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| Undine in the Wind by Arthur Rackham, 1909 |
The birthday of Harry Houdini, the famous magician, is March 24 and so of course that led me to think about the magic in fairy tales. Before jumping into the land of “Happily ever after…” I did a bit of research on this famous man.
Did you know that for many years he was the highest paid entertainer in American Vaudeville? It is also said that he was one of the first to use mass tie-in marketing by prearranging his stunts with local merchants. A man ahead of his time!
Magic has always been part of fairy tales and the name "fairy tale" was first ascribed to them by Madame d'Aulnoy in the late 17th century. Did you know that for many years he was the highest paid entertainer in American Vaudeville? It is also said that he was one of the first to use mass tie-in marketing by prearranging his stunts with local merchants. A man ahead of his time!
- In French the phrase is conte de fée
- In Spanish cuento de hadas
- In Portuguese conto de fadas
- In German Märchen
- In Greek παραμύθι (paramithi)
- In Italian fiaba
- In Polish baśń
- In Swedish saga http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_tale
It is said that the oldest known written fairy tales stem from ancient Egypt, c. 1300 BC; The Two Brothers. You can read the the Brothers Grimm version of this tale at http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/grimm-brothers/558/
To celebrate the birthday of Houdini I offer you these magical tales.
The Gifts of the Magician – Finnish
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/246.htmThe Magician’s Horse – Culture Unknown
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/211.htm
The Magic Bear – Native American/Inuit
http://learningtogive.org/resources/folktales/MagicBear.asp
The Magic Book - Danish
The Magic Brocade - China
http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/056.html
The Magic Kettle – Japan
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/222.htm The Magic Mirror - Spain
http://www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/magic_mirror_frame.html
The Magic Mirror - Africa
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/152.htmThe Magic Moneybag - Korea
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/china.html#moneybag
The Magic Orange Tree - Haiti
http://www.spiritoftrees.org/folktales/wolkstein/magic_orange_tree.html
The Magic Rocks and the Beggar – Brittany/France
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ftb/ftb14.htm
Magic Ring – Russia
http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/magic-ring-rusian-tale.html The Magic Swan - European
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/370.htm
The Magic White Swan - Laos
http://hubpages.com/hub/Lao-Folktales--The-Magic-White-Swan
The Magic Wild Geese – Russian
http://russian-crafts.com/tales/geese.html
Mohamed and the Magic Finger - Africa
http://mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/205.htm
Brothers Grimm - Magic figures predominately in their fairy tales. Here is a lesson plan to complement a story from their work. http://tinyurl.com/64a6wqw
Reading Rainbow – Classroom extensions for Liang and the Magic Paintbrush http://www.shopgpn.com/guides/rr/7.pdf
A Magic Seed - English Language Arts Grade 2.
http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/act/grade2/act2.asp?ID=554
Teacher Resource for The Magic Paintbrush – From Australia, a very useful resource with classroom extension to complement the tale. http://www.cambridge.edu.au/education/resource/sample_2_728317.pdf
Multicultural Fairy Tales –The Stuff of Magic – Curriculum Unit http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2004/2/04.02.01.x.html
Fairy Tale Printables - http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/literature/fairy_tales/ Sorcerers Glitter Globe
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/sorcerers-glitter-globe-665514/
Wizard Toilet Paper Roll Craft
http://www.dltk-kids.com/fantasy/mwizard.htm
Wizard Hat Craft
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/costumeacces/a/wizardhat.htm
Paper Bag Princess
http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/princessandfrog/mprincessbag.htm
Strega Nona by Tommie De Paola (A version of the The Magic Pot)
http://tinyurl.com/4h2o64r
Anno’s Magic Seeds by M. Anno
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/unified.cfm?bookid=1580
Anno’s Magic Seeds by M. Anno
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/unified.cfm?bookid=1580
The Magic Hat by Mem Fox
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/unified.cfm?bookid=1539
http://www.thebestkidsbooksite.com/unified.cfm?bookid=1539
FINGERPLAYS/STORY STRETCH
© Karen Chace 2011
(I based this on the song Witches Brew by Hap Palmer)
Dragons, giant, billy goats, too. (clap hands)
Stir them in my magic fairytale stew. (stirring motion)
I’ve got magic (point to self)
Alakazoo! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)
Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)
Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)
Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty too. (clap hands)
Stir them in my magic fairytale stew. (stirring motion)
I've got magic (point to self)
Alakazoo! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)
Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)
Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, too. (clap hands)
Stir them in my fairytale brew. (stirring motion)
I’ve got magic (point to self)
Alakazoo! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)
Mmmm mmm my fairytale stew. (rub stomach)
Charming Princes, Three Bears, Goldilocks too! (clap hands)
Stir them in my fairytale stew.
I’ve got magic (point to self)
Alakazoo!!!!! (arms up, wave hands in the air, fingers spread)
Here Is The Prince
(take off hat, bow)
Here are his boots which go tap, tap, tap.
(tap toes)
Here is the princess with her golden crown,
(put four fingers up over head)
Here is her lovely beaded gown.(curtsy)
Here is their castle tall and wide,
(stretch arms up to the sky)
Where the prince and princess play safely inside.
(jump up and down)
