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"I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade. It's amazing how it cheers one up to shred oranges and scrub the floor."

DH Lawrence

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our folklore initiative

How did humanity learn to laugh?

Who hung the stars in the heavens?

How did people first stumble upon fire?

Throughout history, humans have answered such questions best through myths, folktales and stories. They are the touchstones of our tribal, cultural and individual journeys.

Curious to see how our cultural diversity and our common humanity might play across one particular genre of folklore, we culled through hundreds of mermaid tales. These ten intrigued us the most.

> MERMAIDS

We also offer four tales that represent the wide range of human folklore:

ASMAT

Indonesia

The Origin of Fire

There was no fire. Everyone had to eat raw food. Until, one day a man named Biriwir decided to search for fire. He cut down a certain tree, dug it out, and set it out in the sun to dry in order to make a canoe. Because there was no fire, it took a long time for the moist wood to dry. When the canoe was ready, Biriwir set off with his brothers and male relatives...

Read full story

INUIT

Alaska

The Magic Drum

There was once a young Inuit woman who refused to marry. No young man in her village, or suitors from afar were good enough. People complained that she was too different. She remained alone...

Read full story

HMONG

Indochina

Why Farmers Have to Carry Their Crops

Long, long ago, the plants and animals had language and could talk to one another. In those days, a Hmong farmer went out to clear land to make a field for planting rice and vegetables...

Read full story

T'BOLI

Philippines

The Orphan Boy and His Dog

There was an orphan boy who was unhappy. His only companion was a little dog. He lived with his aunt and uncle who mistreated him. They beat the child, gave him only leftovers to eat, and rags instead of clothes. The poor child worked all day and slept in the ashes by the fire at night....

Read full story

"Myth in its living, primitive form is not merely a story told but a reality lived."
-Bronislaw Malinowski, Polish anthropologist

more about our folklore initiative >

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Since 1987, we have worked to create a positive change in attitude and vision.