Tales for Troubled Times
~ Folktale Archive ~
Tom's original greeting from what has become the Tales for Troubled Times folklore archive:
"In these surreal days of illness and self-isolation due to COVID-19 I found myself wondering what more I can do to help people get through the long days. If ever there was a need for stories, then this is it.
I'm recording rough, one-take stories of favourite folk tales. I must admit, they are rougher than I would normally do. All the stumbles are left in. This is not about showcasing my storytelling skills. It's not about 'me', it's about us.
These are stories that I don't normally tell, as well as old favourites. The lack of an audience is a great miss. It is just me, alone in an attic bedroom with a small recording device on a cushion.
I hope you find some tales that help to get you through the day and imagine better days. Please take care and stay safe.
Love, Tom."
(Tales especially for the bairns are here.)
~ Tales for everyone ~
Jennifer Wrigley ~ The Reel, Kirkwall
Dingieshowe Dancers
Our friend Jennifer Wrigley from The Reel recorded her tune Dingieshowe Dancers for the Orkney Storytelling Festival online 2020. She has our heartiest thanks.
Vasilisa the Fair
A Russian tale of courage and faith, even in the face of the fearsome, iron-toothed Baba Yaga!
The Man From Nowhere
There's something weird about the stranger ... a tale from the Orkney Island of Stronsay
Illustration by our friend, Bryce Wilson
The Crop-Haired Freckled Lass
How a clever young woman from Scotland's Western Isles outwits the laird
Sigurd and the Raven Banner
Njal's Saga tells of the Orkney Islands' Earl Sigurd and his magic raven banner.
Please note: this tale is not for bairns or the faint of heart.
Artwork by Sheila Faichney
Eithne's Lament
A haunting and beautiful song about Sigurd and the Battle of Clontarf. It was written by our friend, singer/historian/archaeologist/folklorist Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon and recently recorded at home.
Thank you, Sarah Jane.
Lady Odivere
An Orkney Islands selkie story about the dangers of swearing the Odin Oath
Illustration by our friend, Bryce Wilson
The Selkie of Sule Skerry
Enjoy a traditional selkie tale in song, recorded at home by the talented Sarah Jane Gibbon.
Thank you, Sarah Jane.
The Wicked Laird
or
The Cottar's Curse
A wicked laird in Scotland's Orkney Islands beats the devil but falls foul of a cottar's curse.
Please note: this tale is not for bairns or the faint of heart ... which is why Tom is dedicating it to our mighty friend, Áine King.
Artwork by another friend, Sheila Faichney
London Again
A well-known folktale, this version is from the Shetland Islands
The Baby of Langalour
The story of an unusual birth in the Orkney Islands parish of Firth
Sati
An old Orkney tale about a spaeman who has to discover the identity of a thief by the cunning use of a pot and a black cockerel
The Broonie of Copinsay
A folktale from the Orkney Islands about an unusual servant
Illustration by our friend, Bryce Wilson
Tam Lin
A tale from the old Scottish Borders ballad Tam Lin
Dedicated to Tom's peedie Slovenian sister, Katarina Juvančič
Two Selkie Tales from Orkney
The Selkie Wife of Westness and The Selkie's Revenge
Illustration by our friend, Kate Leiper
How I Became a Storyteller ~
the (almost) true tale
Tom's own story of his storytelling origins
Not entirely suitable for wee bairns ... or the very easily offended
Annie Norn and the Finfolk
A classic Orkney tale about a magical island
Illustration by our friend Bryce Wilson
Then the Merman Laughed
A classic Icelandic tale passed down from the family of Hjorleifur Helgi Stefánsson.
This story is dedicated to Tom's pet Viking, Hjorleifur.
Illustration by Anna Anglemark.
The Broonie
Can a kindly guardian spirit defeat a witch?
A Scottish folktale
The Death of the Fin King
How the Fin King's spell was broken at Orkney's Bay of Skaill
Illustration by Bryce Wilson
Two Wee Fairy Stories
The Fairy's Fishing Trip from Orkney and The Trow's Brandy from Shetland
The Piper and the Frozen Boots
A Scottish Travellers' tale best enjoyed with a dram (says Tom)
The Fin Folk and the Mill of Skaill
An Orkney folk tale from the parish of Sandwick
Illustration by our friend, Bryce Wilson
The Angel of Death
A Scottish Travellers' tale about a young boy's ride home in a very strange carriage
May not be appropriate for all ages
Some of these folktales of also available in Tom's folklore books.
~ Tales especially for the bairns ~
The Mouse Princess
A French tale proving that faithfulness has its rewards
Peerie Fool
A traditional tale from the Orkney island of Rousay
Illustration by our friend, Bryce Wilson
Stone Soup
How an old beggar tricks a miser into a meal and - just maybe - teaches him a lesson
Auld (Old) Croovie
An old Scottish Traveller tale about greed and dancing trees
The Queen Bee
Why it's better to be simple and kind than clever and cruel~
A German folktale gathered by the Grimm brothers
The Story of Persephone
The classic Greek myth of the changing of seasons
The Hogboon of Hellihowe
A cautionary Orkney tale showing why you must always take good care of your hogboon
Illustration by our friend, Bryce Wilson
To the One You Love the Most
A man learns who within his household really loves him
King of the Cats
An English folktale showing that a cat is not always what it seems to be
The Elf Maiden
A northern folktale of a magical bride
Illustration by Anna Anglemark as seen in Tom's Tales from Viking Lands
The Wee Bannock
A Scottish version of The Gingerbread Man
The Swan Princes
The beloved tale by Hans Christian Andersen
The Princess on the Glass Mountain
A classic Norwegian folk tale of how the Ash Lad won a princess's love
The Three Gifts
A traditional Scottish folktale that Tom first heard from the great storyteller Bob Pegg.
The Baron's Ring
An English folktale showing that you can't resist fate
Toller and His Good Neighbors
A tale from Denmark ~ How Toller and his family prosper due to their fairy neighbours
Illustration by Anna Angelmark
Dedicated to Kitty at Encounters with the Good People podcast
King Midas
The classic Greek myth
The Golden Bird
A lovely Slovenian folktale
The Eating Contest with a Troll
A Norwegian folktale
The Goat that Told Lies
How a woodcutter and his wife are taken in by a talking goat who tells lies
Mermaid image (Rhonda's pages) and storyteller image (Tom's pages), and all other illustrations except where noted are here by the courtesy of our dear friend - Stromness author, artist and historian, Bryce Wilson MBE, who owns all copyrights. Thanks, Bryce!
The long-awaited 25th anniversary edition of Tom Muir's The Mermaid Bride is out! With new stories and illustrations added, and at the originl price, this book is a real bargain. Buy it here.
If you enjoy what we do please consider encouraging us on Ko-fi. It's a simple, safe way to support our work of preserving Orkney's stories and lore. Thank you!
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~ Next issue:
Spring 2024
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