Today is World Folktale Day. Every country has their own specific tales relayed from generation to generation. No matter which continent you are from, you can find multiple folk stories. The genre includes myths, legends, epics, fables, ballads and folktales. Some places have more than others arising from the longer histories of their inhabitants and ancient peoples passing down verbal stories.

As many of you know, I love folklore, the magical realm includes fairies, elves, trolls, and sprites. It has to do with my English upbringing, where these tales are part of the fabric of our childhood (and adulthood too). I have magical sprites in my children’s chapter book, Ockleberries to the Rescue, which is an homage to my English heritage and the magical folk.

Many of these stories have become well known due to Disney making them into movies, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid and Cinderella, and even cartoons have folklore characters, or themes, such as The Ugly Ducking. These epic tales are timeless and have moral, or life lessons hidden within. All you have to do is look.

So which fairy tale is your favourite?