Legends from our Lands Selected stories retold by students
In this book we would like to present you one story from each school participating in an Erasmus+ project, called „United through cultural and natural diversity – learning through research” 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Osnovna Škola Odra – Zagreb, Croatia Masarykova základní škola Návsí – Návsí, Czech Republic Gymnázium, základní škola a mateřská škola Hello s.r.o. – Ostrava, Czech Republic Miejski Zespół Szkół nr 2 – Bolesławiec, Poland Şcoala Gimnaziala "Ion Pop Reteganul" – Sîncel, Romania Základná škola, Pugačevova 1381/7 - Humenné, Slovakia
The storytelling is an improvisational activity of telling stories. It is also an ancient form of literature, the oral tradition which people at all times all over the world have created. The storyteller creates a new tale himself, or repeats the stories he heard from someone else. There are different kinds of stories, such as: fables, myths, legends. They are widely used as a means of education, culture preservation, or explanation for things difficult to understand, like the laws governing natural phenomena, the origin of man and animals, differences between people, or existence of good and evil in the world.
Osnovna Škola Odra – Zagreb, Croatia
St George St George is patron of land and crops, green acres and cattle. He is also a patron saint of Turopolje, our region. St Georges feast is held on 23 April, this is also when our school celebrates her day. He is also a part of a schools Coat of arms, where he is depicted while killing a dragon. This illustration was one of the reasons why we chose a little dragon as our mascot.
The legend goes somewhat like this: once there lived a dragon in a lake near town Silene. Every day people brought him food, mostly sheep and lamb, calf or some other animal. With time dragon started to want more and demanded a sacrifice of young girls and boys. Those chosen by the dice were thrown to the dragon. One time the dice fell on the king’s daughter. But while she was going to meet her destiny she met St George who promised her that he will help her if the king agrees to be baptized together with all of his subordinates.
The king, hesitating nay, promises to leave his pagan gods. Now Saint George was off to kill the dragon. He waited for him to get out from the lake and then he charged him on his horse and speared him in his neck. He roped the wounded dragon with a silk scarf and took him to the kings’ castle. When the king acknowledged once again that he will be baptized, St George slays the dragon.
There are numerous legends, or better said myths about St George, and this was just one of them. In February we will talk more about him for then we will do the legends.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Estatua_de_San_Jorge_mat%C3%B3_al_Drag%C3%B3n,_Zagreb,_Croacia,_2014-04-20,_DD_01.JPG
Masarykova základní škola Návsí – Návsí, Czech Republic
The legend about the Lord of the Karkonosze Mountains: „How Trautenberk wanted Rübezahl´s spices”, dramatized by students of Navsi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9frm7G0OcU
How Trautenberk wanted Rűbezahl’s spices The legend tells the story of Rűbezahl, a folklore mountain
spirit, Trautenberk, a greedy master, and Annie, Jakub and Hajný, all of them Trautenberk´s servants. This short part is called „How Trautenberk wanted Rűbezahl´s spices“.
When Trautenberk has a toothache, Annie offers her
grandma´s magic spices to him. Suddenly, it relieves his pain and he orders his servants, Jakub and Hajný, to pretend that
they are ill. When Annie sees it, she must go and find Rűbezahl and ask him for magic spices. However, Rűbezahl knows that Trautenberk wants the magic spices to make
money out of its sale and keep it for himself. So he gives Annie what she wants and sends her home.
At the end, Trautenberk has a toothache again and
RĹąbezahl comes to his house to give him a warning not to
thrive on people´s misery. When Trautenberk stops his bad
behaviour towards people, RĹąbezahl will finally relieve his pain.
Gymnázium, základní škola a mateřská škola Hello s.r.o. – Ostrava, Czech Republic
Štramberk´s ears legend
In the east of Nový Jičín, there is a hill Kotouč with a ruined castle. Most preserved part of the ruined castle is a tower called Štramerská trúba.
Under this tower, there is a village Ĺ tramberk
In 13th century, Tatars invaded to central Europe. They were known for beeing really cruel to losers.
It was said, that they were cutting ears to Christians. And after Tatar´s victory in Poland they sent nine bags of salted ears as a proof of their victory.
When the first news about Tatars invasion to Ĺ tramberk region appeared, people run to the KotouÄ? hill to hide.
Tatars settled under the KotouÄ? hill.
Frightened Christians started praying to the God for saving them.
Suddenly, the big black cloud appeared and heavy rain started just above the Tatars settlement.
Štramberk people got an idea – to dig a hole into the dam and completely flood the Tatars camp. Strong waterflow washed away tents, horses and Tatars.
People were celebrating and thanking to God Tatars´ camp was destroyed.
King Vaclav I ejected the rest of Tatars from Moravia territory.
Every year in August, there is a pilgrimage in Ĺ tramberk and they bake and sell Ĺ tramberk ears to remind and celebrate the victory.
Miejski Zespół Szkół nr 2 – Bolesławiec, Poland
Cieplice Zdrój – the oldest health resort in Poland founded in 1281. The name of the town means „hot springs”, because the temperature of mineral water reaches 90° C, which makes them the hottest sprins in Poland. Since 1976 Cieplice has been a part of Jelenia Góra. Earlier, it used to be a separate town. Here you can watch a short films about Cieplice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWZqy3R1Yuc#t=170 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VracUdZfhc
Little ill girl in Cieplice Zdrój
Once upon a time there was a little girl called Martynka in a health resort in Cieplice Zdrój. Martynka was very ill. She could’t respire and was very weak.
