Ivan Tsarevich, the Firebird, and the Gray Wolf

A Very long time ago in a certain kingdom there reigned a Tsar who had three sons, the first was Dimitriy Tsarevich, the second – Vassiliy Tsarevich, and the third – Ivan Tsarevich. The Tsar had a magnificent orchard, where grew his favorite magic apple-tree with golden apples. However every night a Firebird fell into the habit of flying on that apple-tree and tear away few apples. Its feathers were red-and-gold, and bright as a fire, her eyes were like Eastern crystals.

The Tsar ordered each of his sons to catch the Firebird alive and promised a half of the kingdom for that. The two elder brothers fell asleep while watching. On the third night the youngest son, Ivan, went to the orchard. He saw the Firebird, crept to it and grabbed it by the tail. But the Firebird managed to get free, leaving to Ivan only a bright tail feather. Since then the Firebird stopped visiting the orchard, but the Tsar ordered his three sons to find and bring him the Firebird alive for the half of the kingdom. All three sons saddled their horses and rode their ways. Ivan rode far away and get to an open field, where he saw a sign-post with the following words: “If you go to straight, you will be cold and hungry; if you go to the right, you will be alive and healthy but loose your horse; if you go to the left, you will be dead but the horse will be alive and healthy.” Ivan Tsarevich decided to go to the right, he rode two days and on the third day he met a big Gray Wolf, who tore the Ivan’s horse in pieces.

Ivan walked all day long, he was very tired, and suddenly the Gray Wolf overtook him. The Gray Wolf felt sorry for Ivan and offered his assistance of taking him to his destination, since he killed Ivan’s horse.

Ivan Tsarevich got on the back of the Gray Wolf and they were on their way to a kingdom where the Firebird lived. The tsar of that kingdom after listening to Ivan’s wish to take away the Firebird, agreed to give his Firebird to Ivan in exchange for a golden-crested horse from the neighboring kingdom. The tsar who was the master of the golden-crested horse agreed to give away his horse in exchange for a beautiful Elena the Fair, who was the daughter of the next kingdom tsar. However, with help of the Gray Wolf, Ivan managed to get the Firebird for his father, and the wonderful horse and Elena the Fair for himself.

When they came to the border of Ivan’s father kingdom, Ivan and Elena said good-bye to the Gray Wolf and stopped to rest. While they were sleeping, Ivan’s two elder brothers, returning from their unsuccessful expedition, came across the two and killed Ivan. They threatened Elena to kill her as well if she will tell anyone what had happened.

Ivan Tsarevich laid dead for thirty days until the Gray Wolf found him. The Gray Wolf got water of death and water of life and revived Ivan. Ivan got to his palace on the back of the Gray Wolf just at the wedding day of his brother Vassiliy Tsarevich and Elena the Fair. There Ivan, with help of Elena, told his father what had happened to him. The Tsar got so furious with his elder sons that he threw them to prison. Ivan Tsarevich and Elena the Fair married, inherited the kingdom and lived in love for many years.

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Tale Of Tsar Saltan And Three Sisters

From a poem by the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin

Long ago in a faraway kingdom, three sisters were sitting on the bench in front of their house in the courtyard talking, imagining what they would do if they were married to Tsar Saltan. One said that she would prepare a great feast for the entire world. The next said that she would weave linen for the entire world. The third said that she would give the tsar “an heir, handsome and brave beyond compare.”

It so happened that the tsar, who was just outside the fence, overheard the conversation. When he heard the words of the last maiden, he fell in love and asked her to be his wife. They were married that very same night and conceived a son soon after. The other sisters were given jobs as a cook and a weaver.

A few months later the tsar went to war and had to part with his beloved wife. While he was at war his wife, the queen, gave birth to his son. A rider was sent to the tsar to convey the good news. However, the two sisters and a friend, named Barbarika, were so jealous of their sister’s luck that they kidnapped the rider. They replaced him with another rider who carried the message that the queen had borne neither a son nor a daughter, neither a mouse nor a frog, but had given birth to an unknown little creature.

When he read this message, the tsar was mortified and sent a letter back telling his wife to wait for his return before taking any action. The scheming sisters met the rider on the way back, got him drunk, and replaced the tsar’s actual letter with a fake one that ordered the queen and her baby to be put into a barrel and thrown into the sea. Of course, there was no way to disobey an order from the tsar, so guards in the kingdom put the queen and her son into the barrel and rolled it into the water. As the queen wept inside, her son grew stronger, not by the day, but by the minute. He begged the waves to wash them onto dry land. The waves obeyed and he and his mother found themselves washed ashore on a deserted island.

