The theme of our first meeting in November was “On Fire!” as it was, of course, Bonfire Night.
Several of our tales this evening were about how the gift of fire was given to various peoples.
We began by hearing the Greek myth of Prometheus, who gave fire to the first men and how Zeus punished him for this act.
“Firetail” told how fire was brought to Scotland from Tir Na Nog in Ireland.
“The Gift of Fire” is a story from native Canadian folklore.
In “Grandmother Spider Brought Fire” from the Choctaw people of Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma, Grandmother Spider succeeds in bringing fire to the people.
“Rainbow Crow” is a tale reputedly from native American culture which tells how the crow got his black feathers and rasping call.
“Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fire Fairy” is an Irish legend in which Fionn outwits the fire fairy and saves mankind.
We also listened to Mary de Morgan’s story, “Through the Fire”, about Princess Pyra and Prince Fluvius’ impossible love.
And finally, in “Coyote and Silver Fox Dance the World into Creation” , the two animals dance around a fire.