WHAT IS WORLD STORYTELLING DAY?

On March 20th in 1991 and again in 1992, a network of storytellers in Sweden held a national story telling day. Little did these passionate tellers realize that their dream of a nation-wide event would morph over the subsequent years into a world-wide celebration.

In 1997, Australian storytellers in Perth organized a five week event that was called the 'Celebration of Story' during which they designated March 20th as the International Day of Oral Narrators. At the same time, other countries such as Mexico and some South American countries were organizing a National Day of Storytellers.

In 2002, again pushed by the Swedish storytelling network, Ratatosk, World Storytelling Day spread to other Scandanavian countries. A year later, Canadian tellers adopted the practice as did tellers in other countries around the world. The national celebration of storytelling was spreading rapidly globally.

In 2013, over 30 countries on 5 continents now hold national World Storytelling Day celebrations on or about March 20th each year.

World Storytelling Day has adopted a symbolic logo created by Mats Rehnman of Stockholm. You will see Mats' logo now proudly displayed by many of the storytelling groups in your community during their annual celebrations. Here is the logo:

PETERBOROUGH STORYTELLERS CELEBRATES 

WORLD STORYTELLING DAY 2013

 On March 20^th we will be co-hosting an evening of story sharing that will explore this year’s theme of Fortune and Fate: Inspiring Tales From Around The World. Our partner will be Speaker’s Bureau the New Canadians Centre here in Peterborough.

If you will be in the Peterborough area on the 20^th, we would love to see you at the Auditorium of the Public Library on Aylmer Street. The stories start being told shortly after 7pm and will continue until just after 9pm. Admission is free and there will be munchies and other refreshments served.

We are grateful to the Storytellers of Canada for a World Storytelling Day grant to help meet the costs of hosting this event.

Here is the scheduled program of stories you will hear at Fortune and Fate.

The legend of Rozafa Castle as told by Naser

This is an Albanian folk tale about three brothers who set about building the Rozafa castle. They work all day, but the walls fall down at night. They meet a clever old man who advises them to sacrifice someone so that the walls would stand.

BIG MAN DRUM as told by Diana

"Big Man Drum" is a variation on a Chinese folk tale. Its theme of mistaken identity is also found in tales from other countries. An African djembe will be used during the performance, making this an international story experience. 

A creation StorY as told by Sharon

A Maori creation story from Aotearoa, New Zealand that depicts an indigenous telling of how the world came into being through the separation of Sky Father and Earth Mother.  

 THE HEALER told by Don

Based on a true story told to Don by a British missionary surgeon. In remote north-central India during the mid-60’s, a mysterious man draws thousands to his meetings where he preaches and heals. A life-long sceptic of such healing, the doctor investigates and is dismayed at what he discovers.

THE CURIOUS GIRL as told by Rita

The curious girl goes to see a witch. The witch turns her into a red bird and tells her that to be free she must find a story to tell the witch that she has not heard before. The bird/girl searches the world for such a story. Masks will be used.

THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION AND LAND OF MAGIC as told by Adli

Review of a personal life journey in the land of one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, and how this ancient advanced civilization retreated leaving one of the richest countries by all means poor and very dangerous to be in.  

THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR as told by Betty

Among the oldest stories of fate and fortune in the Western literature are the Greek myths.  In the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, notice how character and the caprices of the gods, affect the fate of Theseus and Minos.

 A meeting of Chance as told by Kemi

She is from Sudan. He is from Edinborough. As fate would have it, they met at a restaurant and that meeting opened up a world of unexpected for them. 

THOMAS THE RHYMER as told by Angelica

‘Thomas the Rhymer’ chronicles the adventure of a Scottish bard, who went to fairyland and returned.  He was given a magic apple by the Fairies Queen, which gives him the gift of prophesy.  Some of his prophesies are still remembered.

If you would like to know more about any of the stories on our 2013 event program or more about our speakers, please email us at peterboroughstorytellers@cogeco.ca.