G is for Golden Goose, Gizzard, & Godmother–A to Z Blog Challenge

We are pleased to participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/).  The Story Crossroads theme for this year is Golden…And All Things That Glimmer.  Each post highlights golden items from a folktale from around the world. Each time you have to wonder, is something that is golden a blessing, a curse, or both?

What has inspired all this gold?–The Golden Spike with the 150th Transcontinental Railroad and the Spike 150 Grant for this year’s Story Crossroads Festival.

Golden Goose-

Sometimes it is clear that the goose is golden and other times it is more about golden eggs. Though, I decided to group those kinds together. There is also a Buddhist tale that is similar to the Golden Elephant Tusks story (see that blog post here).

Aesop’s Fable – http://www.storyit.com/Classics/Stories/goldengooseegg.htm

50-word-or-less summary:

Man and wife has goose that laid golden eggs. Each day, more golden eggs were laid. Man and wife become impatient. Suspect more gold inside the goose.  Kill the goose. Just like any other goose. No more gold.

Brothers Grimm – http://www.topics-mag.com/folk-tales/folk-tale-greed-china.htm

50-word-or-less summary:

Three brothers approached by dwarf, only youngest (Simpleton) shares lunch. Dwarf rewards Simpleton. Cut tree, find golden goose. Simpleton pays inn’s stay with feather. Attracts attention…and hand…of innkeeper’s daughter. Stuck! Another sister. Stuck! Another sister. Stuck! More people. Stuck! Simpleton carries goose with people stuck. Princess laughs. Marriage.

Buddhist (Jataka Tales) – http://whisperingbooks.com/Show_Page/?book=Jataka_Tales&story=Golden_Goose

50-word-or-less summary:

Goose with golden feathers learns of poor family. Goose explains that he will give a golden feather. Hurrah! Money. Goose gives another feather. Hurrah! Money spent. Repeats. Greed. Woman takes all feathers. These feathers turn white/normal when forcefully taken. New feathers grow back. Normal. Goose never returns.

Golden Gizzard-

So a muscled-wall of a bird’s stomach can be golden…and find out how.

Czechoslavak – http://oaks.nvg.org/czech10.html#bigogi

50-word-or-less summary:

Poor family kind to golden bird. Lays golden eggs. Sold to goldsmith. Goldsmith’s son sees bird. Secret inscription. Marries daughter of this family (bird as dowry). Will eat gizzard (each morning golden ducats) and heart (become king). Two poor boys eat instead. Gambling. Throw-up gizzard. Girl eats. Goats. Reunion. Marriage.

Golden Godmother-

Cinderella is not the only one with a godmother. You may be jealous.

Czechoslavak – http://oaks.nvg.org/czech13.html#gogod

50-word-or-less summary:

Lukas handled money poorly. Meanwhile, he and wife wished for child. No child when rich, only when poor. Worried over christening. No one to be godmother. Lukas chose first person on way to christening. Poor woman at crossroads. Grants golden ducat. Gold multiplies.  Girl named Marishka. Prince sees her. Marriage.

Please share in the comments…or anything on your mind.

While you enjoy this blog, Story Crossroads has year-round offerings including the culminating Festival on May 15, 2019 with free performances May 13-16, 2019 (see schedule here: https://storycrossroads.com/2019-schedule/.  

We thank our funders such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, the Western States Arts Federation, Utah Humanities, the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts (Spike 150), the City of Murray, the South Jordan Arts Council, Utah Valley University and many other businesses and individuals. Join us in the support by attending or donating or both! (Click here to donate or get tickets.)