Traditional Myths and Legends

Legends from Poland Great Britain, Italy and Turkey

Each country has its own customs and traditions. An important part of these traditions are myths and legends. These stories constituate an important aspects of our national cultures and national heritage. Many of the legends retold by pupils from Polish, British, Italian and Turkish schools take place in actual places that everyone could visit today.
Enjoy watching a wide number of interesting stories:)

Polish Legends

This story is about a Polish princess who chose to drown ferself rather than marry a German duke. It is a pantomime performed by pupils at Primary School No 5, Bielsk Podlaski, Poland:




This version of the legend of Wanda is retold by Klaudia: Legend of Wanda

Legend Of Wars and Sawa retold by Karolina. Enjoy watching:


Do you want to know how Krak biult Cracow? Watch the slideshows :

How Krak Built Cracow

View more presentations from sp5bielskp.

More Polish legends:
The Legend of Janosik
The Legend of the White Eagle
Trumpeter

Italian Legends and Traditional Stories

Little Blue Riding Hood

The adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

Pinocchio is the most famous Italian tale. Its author is Carlo Collodi, who wrote it in 1881 in Florence. The main character is Pinocchio, a wooden puppet, created by a carpenter called Geppetto, who becomes his father. More...

LA COLOMBA DI RE ALBOINO

The Dove of King Alboino

According to an old legend, this cake was first prepared on the eve before Easter in 570 AC, in Pavia, and presented to King Alboino to appease him as he entered the city following years of siege.

The Longobards, after having conquered the Lombardy region, had camped west of the city of Pavia to besiege it. The people of Pavia held off the invasion of the Longobards for three long years but in the end had to surrender due to low rations, water shortages and the threat of the pest which could kill more than the war itself.

Alboino had sworn to kill anyone who attempted to resist him. He mounted on his horse to enter the city but as soon as the horse faced the city’s door of San Giovanni, it collapsed on the floor. The King tried to get the horse up but unsuccessfully. So the King’s squire said “You have been so ruthless that you cannot enter a city where the women have been made widows and the children orphans due to the Longobard swords”.

When the King decided to give up his intentions, the horse got up and together they went towards the royal palace constructed by Teodorico. There the King saw a beautiful girl that smiled at him. Attracted by her beauty he asked her name. “My name is Colomba (dove)” she answered, “the daughter of the baker on Porta Calcinara. In sign of peace I offer you this freshly baked cake in the shape of a dove”.

Alboino accepted the gift and still today the Colomba cake is symbol of peace and joy of Easter.

Secondo un’antica leggenda questo dolce sarebbe nato la vigilia di Pasqua del 570 d.C, a Pavia, come dono per rabbonire re Alboino entrato in città dopo anni di assedio. More...

A traditional story from Pontecorvo based on an event from the past

A Fary Tale from Turkey
The forty princes and the seven-headed-dragon

HERE was once a Padishah who had forty sons, and they spent the whole day in the forest, hunting and snaring birds. When the youngest had completed his fourteenth year their father thought it was time they were getting married, so he called them together and spoke to them about the matter, "We are willing to marry," said the forty brothers, "but only if we can meet with forty sisters all having the same father and mother." The Padishah therefore sought throughout his dominions for such a family, but in vain: the greatest number of sisters in all the land was thirty-nine. "The fortieth will have to take another," said the Padishah to his sons. But they refused to agree to that, and begged their father to allow them to travel in foreign countries to seek the desired brides. What was the Padishah to do? As he could not dissuade them, he grudgingly granted their request. Before they set out, however, the Padishah said to them: "There are three things which you must bear well in mind. When you reach a large spring, do not spend the night anywhere near it. Farther on is a hân; do not spend the night there, either. Beyond the hân is a great plain; do not linger there a moment." The sons, promising to remember their father's advice, mounted their steeds and rode away.

Smoking and talking, they wended their forward course, and as evening drew on they came to the spring.

"Now we take not a single step farther," observed the eldest. "We are fatigued and it is night. Besides, what have forty men to fear?"

So they alighted, ate their supper, and lay down to rest. The youngest, the fourteen-year-old brother, kept watch, however. Towards midnight he heard a rustling sound. Cautiously he drew his weapon, and as the sound came nearer he saw a seven-headed dragon. Both beast and youth rushed to attack one another. Three times the dragon wrestled with the youth, but could obtain no advantage over him.

"Now it is my turn," cried the Prince, and with these words he struck the dragon such a powerful blow that six heads fell from his body. More...