“Hey there folks! Welcome to World Folklore, which features folktales from around the globe. From Aesop’s fables to fairy tales, from Thor’s Wedding to the Screaming Tunnel, we’ve got funny short stories, scary ghost stories and popular folktales for everyone to enjoy. So, pull up a comfy chair, and stay awhile.” –S.E. Schlosser, author of The Spooky Series.
Folktales
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Once there lived a family in ancient China that had two sons. The elder son, who was to i…
Jack and the Beanstalk
There was once upon a time a poor widow who had an only son named Jack, and a cow named Milky. And a…
The Golden Arm
There was once a man who traveled the land all over in search of a wife. He saw young and old, rich …
The Devil and the Werewolves
Now there once was a man named Jean Dubroise who never did a lick of work, but his house and his bar…
The Fox and the Stork
The Fox, though in general more inclined to roguery than wit, had once a strong inclination to play …
The Sun and the Wind
The Sun and the Wind once had an argument about which of them could persuade a certain traveler to p…
Canadian Folklore
The Trapper’s Ghost
There once was a trapper who roamed the wilds of Labrador on a sleigh pulled by eight pure white Hus…
The Spectre Bride
The night Ralph Hagadorn started out for Echo Bay he felt as if he were the only man in the world, s…
The Maid of the Mist
She lost her husband and her hope at a young age, and the beautiful girl could not find her way thro…
The Flying Canoe
Long ago, there were a number of lonely lumberjacks working in the center of a very large forest. Th…
The First Tears
Once long ago, Man went hunting along the water’s edge for seals. To Man’s delight, many…
The Devil’s Hole
When the new priest came to the poor parish, there was no house or church for him. A farmer took him…
Ghost Stories
Ghost stories are tales of spirits who return from the dead to haunt the places they left behind. They range from heartbreaking to humorous; sweet to terrifying and every shade in between. Read stories about ghosts, vampires, wendigos, and more.
Myths & Legends
A myth is a traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people. The purpose of myths is to account for the origins of something, explain aspects of the natural world, or delineate the psychology, customs, or ideals of society. A legend is a traditional tale handed down from earlier times and believed to have an historical basis.
Fairy Tales
A fairy tale is a story set in a place where human characters interact with supernatural beings, like witches, vampires, and wizards. The protagonist in these stories often face impossible challenges and frightening scenarios against evil villains.
Popular Folktales
Androclus and the Lion
In Rome there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus. His master was a cruel man, and so unk…
Bloody Mary, Quite Contrary
“Mary, Mary…” the half-heard whisper woke her in the darkness before dawn. Darkness. How appropria…
Hansel and Gretel
Once upon a time there dwelt near a large wood a poor woodcutter, with his wife and two children by …
How Odin Lost His Eye
Father Odin longed to become the wisest being in the world, so he resolved to win a draught from Mim…
Robin Hood Meets Allan-A-Dale
When Robin Hood learns that Allan-A-Dale's bride has been promised to an old man, he steps in to sto…
Rumpelstiltskin
There was once a poor Miller who had a beautiful daughter, and one day, having to go to speak with t…