline-text'>World Folktales & Fables Week is introduced to celebrate and promote the art of storytelling and cultural diversity around the globe.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Present Day</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Continued Celebration </div><div class='timeline-text'>Every year, we continue to celebrate World Folktales & Fables Week on March 17th to honor the diverse cultures and rich oral traditions globally.</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 folktale theater</h3><p class='facts-text'>Children and adults alike can form a local theatre group to enact popular folktales and fables from around the world. Not only will it be a fun journey going from choosing the folktale, brainstorming props and costumes to finally performing, but also a great cultural learning experience.</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 specialized book club</h3><p class='facts-text'>During this week, you can turn your usual book club into a folktale theme-based discussion forum. Each member can choose a folktale or fable from a culture other than their own to share and discuss.</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'>Organize an art gallery</h3><p class='facts-text'>Inspire artists in your community to create art pieces based on their favorite folktales or fables and host an exhibition. It's a beautiful way to visually communicate the charm of these traditional stories.</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'>Make folktale-inspired recipes</h3><p class='facts-text'>Many folktales and fables involve food or feasts as integral parts of the story. Create a menu based on renowned food references from these stories and have a themed dinner party with friends and family!</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'>Learn a folktale a day</h3><p class='facts-text'>Challenge yourself to read or listen to a new folktale or fable each day of the week. Unfolding the values and morals of different cultures through these stories can be an immensely enlightening experience.</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'>Celebrates Cultural Diversity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>World Folktales and Fables Week offers an exceptional opportunity to explore and appreciate cultural diversity. As we delve into stories from different cultures, we get a glimpse of their unique traditions, customs, and moral values, fostering global awareness and respect. </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'>Promotes Learning Through Fun Activities</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The week is filled with exciting activities that make learning fun. From hosting a specialized book club and organizing an art gallery to preparing folktale-inspired recipes and enacting popular folktales, there's something for everyone to enjoy and learn. </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'>Unravel Ageless Wisdom & Enjoy Global Storytelling</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Engaging with folktales and fables offers endless opportunities to absorb age-old wisdom. These timeless stories, shared across generations worldwide, hold profound moral lessons that are relevant even today. As we read, listen, or enact these sagas, we partake in a unique global storytelling adventure!</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'>27 Languages in Aesop's Fables Edition</h3><p class='facts-content'>The first collection of Aesop’s Fables, translated by Roger L'Estrange in 1692, was printed in 27 languages simultaneously, showcasing the wide cross-cultural appeal.</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'>Folktales Vary in Length and Complexity</h3><p class='facts-content'>Folktales can range from simple anecdotes to lengthy and intricate narratives. Some can be told in a few minutes, while others may take hours or even days to complete.</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'>The Shape-Shifting Ethnic Origin of Cinderella</h3><p class='facts-content'>The tale of Cinderella has ethnic versions in numerous cultures worldwide, including China, Vietnam, Africa, and Native American tribes – a testament to the universality of the themes encompassed.</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'>Fables Were Used as Tools for Teaching Values</h3><p class='facts-content'>Historically, fables were primarily used as a means to impart moral and social values to children. These concise stories, laden with moral messages, were told and retold, shaping young minds and society.</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'>Japanese Folktales are Entwined with Observations of Nature</h3><p class='facts-content'>Many traditional Japanese folktales reflect cultural connections with nature and living harmoniously with the environment. They feature animals, spirits, and elements of nature as characters--added or transformed based on geographic and cultural variations.</p></div></div>
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