Europe
Explore European fairy tales and folk narratives, from household tales and fairy realms to enchanted castles and difficult quests. The collection filters help distinguish Grimm, Celtic, Norse and other sources; their individual tellings can have very different audiences and endings.
150 stories are in this region right now.
See also: Turkey, Russia, Ancient Greece.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Death of Baldur
When everything in the world swears never to harm Baldur, jealous Loki goes hunting for the one small plant that was never asked to make that promise.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Freya’s Necklace: The Brisingamen
Freyja longs for a jewel to wear to the great feast, but the shining necklace she wins from four laughing dwarfs costs her far more than she expects.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Thor and the Giant’s Kettle
Thor and Tyr travel to the giant Hymir’s hall to bring back a kettle a mile deep, and on the way Thor goes fishing for the Midgard serpent.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Three Princesses of Whiteland
A fisherman unknowingly promises his unborn son to a head that rises from the sea, and years later a runaway boat carries the boy off to Whiteland.
Norse Folk Tales
The Widow’s Son
A poor widow’s son goes to work for a stranger who forbids him four rooms, and behind the last door he finds a black horse fed on burning coals.
Norse Folk Tales
The Three Princesses in the Blue Mountain
Three princesses who must never step outside before they turn fifteen slip into the garden on a sunny day, and a sudden snowdrift sweeps them off.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Three billy goats, all named Gruff, want to reach the sweet grass up the hill, but first they have to cross a bridge with a hungry troll living under it.
Norse Folk Tales
The Lassie and Her Godmother
A kind and beautiful lady raises a poor couple’s daughter but forbids her to open three rooms in her house, and one by one the girl cannot resist.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Princess on the Glass Hill
Every Midsummer Night something eats a farmer’s meadow bare, and only Boots, the youngest son, is brave enough to stay in the shaking barn and find out what.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Lad Who Went to the North Wind
When the North Wind blows away his poor mother’s flour three times running, a stubborn boy sets off on a long walk to the North Wind’s house to get it back.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Husband Who Was to Mind the House
A grumpy husband who thinks his wife never does anything right agrees to swap jobs for a day, but the housework soon turns into one disaster after another.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Cat on the Dovrefell
A traveler leading a great white bear to the King of Denmark asks for shelter on Christmas Eve, the one night a whole pack of trolls always comes to feast.