A Treasury of Fairy Tales and Myths A Treasury of Fairy Tales and Myths

What is a fairy tale? One thing we know for certain— there doesn’t have to be a fairy in it. Of course, there often is a fairy— like the godmother in “Cinderella,” and the wicked and good fairies who come to Sleeping Beauty’s christening. But it is not compulsory.

What makes a story a fairy tale is a little bit of magic that stirs the imagination, and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. It can be a pumpkin that is turned into a beautiful coach, a talking animal that can make a wish come true, or a spell that turns a handsome prince into a beast. Anything can happen in the world of fairy tales. But a fairy tale is more than just a fantasy. There is often a strong moral lesson—kindness is rewarded, and greed and selfishness are punished. A long time ago, long before people could read or write, storytelling already played an important part in their lives. Along with music-making and dancing, stories were the main form of entertainment. And, although fairy tales are now treated as stories for children, originally they were listened to and known by everyone in the community.