Russian folk tales in good quality. Russian folk tales - the wisdom of a great people

The unique identity of the Russian people and their traditions have long been passed down from generation to generation. Through oral folklore people comprehended the knowledge and customs of their distant ancestors. Thanks to fairy tales, children early age began to connect with the roots of their own family. The wisdom of centuries, embedded in magical and instructive stories, helped the child grow up to be a worthy person.

Now kids don’t have to wait for adults to tell them amazing tales - they can read Russian on their own folk tales on our website. Having become acquainted with them, children will learn more about such concepts as intelligence, friendship, courage, resourcefulness, dexterity, and cunning. Not a single story will end without a wise conclusion that will help the child better understand the realities of the world around him. The heritage of our ancestors is of no small value for lovers of folk traditions in the 21st century.

Read Russian folk tales online

Russian folk tales occupy important place among oral folk art and open up to young readers an amazing and Magic world. Folk tales reflect the life and moral values Russian people, their kindness and sympathy for the weak. The main characters at first glance seem simple-minded, but they manage to overcome all obstacles and achieve their goal. Each story fascinates with unforgettable adventures, colorful descriptions of the lives of the main characters, fantastic creatures and magical phenomena.

is one of the oldest forms of storytelling, which in its simplest and game form tells children not only about the world around him, but also about manifestations of both the best and the ugliest. General statistics tell us that Russian folk tales interest children only up to school age, but it is these fairy tales that we carry in our hearts and let us pass them on to our children in a slightly modified form. After all, it is impossible to forget about Masha and the Bear, Ryaba the hen or the Gray Wolf; all these images help us learn and understand the reality around us. You can read Russian folk tales online and listen to audio tales for free on our website.

Fairy tale title Source Rating
Vasilisa the Beautiful Russian traditional 354604
Morozko Russian traditional 233391
Porridge from an ax Russian traditional 265977
Teremok Russian traditional 387807
Fox and Crane Russian traditional 208231
Sivka-Burka Russian traditional 188901
Crane and Heron Russian traditional 29639
Cat, rooster and fox Russian traditional 126664
Chicken Ryaba Russian traditional 315984
Fox and cancer Russian traditional 88386
Fox-sister and wolf Russian traditional 80500
Masha and the Bear Russian traditional 266126
The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise Russian traditional 86350
Snow Maiden Russian traditional 54112
Three piglets Russian traditional 1832651
Baba Yaga Russian traditional 128272
Magic pipe Russian traditional 130410
Magic ring Russian traditional 155946
Grief Russian traditional 21996
Swan geese Russian traditional 75478
Daughter and stepdaughter Russian traditional 23339
Ivan Tsarevich and Gray wolf Russian traditional 66404
Treasure Russian traditional 48182
Kolobok Russian traditional 163258
Marya Morevna Russian traditional 45216
Wonderful miracle, wonderful miracle Russian traditional 42987
Two frosts Russian traditional 39663
Most expensive Russian traditional 33514
Wonderful shirt Russian traditional 40234
Frost and hare Russian traditional 39555
How the fox learned to fly Russian traditional 48783
Ivan the Fool Russian traditional 36706
Fox and jug Russian traditional 26657
bird tongue Russian traditional 23216
The soldier and the devil Russian traditional 22106
Crystal Mountain Russian traditional 26362
Tricky Science Russian traditional 28982
Smart guy Russian traditional 22340
Snow Maiden and Fox Russian traditional 63081
Word Russian traditional 22230
Fast messenger Russian traditional 22089
Seven Simeons Russian traditional 22015
About the old grandmother Russian traditional 24087
Go there - I don’t know where, bring something - I don’t know what Russian traditional 52135
By pike command Russian traditional 70522
Rooster and millstones Russian traditional 21857
Shepherd's Piper Russian traditional 38570
Petrified Kingdom Russian traditional 22247
ABOUT rejuvenating apples and living water Russian traditional 37317
Goat Dereza Russian traditional 34883
Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Robber Russian traditional 28948
Cockerel and bean seed Russian traditional 55160
Ivan – peasant son and miracle-yudo Russian traditional 28623
Three Bears Russian traditional 475118
Fox and black grouse Russian traditional 23485
Tar barrel Russian traditional 77855
Baba Yaga and berries Russian traditional 38712
Fight on Kalinov Bridge Russian traditional 22346
Finist - Clear Falcon Russian traditional 52248
Princess Nesmeyana Russian traditional 139079
Tops and roots Russian traditional 57869
Winter hut of animals Russian traditional 41304
flying ship Russian traditional 73978
Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka Russian traditional 38211
Golden comb cockerel Russian traditional 46028
Zayushkin's hut Russian traditional 133360

