Vegetable Sheep/Lamb

Vegetable Sheep

Plant-animal hybrids, vegetable sheep and vegetable lambs, were believed to produce cotton as sheep produce wool and are depicted in the bestiaries, the medieval collections of fact and folklore about real and imaginary animals.

Also known as the lambs of Tartary, these creatures were believed to live in the Asian land of Tartary, which is part of present-day Eastern Europe and Russia.

The origins of this odd belief are almost certainly connected to the arrival of cotton bolls from the East into Western Europe. Since no one in Western Europe had ever seen cotton in its unspun, natural form, they assumed that the bolls were a form of wool.

Vietnamese Storytelling

Vietnamese Storytelling

Vietnam is made up of more than fifty ethnic groups, each one with its own oral traditions.

Folktales and storytelling are both still popular throughout Vietnam. But storytelling generally takes place on a smaller scale in the cities than it does in the more isolated mountain areas because large gatherings are still discouraged by the government.

However, the Vietnamese government has worked with the Association of Vietnamese Folklorists to conserve as much as possible of the country’s oral tradition. Many stories have been collected and are compiled in massive volumes of Vietnamese tales and legends.

Vodianoi

Vodianoi

In Slavic myth and folklore, the vodianoi is the unpredictable, dangerous king or spirit of water, particularly of freshwater.

As a water spirit, the vodianoi needed no clothes. He generally was seen by humans as a being that was half fish and half human, or as an old man covered in scales and mud. His hair and beard were green, and his hands were webbed.

When he chose to have a tail, he looked something like a heavyset merman. When he decided to take a two-legged shape, his long toes helped him to propel himself underwater.

Vol’ka

Prince Vol’ka

Prince Vol’ka is portrayed in Slavic epic folk poems, called bylini, as a heroic warrior. He protects the residents of his isolated, forest-bound principality by performing such traditional deeds of heroism as defeating an enemy in single combat. He is also the only hero of a bylina who is a magician and shape-shifter.

Vol’ka’s fictional world is based on regions of Russia and Ukraine in the twelfth century. These regions were divided into principalities, the most important of which was ruled by Prince Vladimir of Kiev.

Much of the land was heavily forested, and traveling between the principalities, or even between villages, was difficult. A local prince in the twelfth century could technically be a vassal of Vladimir yet, because of the forests and lack of decent roads, might never see him.

Völva

Völva

In Norse and Teutonic mythology a völva was a female prophet, a type of priest or shaman. Generally, this figure was an older woman who was not bound to a single family or clan and could wander freely.

The völva might travel alone or have a retinue of apprentices. She performed a craft called seidr, which was either shamanistic ritual or true sorcery. Völvas were held in high regard. Men could be völvas as well but were not revered as the women were. True seidr was considered a woman’s craft.

A völva is described in the Saga of Erik, dressed in a blue-black gem-studded cloak, a necklace of glass beads, and a hat trimmed with white catskin. A pouch containing her magical tools hung from a belt around her waist.

Wayang

Wayang

Wayang is an ancient Javanese word meaning “shadow” or “ghost.” It is also the name for the traditional sacred dramas of Java and Bali. There are seven main forms of wayang, but wayang kulit, or shadow-puppet theater, is the most common.

In Java, shadow plays are performed to celebrate public holidays, religious festivals, weddings, birth celebrations, and circumcisions. In Bali, they are staged at all these events, as well as at cremations.

Wayang Kulit

The wayang kulit may have originated in Java thousands of years ago. Wayang kulit stories are told with flat puppets made of leather and cut out in profile. These shadow puppets are beautifully painted and intricately pierced so that their shadows are amazingly detailed. The puppets’ arms are moved by manipulating small sticks.

Report of Wenamun

Report of Wenamun

The Report of Wenamun literary text recounts events that took place during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses XI, who ruled from about 1104 until 1075 B.C.E. It is not known if this work was derived from a genuine report or is entirely a work of fiction.

Written during the twenty-first dynasty (c. 1081–931 B.C.E.), the tale reflects the political reality of this period, during which Egypt was divided. The northern region was ruled by a king who resided in the city of Tanis.

A high priest of Amun ruled the southern region from Thebes. As a result, the government was largely ineffective. This impotence is presented frankly in Wenamun’s story.

Werewolves

Werewolves

Werewolves are the unfortunate beings that are believed to have the ability to transform into wolves and then back into human beings. The English word werewolf is a descendant of the Old English wer (man) and wulf (wolf).

