26.1.13

Pretty in Pink - Giveaway

Yipee! a giveaway - I love giving things away.


 I was tidying in the rather awesome storage boxes I have under the bed when I came across a pretty orange box, inside was a sweet little pink crystal necklace. I bought it long ago as a gift but never gave it to anyone so now I thought I give it to YOU*

Picture of a pink necklace and an orange jewellery box


So how to choose the lucky recipient?

I shall set a task (in the style of Kings looking for the right Prince for their daughters to marry). I'll use Rafflecopter though, don't think many Kings used that in the old tales.

My favourite fairy tale (and many are brilliant even though many are also sexist claptrap) is Rapunzel, stolen from her parents doomed to a solitary life in a tower, trapped but also redeemed by the most feminine of things, her long hair. And only when she cuts it off is she free to run off with the person she has fallen in love with. I do feel a little bit sorry for the witch, denied children of her own, stolen from and therefore taking her payment in the form of a baby (how very traditional- to ask for the firstborn as payment) and of course her sad parents who lose her never to see her again, but I admire her resolve to stay sane alone in her tower, and the handsome stranger that falls in love with her singing, the trauma of the blinding and thorns adds a little pace I feel that is missing in modern retelling. And finally, a reunion (and children - oh naughty prince! what were you up to in that tower!) magical healing and happily ever after.

What is your favourite fairy story and why? Or do you hate them all?

Use the Rafflecopter Thingy to enter to win this magical Pink Crystal necklace which has the power to make unexpected money to appear in the pockets of your jeans**


a Rafflecopter giveaway

*if you win (UK only)

** a blatant lie

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous26/1/13

    I have two favourites, Chicken Little and The Emperors New clothes. I used to read them over and over again to my kids when they were toddlers. I think they thought mom to be a bit odd.

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  2. I really love Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. It's the pumpkin and the ugly sisters, such great ideas.

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    1. Since watching In the Company of Wolves (Movie) I love Red Riding Hood even more. ... "some wolves are hairy on the inside"

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  3. I really love Cinderella. Everyone wants their prince charming, right? haha

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  4. I've been slightly obsessed with fairy/folk tails since I was a child and have - and still do - read REAMS of them, from all over the world - I have too many favourites to mention!

    Two that spring to mind right now as ones I particularly love, both have strong female protagonists - The Ballad of Tamlin (scottish), where a girl pays no heed to warnings, walks where she chooses (independent woman!), falls deeply in love with the handsome fairy cursed prince, Tamlin, and snatches him back from the fairy queen - holding on to him despite the queen turning him into fearsome things like a lion, a snake, and finally a red hot iron bar which permanently scars and blisters her hands - unblemished white hands were considered beautiful etc then. Tamlin of course is saved, marries her, and loves her passionately for evermore (despite, in fact because, of her ruined hands). In some versions, the maiden (often called Janet) is the daughter of a landowner, but in my favourite version she's no one important, and is considered, in fact, to be plain (and therefore originally unlikely to get a husband).

    The second is Rushen Coaty (or Coat of Rushes, or Donkey Skin), which is also about love but love between a daughter and her father. Similarly to the plot of King Lear, a (widowed) king asks his three daughters how much they love him - the eldest two smarm up to him suitably, but he's so displeased with the youngest's reply that she loves him as good meat loves salt that he turns her out and disinherits her. She disguises herself under a hooded cloak of rushes (an ass's skin in some versions) and ends up (sometimes after other adventures) as a kitchen maid in her father's kitchen.

    There are a series of feasts (sometimes to celebrate the older sisters' marriages, sometimes to celebrate the king's re-marriage, sometimes just because) and she (sometimes, not always, depends on the version) attends as a beautiful princess with the aid of three amazing dresses that she produces from under her cloak, or sometimes from cracking magical nuts given to her by a fairy/her fairy godmother.

    Ultimately, (in all versions) in her role as kitchen maid, she doesn't salt the meat which is then in-edible (remember in those days, no refrigeration. So salt persevered the meat, and/or covered up the bad taste if it was off!)

    The king then realises his mistake and repents, and she reveals herself, and she and her father are lovingly reconciled, and he's far more sensible for the remainder of his reign. I love this - strong independent woman, and really nice parable about what love truly is/should be, plus it's nice that it's about fraternal/paternal love rather than romantic for change!

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    1. oh you are as obsessed as me! but I love the gruesome stuff, dancing til your feet bleed, Bluebeards wives, eating your own children, :-) I love obscure folk tales too.

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  5. I love fairy tales. Not so much the ones we are used to though. I have a book of Armenian folktales full of wonderous tales. Then there is the Brothers Grimm and my most favourite is the book of Jim Hensons the Storyteller. Most of which are based on European folk tales. I do wish they'd re release that series it was rather magical.

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    1. I used to have a fabulous Russian Fairy Tales book when I was a child, always liked the gruesome ones best! Like Bluebeard! (oh wait....beards hmmmmm)

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  6. I love fairy tales. Not so much the ones we are used to though. I have a book of Armenian folktales full of wonderous tales. Then there is the Brothers Grimm and my most favourite is the book of Jim Hensons the Storyteller. Most of which are based on European folk tales. I do wish they'd re release that series it was rather magical.

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  7. Snow white or Cinderella, love both!
    jessicawedwards@gmail.com

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  8. It's years since I read any fairy stories but I do love marina Warner's From The Beast To The Blonde: On Fairy Tales and Their Tellers

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  9. cinderella. i've got a baby boy though so i don't think he'll be interested in it!

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