Types of Russian folk tales

Folk tales are basically divided into three categories. These are tales about animals, everyday life and fairy tales.

Russian folk tales about animals- these are some of the most ancient types of fairy tales that exist, their roots go back to the times Ancient Rus'. These fairy tales contain vivid and very memorable images; from childhood we all remember about Kolobok or Turnip, and thanks to such bright images the child learns to understand good and evil. Learns to distinguish character traits and lines of behavior: a fox is cunning, a bear is clumsy, a bunny is cowardly, and so on. Although the world of folk tales is fictional, it is so alive and vibrant that it fascinates and knows how to teach children only good deeds.

Russians everyday tales - these are fairy tales that are filled with the realism of our Everyday life. And they are so close to life that when delving into these fairy tales, be careful, because this line is so thin that your growing child will want to embody and experience some of the actions on himself or carry them out in real life.

Russian fairy tales- this is a world in which magic and the evil associated with it takes on very terrible outlines and vital shades. Fairy tales are the search and rescue of a girl, a city or the world entrusted to the shoulders of one hero. But it is the help of many minor characters teaches us, who read these fairy tales, about mutual assistance to each other. Read and listen to folk tales online with us.

    1 - About the little bus who was afraid of the dark

    Donald Bisset

    A fairy tale about how mother bus taught her little bus not to be afraid of the dark... About the little bus who was afraid of the dark read Once upon a time there was a little bus in the world. He was bright red and lived with his dad and mom in the garage. Every morning …

    2 - Three kittens

    Suteev V.G.

    A little fairy tale for the little ones about three fidgety kittens and their funny adventures. Little kids love it short stories with pictures, that’s why Suteev’s fairy tales are so popular and loved! Three kittens read Three kittens - black, gray and...

    3 - Hedgehog in the fog

    Kozlov S.G.

    A fairy tale about a Hedgehog, how he was walking at night and got lost in the fog. He fell into the river, but someone carried him to the shore. It was a magical night! Hedgehog in the fog read Thirty mosquitoes ran out into the clearing and began to play...

    4 - About the mouse from the book

    Gianni Rodari

    A short story about a mouse who lived in a book and decided to jump out of it into Big world. Only he did not know how to speak the language of mice, but knew only a strange book language... Read about a mouse from a book...

    5 - Apple

    Suteev V.G.

    A fairy tale about a hedgehog, a hare and a crow who could not divide the last apple among themselves. Everyone wanted to take it for themselves. But the fair bear judged their dispute, and each got a piece of the treat... Apple read It was late...

    6 - Black Pool

    Kozlov S.G.

    A fairy tale about a cowardly Hare who was afraid of everyone in the forest. And he was so tired of his fear that he decided to drown himself in the Black Pool. But he taught the Hare to live and not be afraid! Black Whirlpool read Once upon a time there was a Hare...

    7 - About the Hippopotamus, who was afraid of vaccinations

    Suteev V.G.

    A fairy tale about a cowardly hippopotamus who ran away from the clinic because he was afraid of vaccinations. And he fell ill with jaundice. Luckily, he was taken to the hospital and treated. And the hippopotamus became very ashamed of his behavior... About the Hippopotamus, who was afraid...

    8 - Mom for Baby Mammoth

    Nepomnyashchaya D.

    A fairy tale about a baby mammoth that melted out of the ice and went to look for its mother. But all the mammoths have long since died out, and the wise Uncle Walrus advised him to sail to Africa, where elephants live, which are very similar to mammoths. Mom for...

