There are many folklores in Ireland and Russia. The tales of Far Darrig and Lianhan Shee are told throughout Ireland. In Russia stories about Baba Yaga and the Fire Bird are popular. All of the folklores help educate while entertaining those who hear them. They also blend history, myths and epics together to explain the past and present. The Far Darrig is a solitary fairy “said to wear a red coat and cap”. (Wiki: Far Darrig, par # 1, 2010) He spends his time playing gruesome practical jokes. He is “near relation to the leprechaun, with similar features and a short stocky body”. (Anna, par # 1, 2010) He can manipulate his voice when he plays his jokes. He is also said to give bad dreams to those who fall for his tricks. Despite his tricks he supposed to bring good luck to those who pass his test.
The Lianhan Shee is a fairy mistress that seeks the love of mortal man so she dominants him. In stories about her a mortal man falls in love with her, she agrees to marry him if certain conditions are meet which usually the man breaks and loses her. Some try to persuade her to change her mind but with difficulty. She is believed to be “the spirit of life, and inspirer of the singer and poet”. (James, par # 2, 2010) Lianhan Shee by Will Carleton is a prevalent story about her. In this story the fairy tortures a woman with hunger and pain and the woman is treated as an outcast until she finally dies.
Baba Yaga is a witch that “flies around on a giant mortar”. (Wiki: Baba Yaga, par # 1, 2010) She is assumed to have kidnapped children to eat them. In Baba Yaga, a wicked stepmother who is the sister of Baba Yaga sends her stepdaughter to her. The stepmother and Baba Yaga both wish for Baba Yaga to eat the girl. Because she is kind and helps out others who are servants to the old witch she is able to escape and find her way home where she tells her father about what happened. At the end of the story it says, “he took good care of his daughter himself and never again let a stranger come between them”. (Hazel, par # 84, 2010)
Another story titled, Baba Yaga, is similar but it involves the stepmother sending twin brother and sister to her grandmother who is Baba Yaga. They go to their other grandmother first and she gives them what they need to escape from Baba Yaga. “The good old grandmother gave the children some delicious fresh milk to drink and to each a big slice of ham. She also gave them some cookies”. (Scared Texts, par # 8, 2010) They tell their father what happened and the stepmother if forced to leave. In both stories the house stands on tiny chicken legs. Baba Yaga is also known to “she sweeps away all traces of herself with a broom made of silver birch”. (Old Russia, par # 7, 2010)
The firebird is a magical animal with “majestic plumage that glows brightly emitting red, orange, and yellow light, like a bonfire that is just past the turbulent flame”. (Wiki: Fire Bird, par # 2, 2010) It brings both a blessing and catastrophe to those who capture it. It’s feathers continue to glow even after being removed from the bird. Fire birds “eats golden apples which give any who eat them youth, beauty and immortality”. (Pantheon, par # 1, 2010) It drops pearls from it’s beak as well as heals those who are sick and bring sight to the blind.
The lesson in stories with the Far Darrig is to pay attention to what you are doing. In the stories about the Lianhan Shee it is love can overcome all objects between two people. With Baba Yaga, it is the importance to help others. The lesson of the fire bird is respect of wild life. These stories help children and even adults appreciate the values they represent.
Folklore and Myths are synonyms. They are used by people throughout the world to explain mythological, epic and historic events. They are told in story form so people will enjoy listening while learning what the story tellers explains answers questions that people worry about. In Ireland people explained practical jokes with the explanation of the Far Darrig. They also used the Lianhan Shee to justify why artists died sooner than most other people. In Russia they used the stories of Baba Yaga to validate reasons for missing children. They also used the tales of the firebird to describe how some people healed, sight restored and how others acquire their riches. Today folklores are more of a way to entertain children at bedtime.
Reference List:
1. Wiki: Far Darrig – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_darrig
2. Anna – http://pg4anna.tripod.com/red.htm
3. James – http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-fairylover.html
4. Wiki: Baba Yaga – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baba_Yaga
5. Old Russia – http://www.oldrussia.net/baba.html
6. Hazel – http://hazel.forest.net/whootie/stories/baba_yaga_russia.htm
7. Sacred Texts – http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ftr/chap06.htm
8. Wiki: Fire Bird – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firebird_(Slavic_folklore )
9. Pantheon – http://www.pantheon.org/articles/f/firebird.html