Indo-European Origins

The concept of the werewolf is common to many Indo-European cultures that can be traced back to Russia and the Ukraine in the fifth to the third millennium B.C.E.

The Indo-European word for wolf has been reconstructed by scholars as wlkwos. Many modern words for werewolf can be traced to this Indo-European word for wolf: vulcolaca (Old Slavic), vukodlak (Slovenian), wilkolak (Polish), vrykolokas (Greek), vurvolak (Albanian), and varcolac (Romanian).

West African Mythology

West African Mythology

The region of West Africa includes many nations, some peaceful and some troubled by civil war or corrupt politics. The list of nations includes Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Each of these countries is home to several ethnic groups, and each group has its own mythology.

The myths of these people are a part of a living religion and should be treated with respect by storytellers.

Benin

The supreme god of the Fon people of Benin is Nana Buluku. He is the father of the twins Lisa and Mawu, deities of the Sun and Moon. The creator god is Mawu. An aid to Mawu was Aido-Hwedo, the great serpent power, a primal force who assisted in the ordering of the cosmos.

White Horses of England

white horses of England

The white horses of England are among a number of figures, usually of animals, that are cut into hillsides. The turf has been cut away, revealing the figures in the chalk underneath.

Several white horses appear in Wiltshire, where there are nine large equine images. It is impossible to accurately date these figures, but they are estimated to have been carved anywhere from 4,000 to 2,000 years ago. The reason for the carvings is unknown.

The white horse with the greatest number of folk beliefs attached to it is the Uffington horse, the most stylized, least naturalistic, of the horses. The Uffington horse is said to be able to grant the wish of anyone who stands on its eye and turns around three times clockwise.

White Magic

White Magic

White magic is used solely for beneficial purposes. It can be used toward the personal well-being of the magician or with the intention of helping or healing another.

White magic traditionally is said to draw its power from heavenly forces. White magic spells are the essence of good, the very opposite of those used in black magic.

White magic spells are never used for personal gain or to harm others. They are used to protect, bless, and heal those in need. White magic also can hold off black magic and break ill wishes and curses.

Wicked Stepmothers

Wicked Stepmothers

The character of the wicked or evil stepmother is common in the world’s folklore. Scholars and storytellers have long debated the reason for the existence of this character type.

Stepmothers were common in societies where women were likely to die in childbirth or shortly afterward. A man often would take a second wife to replace his children’s deceased biological mother. The motif continues today as a result of modern-day patterns of divorce and remarriage.

Stepmothers in folklore are almost always wicked. This is probably due to two issues: the psychology of the child, who sees the stepmother as an intruder who has done away with the birth mother, and inheritance laws.

William Tell

William Tell

Few medieval heroes are as widely known as William Tell. His exploits have been celebrated by poets, playwrights, and composers.

The Story of William Tell

The Story of William Tell A cruel Austrian official called Gessler was assigned to Switzerland. Gessler arranged to have a pole planted in the square of Altdorf with a hat at the top in Austrian colors. All those who passed had to bow to the hat in order to show their respect. William Tell and his son passed through the square and did not salute the hat.

Tell was arrested and brought before Gessler. His punishment for this disrespect was to shoot an apple off his son’s head. Tell, a famous marksman, accomplished this, but he had hidden a second arrow under his quiver. He told Gessler, “It was to pierce your heart if my first arrow killed my son.”

Wise Man or Woman

Wise Woman

They stand in the shadows of kings, point the way to questing heroes, and shelter the dispossessed and help them regain their birthright. They teach valuable lessons to those willing to learn, and inflict punishment upon the stubborn and steadfastly ignorant. Sometimes, they are gods or fairies in disguise. They are the wise man and wise woman, and the importance of their role in story cannot be overlooked.

Every hero or heroine setting forth on a quest needs guidance. Most traditional heroes step out into the world with only a vague idea of their goals and an even less distinct notion of how to attain them.

A prince seeks the water of life for his dying father or a young wife must travel to the ends of the earth to find her vanished husband. Sometimes, they are thrust out into the world with no goal other than survival.

Wise Men of Chelm

Wise Men of Chelm

The townspeople of Chelm, Poland, have been made famous for their bizarre wisdom through Jewish folktales.

As the saying goes, “It’s not that the people of Chelm are fools; it’s just that foolish things keep happening to them.” Of course, another saying announces that when two angels were delivering souls, the bag ripped open, and all the foolish souls landed in Chelm.