We were all children once and all of us, without exception, loved fairy tales. After all, in the world of fairy tales there is a special and extraordinary style, filled with our dreams and fantasies. Without even fairy tales real world loses its colors, becomes ordinary and boring. But where did everyone come from? famous heroes? Perhaps, once upon a time a real Baba Yaga and a goblin walked the earth? Let's figure it out together!

According to V. Dahl’s definition, “a fairy tale is a fictional story, an unprecedented and even unrealistic story, a legend.” But the New Illustrated Encyclopedia gives the following definition of a fairy tale: “this is one of the main genres of folklore, epic, mainly prose work magical, adventurous or everyday character with a focus on fiction.” And of course, one cannot help but recall the words of our great poet: “A fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it!” Good fellows lesson!"

That is, whatever one may say, a fairy tale is fiction... But everything in it is unusual, magical and very attractive. There is a immersion into a mysterious, enchanted world, where animals speak human voice, where objects and trees move on their own, where good necessarily defeats evil.

Each of us remembers how the Fox was punished for tricking the Bunny out of the hut (“The Fox and the Hare”), how cruelly the stupid Wolf, who took the cunning Fox’s word for it, paid with his tail (“The Wolf and the Fox”), how quickly they got over it with a turnip (“Turnip”), when they decided to pull it together and also did not forget to call the Mouse, just as the strong forgot about the weak in the fairy tale “Teremok” and what this led to...

Smart, kind, correct, highly moral, embedded in fairy tales helps to bring up the best in our children human qualities. The fairy tale teaches life wisdom. And these values ​​are eternal; they make up what we call spiritual culture.

Among other things, the invaluable nature of fairy tales lies in the fact that they provide an opportunity to introduce children to the life and way of life of the Russian people.

What does Russian village mean? What did a tree, a forest mean to a Russian person? And household items: dishes, clothes, shoes (the famous bast shoes alone are worth it!), musical instruments(balalaika, gusli). This is our opportunity to tell and show children how people lived in Russia before, how the culture of a great people took shape, of which we, their parents, grandparents, by the will of fate, became a part.

Russian folk tales are also an invaluable assistant in developing a child’s language and speech skills. Words and expressions from fairy tales with their ancient and deep meaning are laid down in our consciousness and live in us, regardless of where we ourselves are.

Fairy tales provide an opportunity to expand your vocabulary on any topic (whether it be tales about animals, everyday life or magic). Traditional Russian repetitions, special melody, rare “forgotten” words, proverbs and sayings, which are so rich in Russian speech: all this makes it possible to make a fairy tale accessible, understandable for children’s consciousness, and helps to remember it easily and quickly. And all this develops children’s imagination, teaches them beautiful and coherent speech. (Who knows, maybe those fairy tales that they begin to invent after Russian folk tales will also one day enter the treasury of the language).

A fairy tale is special literary genre, a story unfolding in a timeless and spaceless dimension. Characters such a story - fictional characters who fall into difficult situations and emerging from them thanks to assistants, most often endowed with magical properties. At the same time, insidious villains plot various intrigues against them, but in the end good wins. The creation of fairy tales has an ancient history.

FROM THE HISTORY OF FAIRY TALES:

Fairy tales appeared in such ancient times that it is very difficult to accurately determine the time of their birth. We know just as little about their authors. Most likely, the fairy tales were composed by the same peasants and shepherds who often acted as the main characters of the story.

Has anyone ever wondered if there is something behind these legends? real events, were there fairy-tale heroes the most ordinary people, whose life and adventures could become the basis for fairy tales. Why not? For example, a goblin could be someone who lived in the forest for a long time, was unaccustomed to communicating with people, but got along well with the forest and its inhabitants. Well, Vasilisa is a beauty - everything is clear here. But Koschey the Immortal looks like an old man who married a young girl.

