Gary

Cooking by Candle

A Sufi Story from The Middle East Mula bet some friends he could survive a night on an icy mountain with nothing to warm him. Taking only a book and a candle for some light, he sat through the frigid night. When he came down to claim his winnings...

Read more

Why Turtles Live in Water

A Tale from West Africa Turtles used to live on the land, they say, until the time a clever turtle was caught by some hunters. They brought him to their village and placed the turtle before the Chief, who asked, ‘How shall we cook him?’...

Read more

The Lion and the Rabbit

A Fable from India The animals of the forest made a bargain with a ferocious lion who killed for pleasure. It was agreed that one animal each day would willingly go to the ferocious lion’s den to be his supper, and in turn, the lion would never hunt...

Read more

A Big Quiet House

An Eastern European Folktale There was once a man who wished his small, noisy house was larger and quieter. He went to the wise old woman of the town and explained his need. She said, ‘I can solve your problem. Just do as I say.’ The man...

Read more

Anansi Goes Fishing

A Folktale from West Africa Foolish Anansi thought he could trick a fisherman into doing his work for him. ‘Let’s go fishing,’ he suggested. ‘Very well,’ said the fisherman, who was clever and quite wise to Anansi’s tricks...

Read more

The Golden Touch

A Greek Myth There was once a king named Midas who did a good deed for a Satyr and was granted a wish by the god of wine, Dionysus. For his wish, Midas asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Although Dionysus tried to dissuade him, Midas...

Read more