Date
Monday
Mar
17

March 17-23

World Folktales & Fables Week

Dive into the realm of tales and fables, unraveling the wisdom of ages during World Folktales and Fables Week. Join the global storytelling adventure!

Type
Week

Introduction

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!

World Folktales & Fables Week Timeline

600 BC
Aesop's Fables Origination
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.
1835
Grimm Brothers Collect Tales
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their collection of folktales, known as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which includes stories like "Cinderella" and "Snow White."
1877
First Folktale Collection in Japan
Keigo Seki publishes the first book collection of Japanese folktales, contributing significantly to the preservation of the country's oral tradition.
1943
"The Little Prince" Publication
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.
1999
World Folktales & Fables Week
World Folktales & Fables Week is introduced to celebrate and promote the art of storytelling and cultural diversity around the globe.
Present Day
Continued Celebration
Every year, we continue to celebrate World Folktales & Fables Week on March 17th to honor the diverse cultures and rich oral traditions globally.

How to Celebrate World Folktales & Fables Week

1

Create a folktale theater

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.

2

Host a specialized book club

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.

3

Organize an art gallery

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.

4

Make folktale-inspired recipes

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!

5

Learn a folktale a day

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.

Why We Love World Folktales & Fables Week

A

Celebrates Cultural Diversity

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.

B

Promotes Learning Through Fun Activities

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.

C

Unravel Ageless Wisdom & Enjoy Global Storytelling

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!