folktales from around the world

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Could your dog find its way home if it got lost? What if home was 745 miles (1,200 km) away across a war-torn continent?

Did you know that Kaiser Wilhelm II’s pet Dachshunds, Wadl and Hexl, once caused a literal international incident by sneaking off and eating a priceless golden pheasant belonging to Archduke Franz Ferdinand? Talk about a dog with an appetite for drama!

In this video you will watch interesting stories of affluent dogs in German history!

What is the farthest or most surprising place your dog has ever managed to escape to or find their way back from?

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History of many not-so-famous cities in Germany is fascinating as they are also associated with folklore, legends, and myths - sometimes ancient folktales have an influence on its history and sometimes the opposite.

Whenever we come across the word Folktale from a particular region, we assume that the tale is all about children's fantasy developed in an unknown era. But if we delve deeper and cross check the regional history, we find fascinating facts -and realize how facts and folklore intertwine together to create complete history of a region.

This week. I feature the red canal near Egeln. How did the 30 years' war (An intra-religious fight 1618-1648) shape its famous giant tales?

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The story of this weekend is a remarkable blend of myth and history, where a medieval tower becomes the body of a punished giant and centuries of legends continue to shape the landscape. We also uncover the documented history behind the site—from a knightly family whose coat of arms featured a fox with grapes, to the destruction of their castle in 1304, and the hill’s strategic role during Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Jena in 1806.

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The ruins of Montsalvens castle in Switzerland is remarkable for many reasons. It is a wonderful yet free hiking trail, it was once associated with the Holy Grail which emphasizes on the castle's spiritual connection, and at the same time it is associated with some supernatural stories, probably starting from Pagan era. Discover the stories here!

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Saint Margaret and the Dragon - the story tells us how faith helps a person to overcome troubles in life.

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Would You Recognize God in Disguise?

folklore, Romania, Transylvania, God, Divine, justice

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SWALLOWED ALIVE: THE STORY OF BURGDORF!

If you visit Burgdorf Castle in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, remember that the foundation of the castle is on a Dragon's lair.

Well, to build for centuries, one must first slay the dragon. And Syntram did it!

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The legend of the "Drachenloch" (Dragon-Cave) isn't just a story—you can actually visit the site in the canton of Bern today!

What’s fascinating is that while the Swiss call the brothers Syntram and Beltram, a nearly identical version of this story exists in Austria. It’s a perfect example of how folklore travels across the Alps! 🏔️✨ Check out the full story of the battle that founded a castle in our latest video!

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“Mr. Rabbit’s Symphony of Nature” by Charles van Sandwyk

Happy Easter 🌿🐣

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In the World of Christian faith, Easter is the day of resurrection, but before Christianity arrived Europe, there was a spring festival that had painted eggs as integral part of celebration. And the egg was brought by some or other fertile animal symbolizing the renewal of the earth’s fertility as the end of the freezing winter.

Well, starting from 19th century, our favorite Easter Bunny replaced all other animals :)

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Where Earth’s balance meets divine renewal — the Equinox and Easter entwined.

As the Earth tilts toward balance at the Spring Equinox, the ancient and the sacred comes to explain the phenomenon. This video explores how Easter’s date and its symbols of rebirth echo older traditions-from Jacob Grimm’s reflections on Ostara, the Germanic goddess of dawn, to the Christian celebration of resurrection. Through story, imagery, and myth, we trace how nature’s renewal and spiritual awakening intertwine. The sun returns; the tomb opens — light reborn in every heart.

And then we draw a parallel with an Indian spring festival called Holi, in the center of which sits an Indian God, interestingly named Krishna, who fought for the poor and downtrodden.

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The Largest Brick Castle of the World

Tourism websites help us to find travel-worthy locations, tourist guides explain us the history of the location, but how many of us know almost every historical place have several folktales associated? Here is a blog that takes you to a 13th century castle, once part of Prussia, now Poland, telling a forgotten tale.

The Red Giant of the Nogat: Malbork Castle and the Buttermilk Tower

Malbork castle, Poland, Teutonic order, buttermilk tower

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The Buttermilk Tower (Polish: Baszta Maślankowa, German: Buttermilchturm) is located in the Lower Castle section of the Malbork Castle complex in northern Poland. It is part of the extensive medieval fortress built by the Teutonic Knights in Malbork. And there too evolved couple of interesting folktales.

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Do you have something to share? Or do you want to know more such stories? Comment!

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We all know about St. Valentine and his blessings to lovebirds, right? Do you know Saints in some European folktales were invoked to attract the man of choice. Well, this was a risky path (and probably a continuation of ancient Pagan culture :) ) - check the Youtubeshort to find a related story!

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The Devil’s Mistake: The Legend of the Lügenstein

But what is the history behind the famous devil story of Halberstadt Devil's stone? Let's try to decipher:

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When we talk about Devils, we have to remember that they are not completely useless. Same as Goblins of fairytales, Devils in folktales are sometimes useful partners in gigantic construction projects led by humans. In the story of Teufelstein of Halberstadt, he helps to complete the project an awe-inspiring church, the abode of his rival! Humans had to make a deal with him to pacify him…

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Castulus - Google Arts & Culture

Saint Castulus is venerated as a martyr.