Mythological sakme
The Wind and His Children
Four winds try to lift a stone from the sea. When three children are trapped beneath it, their father hides in a hollow tree and the world falls still.
Read →Mythological tales
Tales about birds
Why does a bird look, call or behave that way? Alongside origin stories are encounters in which birds help people. These are folklore narratives, not biological explanations.
Mythological sakme
The Magic Invisibility Stone
A sakme about a small stone that makes a person invisible, and the grim way to obtain it from the beak of a young raven.
Read →Etiological sakme
Why the Owl Has Night Eyes
A sakme about the time when birds and animals had no eyes, and the late-arriving owl received large eyes so it could see at night.
Read →Etiological legend
The Peacock’s Feathers
The devil decides to paint a peacock and a peahen. He finishes the male’s splendid plumage, but never gets to paint the female.
Read →Etiological legend
The Pigeon’s Nest
A pigeon asks a thrush to teach it nest-building, then boasts too soon that it knows how. An unfinished lesson leaves an unfinished-looking nest.
Read →Etiological legend
The Skylark, the Ploughman’s Friend
God makes a companion from earth for a man ploughing alone. The little grey bird rises into the sky in song.
Read →Etiological legend
The Stork, the Frogs and the Snakes
A stork must carry a closed sack to the sea. Curiosity releases every creature inside and leaves the bird with a lasting mark.
Read →Etiological legend
The Swallow
The birds find excuses not to catch troublesome insects. Only the swallow takes on the task, earning a special gift for its diligence.
Read →Etiological legend
Why Partridges Are Mottled
Partridges ask for feathers that shine like stars or glow-worms. Their new splendour makes it impossible to hide.
Read →Etiological legend
Why the Cuckoo Does Not Hatch Her Young
Birds hiding from the monstrous Skukas dare not leave their shelter. The cuckoo volunteers to scout, after securing a promise for her young.
Read →