Fairytales for the international “Friendship Day” (30.07)
An Irish proverb say: “A good friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find and lucky to have.”
Like Mother’s or Valentine’s Day we shouldn’t need a dedicated day to celebrate what is important in life. Yet, in our world we are prone to getting distracted and focus on things like job or chores. Therefore the 30th of July is international friendship day.
Friendship day was first introduced in 1919, but disappeared during the second world war. It was later revived in 1998 when Winnie the Pooh was named the world’s Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations. In April 2011, the United Nations officially recognized 30th July as International Friendship Day; although most countries celebrate on the first Sunday of August! [1]
Folk and fairytales have a lot to contribute to the topic of friendship. Therefore we present you the best folk and fairy tales for the international “Friendship Day”.
Let’s start with the positive stories about wonderful friendships.
Die Bürgschaft (The Hostage / The guarantee) by Friedrich Schiller
“The guarantee” (or “The hostage”) is strictly not a folk or fairy tale, but a ballad by Friedrich Schiller. It was written in the summer of 1798. After an unsuccessfull assasination attempt against a dictator, Damon is sentenced to death. He pleads to be set free on bail for three days to arrange the wedding of his sister. His friend Pythias takes his place as a hostage and never – not even in the face of execution – doubts that his friend will fulfill his promise to return.
You can read the original in German or the translation in English.
THE QUARREL OF THE MONKEY AND THE CRAB (Tales of Old Japan) by YEI THEODORA OZAKI
When the crab has trouble with the wicked monkey, it calls on its friends for help and take revenge. Read the whole tale here.
THE GOLDEN NUGGET (A CHINESE WONDER BOOK) BY NORMAN HINSDALE PITMAN
Once upon a time many, many years ago, there lived in China two friends named Ki-wu and Pao-shu. These two young men, like Damon and Pythias in “The hostage”, loved each other and were always together.
When they find a golden nugget, they are not overcome by greed. They value spending time together higher than any gold in the world and thus are rewarded with something more valuable.
Read The golden nugget.
Though friendship is a wonderful thing, many folk and fairy tales remind us that we shouldn’t be naive with fairweathered friends.
How a Hunter obtained Money from his Friends the Leopard, Goat, Bush Cat, and Cock, and how he got out of repaying them
The Germans have a proverb “good friends keep strict accounts”. In Nigeria the same notion is portrayed by the folk story “How a Hunter obtained Money from his Friends the Leopard, Goat, Bush Cat, and Cock, and how he got out of repaying them“. So don’t be naive when your friends ask you for favors.
The Bear and the Two Travelers (Aesop’s fables) by Aesop
TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. “He gave me this advice,” his companion replied. “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
CAT AND MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP by The Brothers Grimm
The cat and the mouse team up to prepare provisions for the winter. Yet, when it comes down to using them, their storage is empty, but that is not the biggest problem the mouse encouters this day. Read the whole story here.
