World Stories from Around the Globe
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by: chuckseltzer
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Word Count: 482
Throughout the world stories have been told and retold for millennia. They act as vital threads that weave through the fabric of a culture. In any society they define the roots and significance of the peoples. As a culture grows, so do its world stories.
I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. I have also had the opportunity to learn a bit about each country. Rituals and customs. Daily habits and geography. In turn, that lends substantial meaning to the world stories I hear. And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. My firsthand experience of a given culture heightens my appreciation of their stories. My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, around the United States, Canada, and Europe. I find myself amazed at both the differences and similarities of the various countries.
You can find in every culture notions which they hold as sacred. You can also find things demonic. These notions appear regularly in their stories. They make up the mythical soil out of which the stories grow. Many world stories derive from mythology. Creation stories form the majority of this category, along with other stories help explain the world.
Folktales, on the other hand, are generated from daily village life. Naturally, stories of the folk world are couched in rural settings. Fairy tales also live in the world of folktales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery. Many folktales were cautionary tales with lessons for avoiding catastrophe. Do not go into the deep, dark woods! Keep away from wild animals! Do not talk to strangers! On the other hand, reward and happy endings comprise many folktales. Good is eternally pitted against evil. One can discover the Golden Rule in most plots. No matter what the genre, a good world story brings meaning to the contemporary world as well. And that brings us to storytelling today. Modern society is a far cry from rural villages, yet the stories ring true regardless.
Some world stories are humorous. Other world stories are mysterious. Many world stories are full of insight. Often world stories are inscrutable. Generally world stories teach. All world stories keep us amused.
No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. The experiences of people are drawn in world stories. And they have merit in worlds far removed from their origin.
Listen to my CD entitled "World Full of Stories" to enjoy the variety found in world stories. It is an award winning recording that will take you on a delightful trip around the world!
About the Author
More information on storyteller, try www.JayStetzer.com.
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