What important life lessons can Hungarian folk stories teach us? – VIDEOS

When we were young, we would listen in awe to the incredible adventures the protagonist had to go through to gain the hand of the youngest but most beautiful daughter of the country lord. In one minute we would roll in laughter while in the next we would be crippled with fear for what would happen next in the story. Nearly every nation, including Hungarian, carries a treasure bag of folk stories. Unfortunately, in recent times we seem to let these valuable pieces fade into oblivion. However, traditional fables should not be taken only as remaining fragments of a distant withered era, but instead valuables pieces of wisdom we inherited from our ancestors. Let’s look at some important lessons we can learn from Hungarian folk stories.

Be helpful and considerate to others, kindness pays off at the end

In the story of The little swineherd, the protagonist sets on a mission to marry the youngest daughter of the old king. He keeps walking for several long days on the dry lawlands to reach the castle until he runs out of all his food and water. He is desperate to quench his thirst and luckily finds a well with two doves resting on it. He turns to the birds with the determination to eat them, however, the doves beg him to spare their lives. They promise to help him in return for his good deed. He continues his journey until he encounters a limping fox that cannot run away. The fox begs him to spare his life and, in return, he will owe the little swineherd a big favour. The little swineherd has a soft heart so he lets the fox go. At this point, he is starving so much that he nearly faints from hunger. At the next stop, he spots a small fish in the lake that convinces the young man that he will be forever grateful for his decision if he has mercy on the fish and will not eat it. The little swineherde finally makes it to the castle where the king challenges him that the only way to win his daughter’s hand is by finding the ultimate hideaway where she cannot spot him. The animals, as promised, all volunteer to help the young man. The fox takes him beneath the deepest layers of the Earth, the little fish tucks him at the deepest corner of the lake but all efforts are in vain, the princess can still find him. Finally, the doves turn the young man into a rosebud, and thus he succeeds in passing the test and marries the gorgeous princess.

Listening and retelling folk stories are not just entertaining but can be also beneficial in other surprising ways, even if we have long passed the years of believing in fairy tales. Hungarian folk stories often teach us valuable lessons on how to treat people we encounter in, perhaps, challenging stages of our lives. Many of these traditional fables convey the common message that on the journey to reach our ultimate goal we should remember to be helpful and considerate towards other living beings as well, no matter in what form or shape they appear.

Being compassionate or giving a helping hand to someone in need can be very powerful, and it is also backed by science. Kindness is a key to how the human species evolved and survived over 300,000 years. Studies demonstrate that even a small act of kindness can improve our health. Neuroscientists found that in people doing more acts of kindness, the genes that trigger inflammation were turned down more than in people who do not. Participants also reported feeling emotionally better and happier, in general. Many of us spend hours worrying about our jobs, family, or physical appearance but when we direct our attention to someone else’s problems we forget our own for a while. Our act of kindness will always pay off at the end, although perhaps in unusual ways we did not anticipate.

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Give everyone at least a chance, you may be in for a positive surprise

In the tale of Pussycat (Macskacicó), the old king throws three wands in the air and the places each falls point to the directions the three princes have to take to find a bride. The two older princes confidently head to the nearby castles of two famously beautiful baronesses, however, luck does not seem to favour the youngest son. He ends up in a deep dark forest where he even gets lost in the dense vegetation. To his surprise, suddenly a pussycat crawls out under the bushes and quizzes the prince why he looks so gloomy. He explains to her what weights on his heart for which the pussycat proposes to become his bride. First, the prince has a good laugh but in the end he gives in. The pussycat passes all the tests of the old king, such as sewing an embroidered handkerchief or presenting a flower bouquet, with flying colours. Finally, the day comes when the sons have to present their brides in front of the king. The young prince is terrified for embarrassment and ridicule what he would face, but the pussycat reassures him not to worry a bit and instead take a short nap. By the time he wakes up, the feline has magically transformed into the most gorgeous princess the young man has ever laid an eye on. It turns out that all this time she was living under the spell of a curse which rendered her to remain a pussycat until a prince comes along and agrees to marry her.

