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The Gigantic Turnip
Added on 01st July 2020
Oral tradition Russian folktale
Many people co-operate to pull up a giant turnip.
Story
When an old man plants some turnips, one turns out to be gigantic. He cannot pull it out of the ground himself, but even after his wife and their grandchildren help him, the turnip is still stuck. How will they ever get it out?
Why we chose it
This was one of the stories in our original audio stories collection. These stories are particularly suitable for learning to retell.
Where it came from
The story appears in Alexander Afanasyev’s Russian Fairy Tales (1855-1863). Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, Afanasyev began collecting Russian and Slavic folktales, many of which had been orally passed down. The tale stems from the Christian moral of collaboration and helping each other.
Where it went next
The story has been adapted several times in Russian and English, the most well-known being Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy’s 1940 version. It is still just as popular today, especially for young children.
Associated stories
The tale is a progressive story as are many nursery rhymes and the fairy-tale The Gingerbread Man.
Afanasyev’s collection also includes famous stories such as Vasilisa the Beautiful The Frog Princess, Twelve Dancing Princesses, and The Firebird.
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Added on 01st July 2020
Oral tradition Russian folktale