By now they were quite hungry, so the son made himself a bow and arrow, using small branches from a tree, and went hunting. Near the sea, he heard a screech and saw a poor Swan struggling against a huge black hawk. Just as the hawk was about to bury its beak in the Swan’s neck, the youth shot an arrow, killing the hawk and spilling the bird’s blood into the sea. The white Swan swam up to the lad and told him that he had not killed a hawk at all, but a wicked wizard. The Swan pledged to serve the youth always and never forget that he saved her life.

The son returned to his mother and told her of his adventure, and then they both fell soundly asleep, even though they were still hungry and thirsty. The next morning they awoke and saw a wondrous city standing before them where there had been nothing before. The two marveled at the golden domes of the monasteries and churches behind the city’s white walls. “My, look at all the Swan has done!” the lad thought. The two walked into the city and throngs of people greeted them and crowned the young man a prince, calling him Prince Gveedon.

One day a merchant ship was sailing near the island when its sailors caught a glimpse of the amazing walled city. The city’s cannons signaled the ship to come ashore. Prince Gveedon welcomed them and offered them food and drink. He asked what they had for sale and where they were going. Their trade was in furs, they said, and they were headed past the island of Buyan to the kingdom of Tsar Saltan. Gveedon asked the merchant sailors to convey his respects to the tsar, even though his mother had earlier told him about the note that led to their expulsion from the tsar’s kingdom. Still, Prince Gveedon thought the best of people and could never quite believe that his father could do such a thing.

As the merchant sailors were preparing to leave the island, the prince became sad when thinking about his father. The Swan asked the prince why he looked so gloomy, and he told her that he wished to see his father. Then, with a splash of water, the Swan turned the prince into a small gnat so that he could hide himself in a crack of the mast of the ship en route to see the tsar.

When the ship arrived at the Tsar Saltan’s kingdom, the tsar greeted the merchant sailors and asked them to tell of the lands they had seen. The sailors told the tsar about the island and the walled city, and spoke of the hospitable Prince Gveedon. The tsar did not know that this Prince Gveedon was his son, but expressed a wish to see this beautiful city anyway. The two sisters and the old Barbarika did not want to let him go, however, and acted as if there were nothing to marvel at in the sailors’ tale. What is really amazing, they said, is a Squirrel that sits under a fir tree, cracking golden nuts containing kernels of pure emerald, and singing a song. That’s something, which is truly extraordinary! Hearing this, the gnat, really Prince Gveedon, got angry and stung the old woman’s right eye. After he flew back to the island, Gveedon told the Swan the story he heard about the remarkable Squirrel. Then the prince walked into his courtyard and, lo and behold, there was the singing Squirrel, sitting under a fir tree, cracking golden nuts! The prince rejoiced at this and ordered that a crystal house be built for the little animal. He placed a guard there to stand watch and ordered a scribe to record every shell. Profit for the prince, honor for the Squirrel!

Some time later, a second ship came to the island. Gveedon welcomed the sailors and asked them to pass on his greetings to the tsar. Later the prince expressed a wish to the Swan to see his father again. The Swan granted the wish and this time turned the prince into a fly that would hide in a crack of the ship.

After the vessel arrived in the kingdom, the sailors told Tsar Saltan about the wondrous Squirrel they had seen. Saltan again wanted to visit this fabled city but was talked out of it when the two sisters and Barbarika ridiculed the sailors’ story and spoke themselves of a greater wonder–of thirty-three handsome young knights, led by old Chernomor, rising from out of the raging sea. The fly, Gveedon, became quite angry with the women and stung Barbarika’s left eye before flying back to the island.

Once home again, he told the Swan about old Chernomor and the thirty-three knights, and lamented that he had never seen such a wonder. “These knights are from the great waters that I know,” the Swan said. “Don’t be sad, for these knights are my brothers and they will come to you.”

Later, the prince went back and climbed a tower of his palace and gazed at the sea. Suddenly, a giant wave rose high and deep onto the shore, and when it receded, thirty-three knights in armor, led by old Chernomor, emerged, ready to serve prince Gveedon. They promised that they would come out of the sea each day to protect the city.

A few months later, a third ship came to the island. In his customary fashion, the prince again made the sailors feel welcome and told them to send his respects to the tsar. As the sailors prepared themselves for their journey, the prince told the Swan that he still couldn’t get his father out of his mind and wished to see him again. This time the Swan turned the prince into a bumblebee. The ship arrived in the kingdom and the sailors told Tsar Saltan about the wondrous city they had seen and how every day thirty-three knights and old Chernomor would emerge from the sea to protect the island.