This tale contain another important piece of advice which is giving at least a chance for everyone until they prove themselves unworthy. At times, we should remind ourself that most likely we would not be where we are now if someone did not give us a chance. Whether we accept the fact or not, someone we know, although perhaps not directly, allowed us to reach this current stage we are at. They saw the potential in us, and believed we could do it even though we may not have had enough experience or competence at that time. We should be grateful for the precious chances that have been granted to us and try to be generous when it is our turn to say yes to someone. Maybe it is a chance at a career that person always wanted, or a chance at falling in love, or the opportunity to pitch their business to investors, or the chance to perform their art in front of hundreds of people.

We are living in a culture where we often instantly judge others instead of trying to first imagine ourselves in their shoes. Naturally, it is easier to judge than to understand another person as understanding requires compassion, patience, and willingness to believe in their good intention or skills. Reading these fascinating fictitious tales may get us thinking about the chances we can give to other people. Remember, the world works in mysterious ways and the chance you gave today to someone may come back to you the next day in some weird and wonderful ways.

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Explore new ways of dealing with an issue by using your creativity

The tale of The stone soup (A kőleves) tells the story of a soldier who has just returned from the war exhausted and hungry and now roams around the villages in the search for a few bites. Sadly, no one invites him in for a warm bowl of soup or a piece of bread, seeing his shaggy clothes and weather-beaten face. Some people pretend to be poor while others even hound their dogs to chase him away. The poor soldier is at his wit’s end when he spots the last house at the end of the village. Led by a sudden idea, he grabs a piece of rock and knocks at the door with newly found determination. An old woman steps outside who, for the soldier’s query, replies that she has nothing in the kitchen to offer him as she is as poor as a church mouse. To make a final attempt, the soldier asks the old woman if she could lend him a pot at least to make a stone soup on the stove. She agrees, and the soldier starts boiling the pot of water along with the piece of stone. Upon tasting it, he says that it is still missing a pinch of salt. The old woman volunteers to help him out which spurs the crafty soldier on. He decides to make another bold move and asks for a spoon of pig fat followed by a potato, some rice, and then finally two fat pieces of sausage. The soup turns out marvelously at the end, and the old woman insists on buying the piece of stone since it gave such a good flavour to the meal. The soldier leaves the house with a full stomach and some money in his pocket.

This fable perfectly demonstrates how a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking can go a long way. The way we deal with our problems has to do largely with our personality type. However, there are certain life situations when our inherent dealing strategy does not prove to be fruitful or effective, and such cases call for a change! The symbolic and archetypal patterns present in folk stories can be helpful in these challenging times. Stories can tap the accumulated knowledge in our subconscious and bring it up to the surface. While children intuitively experience the events of both real life and fiction, adults prioritise practicality and reasoning. Stories can release our subconscious, and by using free-flow associations, we can analyse and work out how the method the main character chooses can be perhaps altered and applied to our own problems.

The various creative scenarios on how the protagonist succeeds to overcome a seemingly impossible situation may inspire us to let our imagination soar and look for new ways we have not yet explored. It gives us the ability to approach an issue from different angles, rather than a simple, linear logical approach. Reading colourful fictional stories encourages our creativity and brings out new ideas. And with enhanced creativity and imagination our problem-solving skills also improve which will help us flourish both in our private and professional life.

Hungarian folk stories tell us important life lessons that can be still applied in modern days and, therefore, they should be passed down to the next generations. These traditional fables should be viewed as an earnest grandmother or grandfather who carries the knowledge of a lifetime and is always there for us when we need advice. Folktales give strength and hope for both young and old, acting like a strict yet fair teacher who always makes sure to sprinkle in some magic between his words. Cherish these marvelous fables while they are still around, tell and retell them to your children or grandchildren so they can carry on the legacy.