.jpg)
Fabric of Folklore
Folktales can be strange, mystical, macabre and intriguing. Join us as we explore the stories, culture and people behind the folklore. We go beyond retelling the legends, myths and fairy tales of old. We look at the story behind the lore, behind the songs and traditions to understand more about what they mean, and their importance. These stories, many originating as oral histories, inform us of what it means to be human; what it means to be an integral part of this Earth. Stories of magic and wonder bind us. They connect us through invisible strands, like the gossamer fibers of a spiders web. Folktales have the power to demonstrate how, although we live in drastically different locals, our hearts and minds beat as one human race. We are weaving the fabrics of our past and present stories, to help us better understand ourselves and to awaken us to a more compassionate and caring world community. As we explore the meaning of existence through folklore we hope to inspire future generations to lead with love and understanding.
Fabric of Folklore
Frau (Mother) Holle: A German Fairy Tale
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Frau Holle (Mother Holle)
What if the portal to your transformation wasn't a doorway or a wardrobe — but a well? In this Brothers Grimm classic collected in 1812, a hardworking stepdaughter drops her spindle into a well and jumps in after it, landing in a magical underworld ruled by Frau Holle — a mysterious, ancient figure who makes snow fall on earth every time she shakes out her featherbed. The girl serves with genuine care rather than obligation. When homesickness calls her back, Frau Holle rewards her with a shower of gold. Her lazy stepsister, chasing the same reward without the same heart, returns home drenched in pitch instead.
It's the same ancient question The Talking Eggs asks in the Louisiana bayou — and Diamonds and Toads asks in France, and Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters asks in Zimbabwe: does your character hold up when no one from home is watching? This story belongs to the same tale-type family, and in the Fairy Tale Flip episode on The Talking Eggs, we explore exactly why this pattern keeps showing up across centuries and continents. Head there to see how all these threads connect.
Follow us:
Fabric of Folklore website
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