The tsar marveled at this and wanted to see this extraordinary land, but once again was talked out of it by the two sisters and old Barbarika. They belittled the sailors’ tale and said that what was really amazing was that beyond the seas lived a princess so stunning that you couldn’t take your eyes off of her. “The light of day pales against her beauty, the darkness of night is lit up by it. When she speaks it is like the murmur of a tranquil brook. Now that’s a marvel,” they said. Gveedon, the bumblebee, got angry at the women once more and stung Barbarika on her nose. They tried to catch him, but to no avail. He was safely on his journey back home.

After his arrival there, Gveedon strolled out to the seashore until he was met by the white Swan. “Why so gloomy this time?” the Swan asked. Gveedon said that he was sad because he did not have a wife. He related the tale he had heard of the beautiful princess whose beauty it up the darkness, whose words flowed like a murmuring brook. The Swan was silent for a while, and then said that there was such a princess. “But a wife,” the Swan continued, “is no glove that one can simply cast from one’s hand.” Gveedon said he understood but that he was prepared to walk the rest of his life and to all corners of the world to search for the wondrous princess. At this, the Swan sighed and said, “There’s no need to travel, there’s no need to tire. the woman that you desire, is now yours to spy. The princess is I.”

With this, she flapped her wings and turned into the beautiful woman that the prince had heard about. The two passionately embraced and kissed, and Gveedon took her to meet his mother. The prince and the beautiful maiden were married that very same evening.

A short time later, another ship came to the island. As usual, Prince Gveedon welcomed the sailors and, as they were leaving, he asked the sailors to send his greetings to the tsar and to extend an invitation to him to visit. Being happy with his new bride, Gveedon decided not to leave the island this time.

When the ship arrived at the kingdom of Tsar Sultan, the sailors again told the tsar of the fantastic island they had seen, of the singing Squirrel cracking the golden nuts, of the thirty-three armored knights ascending out of the sea, and of the lovely princess whose beauty was beyond compare.

This time the tsar would not listen to the snide remarks of the sisters and Barbarika. He called his fleet and set sail for the island immediately. When he reached the island, Prince Gveedon was there to meet the tsar. Saying nothing, Gveedon led him, along with his two sisters-in-law and Barbarika, to the palace. Along the way, the tsar saw everything that he had heard so much about. There at the gates were the thirty-three knights and old Chernomor standing guard. There in the courtyard was the remarkable Squirrel, singing a song and gnawing on a golden nut. There in the garden was the beautiful princess, Gveedon’s wife. And then the tsar saw something unexpected: there standing next to the princess was Gveedon’s mother, the tsar’s long-lost wife. The tsar recognized her immediately. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he rushed to embrace her, and years of heartache were now forgotten. He then realized that Prince Gveedon was his son, and the two threw their arms around each other as well.

A merry feast was held. The two sisters and Barbarika hid in shame, but eventually they were found. They burst into tears, confessing everything. But the tsar was so happy that he let them all go. The tsar and the queen and Prince Gveedon and the princess lived the rest of their days in happiness.

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The Snow Maiden

Very, very long ago in an Old Russian village there lived an old couple: the woodcutter and his wife. They barely made the ends meet, owing to the old man who cut logs in the forest and carried them into the nearest town. They were poor and had no children, so as they grew older they became sadder and sadder. The old woman often asked, “Who will take care of us? We are so old.” Her husband used to answer, “Don’t worry, old woman. God will not leave us alone, he will help us, if necessary.”

One cold winter day they both went to the forest, the old man to chop wood and his wife to help him. The frost that day was severe. The old man said, “Shall we make a little snow-girl to solace us, as we have no child?” In a short time they had made a “Snegurochka” – Snow Maiden. It was so beautiful that no tale could describe it and no pen could portray it. They were looking at it and becoming even sadder and the old woman said, “If only the almighty Lord had sent us a little girl looking like this Snegurochka.

Suddenly the Snow Maiden’s eyes twinkled and she became alive, may be owing to the strong desire of the poor good people. There was a precious tiara on her head, her hair was white as snow, a brocade cape covered her shoulders, and embroidered boots were on her feet. The woodcutter and his wife were amazed and could not believe their eyes. Snegurochka breathed, trembled and stepped forward. They grew numb thinking they were dreaming. Snegurochka came toward them and said, “Good afternoon, kind folks, do you want to be my parents? I will be a good daughter to you and honor you as mother and father.” “You will be the joy of our old age. Come home with us,” answered the old man and they led her from the forest.