Her parents and doctors thought that the mineral water, as well as nice area, will return to health Martynka, but the girl instead of being stronger was weaker with every day. So even though she was doing everything that the doctors ordered her.
And the world around her was so beautiful. The sun was shining, the water in streams was rippling and splashing. In the nearest park there were lots of birds singing merrily. Martynka wanted to live, laugh, run, and play with other children, but she couldn’t.
One day, the crystal cup flew from her hand out and shattered into million pieces. The girl started to cry.
Suddenly she noticed that somebody had touched her arm. ‘Why are you crying?’ – asked a man.
He looked as a doctor, but Martynka didn’t know him. She even didn’t see him before.
‘Why are you crying?’ – he repeated. ‘I have shattered my cup’ - the girl answered. ‘So, this is a reason of your tears?’, the man smiled.
‘I’m so weak that I even can’t hold a cup’, said Martynka. ‘Come with me, said a man, I want to buy you a new cup. It will be a special one. If you will drink water from this cup, you will be better.’ Martynka smiled at the man, but she didn’t believe him. Even so, she followed him.
At the other site of the park there was a small kiosk. ‘Here I’m going to buy a new cup for you.’
The man went to the kiosk and in few minutes returned with a beautiful cup. Before he had given Martynka it, he put the cup up to the sun and he said: ‘Little cup, little cup, restore health to your owner in three days.’ Martynka thanked and said goodbye to the kind man.
The same evening she drank water from her new cup.
In the morning she woke up very energized and merry. She ran immediately to the spring and drank water.
After three days she didn’t have any breast ache. She was well.
Martynka wanted to thank the kind doctor for his help, so she had run to part of a park when the kiosk were, but she couldn’t find it. She asked other doctors about that man but nobody knew him.
Then, she thought that he was the Lord of the Mountains, a good spirit of the Karkonosze Mountains, who helps people, especially the poor and good ones. People in Lower Silesia know him very well. * Other names of the Lord of the Mountains are:
Liczyrzepa, Duch Gór, Rzepiór, Karkonosz (Polish), Krkonoš or Krakonoš (Czech), Rübezahl (German)
Şcoala Gimnaziala "Ion Pop Reteganul" – Sîncel, Romania
The story of St Nicholas dramatized by students from Sincel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UpPKm4k60c
The Legend of Saint Nicholas Nicholas came from a very rich family and when his parents died, he inherited all their fortune, which he later used to help the needy. On the 5th to 6th of December, at night, it is said that St. Nicholas comes and leaves the good children sweets and other presents in their boots, which were polished the night before. However, if the children are naughty, he leaves a rod into their boots. Unlike Santa Claus, St. Nicholas is never seen.
This custom springs from the legend of St. Nicholas; according to this legend, St. Nicholas helped three poor girls, bringing them the dowry, at night. The house where these girls lived witrh their father was very poor. Their father was planning to sell his girls in order to become rich. When Saint Nicholas found out about the girls’ sorrow, he came at night and left the girls golden coins to help them get married. Since then, the legend says that St. Nicholas never shows himself, the way Santa Claus does, but he never forgets to reward the good children and reprehend the naughty ones.
Základná škola, Pugačevova 1381/7 - Humenné, Slovakia
Jánošík Among the most numerous Slovak legends undoubtedly belong the legends about Jánošík, who robbed nobles and gave the loot to the poor, and his heroic company. Coming from Ružomberok, near Liskovska cave, you will see a huge chalky rock in the shape of a clenched fist- Rocky fist. There are different legends about this rock. One of them comes from the periods when Jánošík together with his company used to walk around Slovak region.
It was a long time ago when one sunny morning at the beginning of autumn Juraj Jánošík and his companion were getting ready to start a journey from Orava castle to Kráľova hoľa.
Early in the morning they were walking behind the Likava castle when they got to the top of the peak Mních. Suddenly there was a sharp sound. All men realized that it was a signal of something suspicious. Jánošík and his company moved to the slope from where they saw a carriage with two lords coming.
When they came closer, men were surprised when they recognized a baron Révay with his adjutant. They were accompanied by fifteen armed riders who were familiar to them as they often had to deal with them before. Baron was known as a ruthless tormentor of poor people and he was their main enemy. Jánošík immediately ordered: "Hrajnoha, Uhorčík, stop the coach, the rest- disarm riders and bound all of them." „I don't want anybody to be killed." So the boys ran from their shelter shouting.
When Réway and his adjutant realized what was going on, they were already bound. Jánošík threw himself among fighting men and his strong fists caused that many riders were left lying down on the road. Jánošík was happy that he avoided bloodshed.
He asked the lords: "Do you recognize me?" Réway replied: "Yes, we do, you peasant." "You will be punished for that." "It is your fault that I am a peasant but I am proud for that," told Jánošík. If there hadn't been peasants who work for you, you would have died of starvation. You will remember this day forever!"
Jánošík's men grabbed the baron and took him to the mountain over the road. They lifted him by his arms and legs and Hrajnoha hit him twenty-five times with a branch. Then they took him to the carriage and poured cold water on him. Jánošík finally said: " And now you will all go where you came from."
Then Hrajnoha addressed Jánošík: " Our captain, you made this day memorable for all of us. By your smart decision you avoided bloodshed, saved our lives and punished Revay. This is an act which we will never forget. To remeber it, we will carve a clenched fist to the rock where it all happened and we will use swords of our enemies. It will be standing here forever as a symbol of your strength and courage.
The legend says that the rock under Mních was made into a huge fist and all lords were afraid of it. The fist as a memory of a hero Juraj Jánošík has been there until today.
Jánošík was captured in spring of 1713 in Klenovec and he was sentenced to death.