Fairy Tales: Where Did They Start?

Before I get started into the origins of Fairy Tales, I feel it is important to differentiate between legends, myths, folklore, and fairy tales. Each of these are often passed on through generations and vary in different cultures as oral traditions.

• Legends – usually based on some historical fact where the character/event has been exaggerated over the years, sometimes parts of the legend will be changed corresponding with the retellings through generations.

• Fairy Tales – these tales will include some sort of fantastical element, magic, imaginary creatures, conflict of good and evil.

• Myths – usually found to be based in religion, often involving supernatural beings or creatures, explanations of natural phenomena.

• Folklore – traditional stories, beliefs, and customs of a community passed on through generations by word of mouth.

Storytellers have been passing on folklore tales around the world for thousands of years; many of the fairy tales that we know and love in the Twenty-first Century were published in the Seventeenth Century by Charles Perrault. Historians and anthropologists can trace some tales back 5000 years; Jack and the Beanstalk is an example.

Only literary forms remain to tell the next generations about the imagination and creativity which presented itself before; without witness accounts, there has been no exact date as to when folklore, fairy tales, legends, and myths began circulating the world.

Fairy tales hold a precious place in our hearts, they are more than entertainment, they can be used to influence and teach morals to humanity. Fairy tales are captivating stories of jealousy, betrayal, family rivalry, love, hate, sacrifice, and so much more. Before these stories were published in print, communities told tales to teach and amuse their listeners about human behaviour and the values they held in society.

• Cinderella – overcomes the ill-treatment and torment from her stepfamily. Be kind and true to yourself.

• Little Red Riding Hood – don’t talk to strangers, keep to your own path and don’t stray to temptation.

• Beauty and the Beast/Snow White – appearances can be deceiving, don’t judge people until you know them.

The above examples are just a few morals I have picked to share with you, there are many more which I’m sure you have/will discover when reading fairy tales.

When researching for the beginning of this tradition, I became aware of just how many different cultures have continued to share their oral traditions around the world. World of Tales is a website dedicated to share stories from around the world, Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australia.

Excerpt from a Native American folklore: White Feather and the Six Giants

"Another day the young man went out to see what there was, within a day's hunt, that was curious; and on entering the woods he heard a voice calling out to him, "Come here, you destined wearer of the White Feather. You do not wear it, yet, but you are worthy of it. Return home and take a short nap. You will dream of hearing a voice, which will tell you to rise and smoke. You will see in your dream a pipe, a smoking-sack, and a large white feather. […] The voice then informed the young man who he was, and made known the character of his grandfather, who was imposing upon him to serve his own ends."

This folklore has all the signs of a fairy tale, it holds morals of deception, greed, betrayal, kindness, love and trust.

Fairy Tales tend to be based from stories the authors have heard, retelling an original to make it their own, or turning historical events into creative fiction. Researching the origins of fairy tales, led me to a History article about the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

The themes that were in the brothers’ original stories, would not be allowed in some cultures and for young readers in the modern era. Graphic Violence, Premarital sex, Child Abuse, Anti-Semitism, these are just some examples that would be considered unethical for modern society.

As the tradition of fairy tales stay with us in society, it is amazing to read about the stories that have been invented to coincide with the modern-day society and culture.

• The Princes and the treasure – Jeffery A. Miles. This fairy tale starts with a prince on a quest to save the princess, however, he meets another prince during the mission. They discover the true treasure is their love for one another, it ends with their marriage ceremony.

This story was ground-breaking when released in the United States in 2014. Throughout history, there has always been the tradition tales of the love between a man and woman. For children/young adults growing up and discovering who they are, to be able to relate to modern-day fairy tales is breath-taking.

• Raven Wild – C. Spice., A. Reynolds., C. Harris. An illustrated LGBTQ themed children’s book. This tale teaches transgender children that they are not alone, they are worthy of love and support of others. The authors do an amazing job at creating a gentle, heart-warming tale and normalising the sex-change transition.

Society is faced with so many cultural changes, it is wonderful to see authors are creating stories that is growing with us. Growing up is extremely difficult, especially if you are growing up feeling different from others.

Fairy tales are about highlighting society through different dreams, visions and lessons about the way society and the values they raise. People can learn from lessons they are told, it is up to us to continue the tradition.

Maria