The Folktale Project

'The Moaning Sisters' warn those who live along the Potomac River of impending death.

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Jan 27

Jan 27 Ep. 657 - Lake of the Dismal Swamp - A North American Folktale

'Lake of the Dismal Swamp is a love story and a ghost story rolled into one tale from the Virginia swamps.

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Dec 23

Dec 23 Ep. 645 - A Visit from St. Nicholas - A Christmas Folktale

American Folktale, Christmas Folklore

As another year comes quickly to a close we have our traditional reading of Clement Clarke Moore's 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'.

Sep 27

Sep 27 Ep. 608 - How Rabbit Caught the Sun in a Trap - An Omaha Folktale

American Folktale, Native American Folktale

In 'How Rabbit Caught the Sun in a Trap' we hear the story of a sun catcher who hated not being first to the hunt (even though he was).

Sep 25

Sep 25 Ep. 607 - The Legend of The Peace Pipes - An Omaha Folktale

Native American Folktale, American Folktale

In 'The Legend of The Peace Pipe' we get a view of the origins of the peace pipe from the Omaha nation.

Sep 23

Sep 23 Ep. 606 - Father and Son - An American Folktale

We often romanticize it, but in the individual stories of soldiers we see the true brutality of war. The American folktale of 'Father and Son' tells such a tale and the impact that it can have on generations.

Jul 5

Jul 5 Ep. 573 - The Consecration of Washington - An American Folktale

Today we have our annual reading of Charles Skinner's 'Consecration of Washington'. Because nobody deifies their leaders quite like Americans.

Jul 3

Jul 3 Ep. 572 - The Phantom Dragoon - An American Folktale

'The Phantom Dragoon' is a rare tale from the Revolutionary United States that praises the ingenuity of a young English scout. A rare story indeed.

Jul 1

Jul 1 Ep. 571 - The Party from Gibbet Island - An American Folktale

This week, in honor of Independence Day here in the United States we're reading three tales from "Myths and Legends of Our Own Lands". 'The Party from Gibbet Island' is a tale about Ellis Island long before it was the hub of immigration in the US.

May 17

May 17 Ep. 552 - Legend of The Corn - An Arikara Folktale

American Folktale, Native American Folktale

If you've every wondered "who was the first person to try to eat corn" the Arikara tribe has the answer in 'The Legend of The Corn'.