YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection
Christ and Folk-Songs |
Russian Folk-Tales |
Tradition: Russian |
|
[1] One day Christ and St. Peter were walking about the earth and came to a village. In one house folks were singing so finely that Christ stayed to listen, whilst St. Peter went on. He turned back and found Christ still at His post. St. Peter went on again, and looked back: Christ was still listening. St. Peter went on again and then glanced back a third time – and Christ was still listening. Then he went back and heard a splendid folk-song in the house, stayed a while, and went on to another house where there also was singing. There St. Peter stayed, but Christ passed on. St. Peter hurried up and looked astounded. "What's the matter?" asked Christ. "I could not make out why you stopped to listen to folk-songs and passed by the house where hymns were being sung." "Oh, my dear son," said Christ, "there was a good scent there in the one house where folk-songs were being sung; but there was no reverence about the house where they were chanting hymns." |
[1] Christ. As, in German folk-lore, the legends of Christ walking the earth with His disciples are very frequent and characteristic. There is a touch of friendly familiarity in this presentation which does not involve the least irreverence, but adds a touch of sarcastic humour which the Germans lack. |
|