Tracing the age of the tales about the wise men of Chelm is difficult. A comprehensive collection has never been compiled, and there is no solid proof of their origin.

Wise (or Foolish, or Mad) Men of Gotham

Wise (or Foolish, or Mad) Men of Gotham

Gotham is a real city in Nottinghamshire, England, but it has become known as the site of the folktales about the wise men of Gotham. Also known as the foolish men of Gotham or even the madmen of Gotham, they sometimes seem more wise than foolish.

According to a story from the late twelfth century, the people of Gotham heard that King John was going to visit them. They did not want him there, as he and his retinue and retainers would be far too expensive a group of visitors for their town.

So they deliberately started acting in foolish or even wildly insane ways. They did stunts, such as trying to drown a fish or cage a bird (fittingly enough, a cuckoo) by joining hands.

Wizards

Wizards

In world folklore, a wizard is a usually male, often aged figure of immense magical power. In Western folk tradition, wizards are usually portrayed with flowing robes, a pointed hat, and a long white beard. A wizard can be on the side of either good or evil.

Wizards are found in many fantasy tales as well, sometimes as heroic figures and sometimes as frauds.

Merlin

Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend, appears in numerous and varied forms. Authors have portrayed him as a magician, a conjurer, a student of alchemy, and a prophet.

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman was the first strong, female, comic-book character. William Moulton Marston created the Wonder Woman character in 1941, under the pen name of Charles Moulton.

Wonder Woman provides storytellers with an opportunity to tell about a powerful female protagonist and to make a connection to strong female characters of folklore and history.

Examples of other such characters are the Irish mythic figure Scathach, the woman warrior who trained the Irish heroes; the Irish-woman Grace O’Malley of the sixteenth century, the warrior pirate who battled and won against the English forces of Queen Elizabeth I; and the Amazons, the mythic warrior women of ancient Greece.

World Tree

World Tree

The World Tree is an unimaginably mighty tree with branches and roots that connect the many realms of existence. Its roots spread into the underworld, its trunk is in the mortal world, and its branches reach up into the heavens.

The World Tree, also known as the Tree of Knowledge or the Tree of Life, is a common theme in the world’s mythology.

A sampling of the many examples of the World Tree from around the world follow:

Wurusemu

Wurusemu

Wurusemu was a Hittite goddess, later known as the goddess Hebat.

Wurusemu was the primary goddess in the region of Arrina, where she bore the titles of sun goddess of Arrina, mistress of the Hatti lands, the queen of heaven and Earth, and mistress of the kings and queens of Hatti. It was believed that she directed the government of Hatti.

One of Wurusemu’s aspects was as a creator who had made the cedars and the land on which they grew. In another aspect, she was a goddess of battle and was associated with Hittite military victories.

Yeti

Yeti

Yeti is the name for a large, apelike creature said to live in the Himalayan mountain range of Nepal and Tibet. While similar to the Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, of North America, the yeti is a hardier creature. It is able to live at high altitudes and in cold, inhospitable conditions in which most humans could not survive.

The creature allegedly walks upright, like a hunched-over person. It is roughly the size of a man, but much broader and with oversized feet. Pale brown or snow-white hair covers most of its body.

The first legends of the yeti appeared in Tibetan mythology long before Western explorers arrived in that country. The word yeti may derive from the words yah and teh, which mean “rock-animal,” or from similar-sounding words that mean “magical creature.” Another name given to the creature was metch-kangmi, or “repugnant snowman.” It is from this moniker that the term Abominable Snowman was derived.

Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil is the Norse name of the World Tree, the cosmic tree that links three realms in Norse mythology. Said to be a gigantic ash tree, its name literally means “Ygg’s horse.”

Ygg, which means “terrible” or “dreadful,” is one of the names of the chief Norse god, Odin, who hung from the tree for nine days as a willing self-sacrifice to gain the wisdom of the runes.

Three roots support Yggdrasil’s mighty trunk. Each root passes through a different world so that Yggdrasil’s branches spread out over all worlds.

Ymir

Artist image of Ymir

In Norse mythology, Ymir is the primordial giant and the progenitor of the race of frost giants.

Ymir was created when there was littleelse in the world. He was brought forth when
ice from Niflheim, realm of eternal cold, was touched by hot air from Muspellheim, realm of eternal fire.

