World Stories from Around the Globe
12/27/08
For as long as humans could talk throughout the world stories have been told and retold. In the fabric of a culture, they act as vital threads in the weave. In any society they define the roots and significance of the peoples. As a culture grows, so do its world stories.
I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. And each time I visit another country I have the opportunity to learn a bit about it. Rituals and customs. Daily habits and geography. In turn, that lends substantial meaning to the world stories I hear. In the process, I have discovered how world stories arise out of the cultures from which they are born. The more I experience a particular culture, the more I appreciate the value of their stories. My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, around the United States, Canada, and Europe. The differences as well as the similarities of the various countries impress me deeply.
You can find in every culture notions which they hold as sacred. You can also find things demonic. Their stories regularly exhibit these notions. Their stories grow out of this mythical soil. Many world stories derive from mythology. Creation stories form the majority of this category, along with other stories help explain the world.
Folktales, on the other hand, are generated from daily village life. These stories rise out of a rural setting for obvious reasons. The world of folktales is also inhabited by fairy tales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery. Many folktales were cautionary tales with lessons for avoiding catastrophe. Do not go into the deep, dark woods! Steer clear of wild beasts! Avoid strangers! On the other hand, reward and happy endings comprise many folktales. Good and evil are eternal foes. One can discover the Golden Rule in most plots. No matter what the genre, a good world story brings meaning to the contemporary world as well. And that brings us to storytelling today. Modern society is a far cry from rural villages, yet the stories ring true regardless.
Some world stories are downright funny. Other world stories are filled with mystery. Many world stories are full of insight. Often world stories are inscrutable. Generally world stories teach. All world stories keep us amused.
No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. People tell of their experiences through world stories. And in distant worlds they still have meaning.
Listen to my CD entitled "World Full of Stories" to enjoy the variety found in world stories. It is an award winning journey that will take you around the globe!
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