But the situation is more interesting. Our land is located at the crossroads of roads from Europe to Asia, from south to north and vice versa. That is why we lived in close connection with neighboring peoples. From the north, we were contacted by the Vikings, who were a step higher in development than us. They brought us metal and weapons, their legends and fairy tales - and we brought them clothes, shoes and food, everything that our land is rich in. From there the fairy tale about Baba Yaga, where she was the evil old woman Heel on two bone legs, who lives in a separate hut on the outskirts of the forest, guards the souls of the dead and is a border point in the transition from earthly life to the afterlife. She is not particularly kind and day after day creates a lot of trials and troubles for those who walk this road. That is why the heroes of our fairy tales, driven into a remote corner by their troubles, come to Baba Yaga.

Transmitted fairy tales from mouth to mouth, from generation to generation, changing them along the way and adding new details.

Tales were told by adults and - contrary to our current view- not only for children, but for adults too.

Fairy tales taught us how to get out of difficult situations, overcome trials with honor, conquer fear - and every fairy tale ended with a happy ending.

Some scientists believe that the origins of fairy tales lie in primitive rituals. The rituals themselves were forgotten, but the stories were preserved as treasures of useful and instructive knowledge.

It is difficult to say when the first fairy tale appeared. This is probably not possible “either to say in a fairy tale or to describe with a pen.” But it is known that the first fairy tales were dedicated to natural phenomena and their main characters were the Sun, the Wind and the Moon.

A little later they took on a relatively human form. For example, the owner of water is Grandfather Vodyanoy, and Leshy is the owner of the forest and forest animals. It is these images that indicate that folk tales were created at a time when people humanized and animated all the elements and forces of nature.


Water

Another important aspect of beliefs primitive people, which is reflected in folk tales, is the veneration of birds and animals. Our ancestors believed that each clan and tribe comes from a specific animal, which was the patron of the clan (totem). That is why Voron Voronovich, Falcon or Eagle often act in Russian fairy tales.

Also, ancient rituals (for example, initiation of a boy into hunters and warriors) found their expression in folk tales. It is surprising that it was with the help of fairy tales that they came to us in an almost primordial form. Therefore, folk tales are very interesting for historians.

FAIRY TALES AND NATIONAL CHARACTER

Fairy tales reveal all the most important aspects of Russian life. Fairy tales are an inexhaustible source of information about national character. Their strength lies in the fact that they not only reveal it, but also create it. Fairy tales reveal many individual character traits of Russian people and their peculiarities. inner world and ideals.

Here is a typical dialogue (fairy tale “The Flying Ship”):

The old man asks the fool: “Where are you going?”

- “Yes, the king promised to give his daughter to the one who makes a flying ship.”

- “Can you make such a ship?”

- “No, I can’t!” - “So why are you going?” - “God knows!”

For this wonderful answer (because it is honest!) the old man helps the hero get the princess. This eternal wandering “I don’t know where”, in search of “I don’t know what” is inherent in all Russian fairy tales, and indeed in all Russian life in general.

Even in Russian fairy tales, as well as among the Russian people, faith in miracles is strong.

Of course, all fairy tales in the world are based on some extraordinary events. But nowhere does the miraculous dominate the plot as much as in Russians. It piles up, overwhelms the action and is always believed in, unconditionally and without a shadow of a doubt.


Artist: Anastasia Stolbova

Russian fairy tales also testify to the special faith of the Russian person in the meaning of the spoken word. Thus, there is a separate cycle from the category of fairy tales-legends, in which the entire plot is tied to various kinds of accidentally escaped curses. It is characteristic that only Russian versions of such tales are known. IN fairy tales the importance of the spoken word is also emphasized, the need to keep it: he promised to marry the one who finds the arrow - he must fulfill it; if you kept your word and went to your father’s grave, you will be rewarded; made a promise to marry the one who stole the wings - fulfill it. All fairy tales are filled with these simple truths.

The word opens doors, turns the hut, breaks the spell. The sung song brings back the memory of the husband, who forgot and did not recognize his wife, the little goat with his quatrain (except for him, apparently, he does not know how to say anything, otherwise he would have explained what happened) saves his sister Alyonushka and himself. The word is believed, without any doubt. “I’ll be of use to you,” says some bunny, and the hero lets him go, confident (as is the reader) that this will happen.