The ice began to melt, releasing drops of eitr (ether, a substance once believed to be the essence of life). The drops slowly congealed and became the giant’s body. The fires of Muspellheim sparked him to life.

Yoruban Storytelling

Yoruban Storytelling

The Yoruba people of Nigeria and neighboring Benin in West Africa are primarily farmers who also have a fine tradition of woodcraft and metalworking.

Yoruban stories and histories are primarily passed down orally from generation to generation. Storytelling is still a favorite activity among the Yoruba people, but in the twenty-first century it competes with television and written works, including works by Yoruban authors.

Storytelling in the Yoruban style is a very active art. It involves taking on the voices and personas of the various characters, as well as performing music and dancing. The audience also takes an active role in the story. Listeners are expected to get involved by beating drums or singing along.

Yoshitsune

Yoshitsune

The historical samurai Yoshitsune (1159–1189 C.E.) was a son of Minamoto Yoshitomo (1123–1160).

When Minamoto was assassinated by a rival samurai, Taira Kiyomori, Minamoto’s wife and their children were found and brought to Kiyomori, who spared them. Yoritomo, the second eldest, was sent off to Izu, while Yoshitsune was sent to a temple on Kuramayama, north of Kyoto.

Little is know about Yoshitsune’s boyhood, but Japanese storytellers have assigned a series of fantastic adventures to him.

Zeus

Zeus

In Greek mythology, Zeus was the supreme ruler of Mount Olympus and of the pantheon of gods who resided there. He upheld law, justice, and morals.

The Titans, an ancient race of giants, were ruled by Cronos. It was foretold that one of Cronos’s sons would dethrone him. In an attempt to prevent this, Cronos swallowed his children at birth.

Before Cronos could swallow his last child, his wife, Rhea, fled to a cave on the Isle of Crete. She secretly gave birth to Zeus and left him to be raised by nymphs. When Rhea returned to Cronos, she gave him a disguised stone to swallow in place of the last child.

Ziusudra

Ziusudra, whose name means "life of distant days", is the epic hero in the Sumerian version of the flood myth.

In a later Akkadian poem about the creation of humankind, he is called Atra-hasis (exceedingly wise). In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ziusudra is known as Uta-napishti, which means "I found life". The story of Noah in the biblical version of the flood myth contains many similarities to stories about Ziusudra.

In a Sumerian composition called The Instructions of Shuruppak, a wise mythological father named Shuruppak, son of Ubar-Tutu, described a Sumerian view of proper conduct to his son, Ziusudra. According to another composition, known as the Sumerian king list, Ubar-Tutu was ruler of the city of Shuruppak, which was the scene of the great flood.

Zmeys and Zmeyitsas

Zmeys

The Bulgarian zmey, or dragon, is part snake, part bird, and part human. Usually portrayed as a benign creature, it guarded the fertility of the land and had the ability to change into human form.

As a human the zmey could walk among people unrecognized, except by the pure in heart. With serpentine body, legs, wings, a tail, and a human face, the zmey lived in caves, lakes, or mountain palaces and glowed as it flew.

Each village had its own guardian zmey, which fought against the evil forces that caused drought and hail. The ferocity of these battles gave rise to thunderstorms and lightning, a belief that was linked with the mythology of the Slavic thunder god, Perun, and his Christian successor, Saint Ilya.

Zulu Mythology

Zulu Mythology

In the Zulu religion, the world of the gods can be contacted only by first invoking the ancestors through a diviner, an important person in daily affairs. All bad things are believed to be the result of offended spirit beings or sorcery.

Cleanliness is paramount in Zulu belief. All people are expected to bathe at least once a day and sometimes two or three times. The rules about cleanliness apply to meals as well, as separate dishes are used for separate foods.

Ukqili, "the wise one", is the chief god of the Zulu pantheon. He controls the lightning. When lightning strikes a cow, it is assumed that Ukqili is hungry, and the dead animal becomes a sacrifice.

Zwarte Madam

Zwarte Madam

The Zwarte Madam is a supernatural and presumably immortal witch being from Flemish folktales.

The Zwarte Madam is a supernatural and presumably immortal witch being from Flemish folktales. The word zwarte means "black", and madam is a courtesy title, so in strict English translation, the Zwarte Madam is the Black Lady.

Black refers to her deeds and allegiance, not her appearance. No matter how she is described in the various Flemish folktales, she is always an evil being who works in the service of the devil to help collect mortal souls.