Fairy Tale Flip is a monthly podcast where we do a deep dive into history and hidden meanings behind one fairy tale. But we give you, the audience, three options from which to choose every month. This month of MAY, we are offering up three really awesome choices: Baba Yaga from the Slavic tradition, Enchanted Moura from Portuguese and Galician folklore and Finn MacCool from Ireland. Below are three summaries of each summary including videos of a story from each tale. Something unique about each of these, is that they have multiple stories attached to these characters.
To vote for your favorite or at least the one you want to know more about, go to the Fabric of Folklore Facebook Group and cast your vote on the poll!
Baba Yaga
Baba Yaga is a prominent figure in Slavic folklore, often depicted as an ambiguous or enigmatic character who can be both terrifying and helpful. Here is a summary of the key aspects of Baba Yaga based on the provided search results:Baba Yaga is typically portrayed as an ugly, fearsome old woman with supernatural abilities. She is known for:
- Living in a hut deep in the forest that stands on chicken legs and can move around24
- Flying in a mortar using a pestle to propel herself24
- Kidnapping, imprisoning, or eating children and humans34
- Having an elongated nose that touches the ceiling and iron teeth2
- Being associated with the forest and wildlife2
While often the villain who poses a threat, Baba Yaga can also act as a trickster figure and agent of transformation who helps heroes on their quests3. In some tales, she unwillingly provides aid that allows the protagonist to complete their journey or be liberated3.Some key stories featuring Baba Yaga include:
- “Vasilisa the Beautiful” – She inadvertently frees the heroine from her evil stepmother3
- “The Frog Princess” and “Maria Morevna” – She helps princes reunite with lost princesses3
- “Baba Yaga and the Kind-Hearted Girl” – She tries to eat a young girl but is outwitted3
Baba Yaga is an ambiguous, complex character who embodies both darkness/evil and the potential for positive transformation3. Her rejection of societal norms has led to her being viewed as a symbol of feminine power and independence in modern interpretations3.So in summary, the fearsome yet paradoxical Baba Yaga is one of the most famous and distinctive figures in Slavic mythology, representing both danger and the catalyst for profound change
Image Credit: Creator: Ivan Bilibin | Credit: Ivan Bilibin / Wikipedia
Enchanted Moura
The Moura Encantada is a supernatural being from Portuguese and Galician folklore. She often appears as a beautiful young maiden singing and combing her long golden or black hair with a golden comb. According to legend, she promises to give treasures to anyone who can break the spell she is under1.The mouras encantadas are described as shapeshifters who guard castles, caves, bridges, wells, rivers, and treasures. They are considered magical maidens or feminine water genies1. The tales of the mouras are part of a wider folklore about the “mouros encantados” (enchanted Moors), who sometimes appear as giants or warriors1.Some key aspects of the moura encantada legends include:
- She is a young woman of great beauty, often a princess under a curse or enchantment2.
- She appears on certain nights like St. John’s Eve, combing her hair with a golden comb2.
- If someone sees her and looks into her eyes, they may take her place and become enchanted2.
- The legends are reminiscent of nymph figures from classical mythology2.
- Encountering a moura is generally not positive for the viewer, though some versions offer a chance at salvation by choosing the right object2.
So in summary, the moura encantada is a bewitched, shapeshifting maiden from Iberian folklore who guards treasures and locations, appearing beautiful but potentially dangerous to those who encounter her.
Finn MacCool
Finn McCool (also known as Fionn mac Cumhaill) is a legendary hero from Irish mythology, celebrated for his wisdom, bravery, and connection to nature. Here is a summary of the key aspects of Finn McCool based on the provided search results:
Birth and Early Life
- Finn was born to Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna warriors, and Muirne, daughter of the druid Tadg1.
- After his father’s death, Finn was raised in the wilderness, which forged his skills as a hunter, warrior, and poet1.
- He gained wisdom by accidentally tasting the Salmon of Knowledge while training under the poet Finnegas1.
Leader of the Fianna
- Finn avenged his father’s death and became leader of the Fianna, a band of warriors known for chivalry and bravery13.
- The tales of Finn and the Fianna are filled with heroic adventures, battles against supernatural beings, and themes of friendship, love, and betrayal13.
The Giant’s Causeway Legend
- In one famous legend, Finn is portrayed as an actual giant who builds the Giant’s Causeway as a path to confront the Scottish giant Benandonner45.
- To avoid fighting Benandonner, Finn tricks him into thinking Finn is even larger by disguising himself as a baby5.
- Benandonner flees back to Scotland, tearing up the Causeway behind him
Image credit: Mural in Bushmills, Northern Ireland