Often heroes are rewarded for their suffering. This theme is also especially loved by Russian fairy tales. Often sympathies are on the side of heroes (even more often - heroines) not because of their special qualities or the actions they committed, but because of the life circumstances - misfortune, orphanhood, poverty - in which they found themselves. In this case, salvation comes from the outside, from nowhere, not as a result of the active actions of the hero, but as the restoration of justice. Such fairy tales are designed to instill compassion, empathy for one’s neighbor, and a feeling of love for all those who suffer. How can one not recall the thought of F. M. Dostoevsky that suffering is necessary for a person, because it strengthens and purifies the soul.

The attitude of the Russian people to work reflected in fairy tales seems peculiar. Here is a seemingly incomprehensible fairy tale about Emelya the Fool from the point of view of ideals.

He lay on the stove all his life, did nothing, and did not hide the reason, he answered “I’m lazy!” to all requests for help. Once I went out into the water and caught a magic pike. The continuation is well known to everyone: the pike persuaded him to let her go back into the hole, and for this she undertook to fulfill all of Emelya’s wishes. And so, “at the behest of the pike, at my request,” the sleigh without a horse carries the fool to the city, the ax itself chops the wood, and they are put into the oven, the buckets march into the house without outside help. Moreover, Emelya also got the royal daughter, also not without the intervention of magic.

The ending, however, is still hopeful (in children's retellings for some reason it is often omitted): “The fool, seeing that all people are like people, and he alone was bad and stupid, wanted to become better and for this he said: “As a pike by command, and at my request, that I become such a fine fellow, that nothing like this should happen to me, and that I be extremely smart!” And as soon as he had time to speak, at that very moment he became so beautiful, and also smart, that everyone was surprised.”

This tale is often interpreted as a reflection eternal inclination Russian person to laziness, idleness.

She's talking, rather, about heaviness. peasant labor, which gave birth to a desire to relax, making me dream of a magical assistant.

Yes, if you are lucky and catch a miracle pike, you can happily do nothing, lie on a warm stove and think about the Tsar’s daughter. All this, of course, is also unrealistic for the man who dreams of it, like a stove driving through the streets, and the usual difficult daily work awaits him, but you can dream about pleasant things.

The fairy tale also reveals another difference between Russian culture - it does not have the sanctity of the concept of labor, that special reverent attitude, on the verge of “work for the sake of labor itself,” which is characteristic, for example, of Germany or modern America. It is known, for example, that one of the common problems among Americans is the inability to relax, distract themselves from business, and understand that nothing will happen if they go on vacation for a week. For a Russian person there is no such problem - he knows how to relax and have fun, but perceives work as inevitable.

The famous philosopher I. Ilyin considered such “laziness” of the Russian person to be part of his creative, contemplative nature. “We were taught, first of all, by our flat space,” wrote the Russian thinker, “by our nature, with its distances and clouds, with its rivers, forests, thunderstorms and blizzards. Hence our insatiable gaze, our dreaminess, our contemplating “laziness” (A.S. Pushkin), behind which lies strength creative imagination. Russian contemplation was given beauty that captivated the heart, and this beauty was introduced into everything - from fabric and lace to residential and fortified buildings.” There may be no zeal and exaltation of work, but there is a feeling of beauty, merging with nature. This also bears fruit - rich folk art, expressed, among other things, in a fairy-tale heritage.

The attitude towards wealth is clear. Greed is perceived as big vice. Poverty is a virtue.

This does not mean that there is no dream of prosperity: difficulties peasant life made us dream of a self-assembled tablecloth, of a stove in which “goose meat, pig meat, and pies - apparently and invisible! One word to say - whatever the soul wants, everything is there! the bride received was also nice to dream about on long winter evenings.

But wealth comes to the heroes easily, casually, when they don’t even think about it, as an additional prize for a good bride or a saved wife. Those who strive for it as an end in itself are always punished and remain “with nothing.”