Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales by Kate Forrester
In keeping with St. Patrick’s Day, Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales, is my book recommendation for the month.
Tricksters, The Sea, Quests, Romance
Divided into four categories: Tricksters, The Sea, Quests, Romance, this book includes sixteen tales altogether, all of which have been adapted from public domain sources published between 1888-1929. The result is an excellent sampling of folklore from four ancient Celtic cultures as well as a bonus: each tale opens with a full-page illustration–thematic imagery, with fish, gravestones, dragons and Celtic knots, framing the image.
Entertaining Tales from a Bygone Era
Many people are interested in mythology, yet often they consider the stories as nothing more than entertaining tales from a bygone era. But if one really wants to understand the importance of myth, in a modern context, just watch a movie, look at your calendar, fall in love, or ponder the mysteries of life and death.
Myths Permeate Everyday Life
Myths permeate our language, our ethics, and our ideas about human connections; they are constantly recycled in the books we read, and the films we watch. For instance, a Scottish tale found within the book “The Black Bull of Norroway” echoes “Beauty and the Beast.” And this is only one example.
J.F. Bierlein, author of Parallel Myths, writes “Our lives today are saturated with myth, its symbols, language, and content, all of which are part of our common heritage as human beings.”
A Constant in Human Existence
Myth has been a constant in human existence. From the earliest recorded myths, it is evident that certain characters and themes are repeated, termed archetypes (definition: parallel symbols and myths found in diverse cultures and locations) all arising from centuries of repeated experiences, and now residing in human consciousness.
In other words, humans have experienced the same situations so many times that these situations are now embedded in our collective psyche.
The Fantastical World of Celtic Folklore
The stories in this volume introduce you to the fantastical world of Celtic folklore, full of selkies, wyverns, witches, fairies, giants, and quests.
I’ve studied a considerable amount of mythology, both in college and in my own reading, but was pleasantly surprised I had never heard or read most of the stories presented here.
Bedtime Reading
Furthermore, they’re not of the heavy and dark variety (I’m looking at you Grimms) but rather lighthearted, with happy resolutions, making this a fantastic resource for bedtime reading for children, in particular if you’re of Celtic ancestry and would like to connect your children with their heritage (but still, I’d recommend at least middle grade). For more about my heritage click here.
Keep in mind, however, that this does not mean the tales are predictable or boring: most are full of surprising twists.