Snegurochka began to live with the old couple helping them. She was kind and beautiful, always respectful, never contradicted them, so they were very proud of her. But she was always pale and a girl of few words, and this troubled her adopted parents. But her eyes shone like little stars, and her smile lighted up the hut. Time passed. One day the old woman said to Snegurochka, “Why are you so shy, my darling daughter? You always stay at home with us, you don’t have friends. Why do you not show yourself and see people? You should not spend all your time with us, old people.” “I am happy here and don’t want to go out,” replied Snegurochka.

Festival time came. The streets were lively, strollers were singing from early morning until late night. And Snegurochka finally decided to go outside and to join the merrymaking people. In that village lived many nice maidens, one of them was a true beauty named Kupava. Her hair was black as a raven’s wing, her skin was flourishing. Some time ago a rich merchant came through that country. His name was Mizghir; he was young, handsome and tall. He saw Kupava and he liked her right away. Kupava was not a shy girl, she was dashing and glib, and never turned down an invitation to stroll. Soon Mizghir became Kupava’s lover.

That festive day Kupava, the belle of that place, was parading around in silks and velvets and serving sweet wines to the young men and maidens. When Snegurochka first went out to the street she met Kupava, who introduced all her friends to her. Since then, Snegurochka began to come out more often. There was a young shepherd named Lel, who could play on a flute the beautiful music, they pleased each other and became inseparable. Whenever the young girls came out for walking and singing, Lel would run to the woodcutter’s hut, tap at the window and say, “ Snegurochka, my darling, came out and join us in dancing.” Once she appeared, he never stepped aside from her.

One day the merchant Mizghir came to the village when the maidens were dancing outside. He and Kupava joined in and were so joyful that made them all laugh. Mizghir noticed the new girl Snegurochka and she stroke him with her tender beauty and whiteness. He liked her; she seemed to him so pale and so pretty! From then Kupava seemed to him too dark and rustic and finally he found her to be unpleasant. There were often quarrels between them and then Mizghir stopped seeing her.

What could Kupava do? She could not be wished-for by force nor return the past. Kupava and other people noticed that Mizghir often returned to the village and visited the house of the woodcutter and his wife. It was rumored that Mizghir asked them for Snegurochka’s hand in marriage. The heart of desolated Kupava trembled when she found out that. She ran to Snegurochka and began to reproach and insult her, she cried, “I will go to the Tsar! I am not going to suffer this dishonor!” She made such a scandal that she was almost forced to leave. And Kupava went to Tsar Berendey looking for help against Snegurochka, as if she had stolen her lover. Tsar Berendey was wise and gracious ruler; he loved truth and used to solve different disputable questions of his people. He listened to Kupava and ordered Snegurochka to appear in front of him. The woodcutter’s family was frightened, but the Tsar’s word was the law, so they helped their daughter to get ready and accompanied her in order to present her to the Tsar.

Within the Tsar’s palace they stood amazed, the vast courtyard was filled with people, Snegurochka was afraid to take a step and to raise her eyes. Then she looked around and saw the beauty and refinement of internal decoration and began to make the round of the Tsar’s chamber, touching the carved patterns and gold cups, painted icons and rich carpets. Meanwhile Tsar Berendey came in, sat in his gilded and sculptured throne and looked after Snegurochka wondering at her beauty and delicacy. Boyars, wearing tall hats of bear fur trimmed with gold, were sitting on the benches covered with carpets and brocades, bodyguards in caftans white as snow holding silver axes and everyone present waited, keeping silence for the Tsar’s word.

“Come here, young maiden. Come closer to me, gentle Snegurochka,” said Tsar Berendey. “Don’t be afraid and answer my questions. Did you commit the sin of severance the two lovers one from another by way of stealing the heart of Kupava’s beloved? Did you flirt with him and are you going to marry him? Tell me only the truth.” Snegurochka approached the Tsar, bowed low and told the truth: that she did not know what her fault was, that she was pure in body and soul, that merchant Mizghir had asked for her in marriage, but she did not like him and she refused his hand.”

Tsar Berendey took Snegurochka’s hand and looked into her eyes. And he realized that she spoke the truth, but moreover he saw in her eyes that she was unhappy, because she could not love at all, she was like a snowflake – beautiful, fragile but cold, and that she wanted to love, but was not able. “He was sorry for her and said, “I see that you are no where at fault. Go home in peace now and don’t be upset.” And the Tsar let Snegurochka leave with her adopted parents. Following the girl with his eyes the Tsar thought that nobody could help her except of her real mother – the Spring.

When Kupava learned of the Tsar’s decision she got wild with grief, tore her pearl necklace, Mizghir’s gift, off her white neck, ripped her sarafan (the old Russian dress), and wanted to throw herself in the deep of the well, but Lel saw her, calmed her and talked her out of her resolution.

Meanwhile, spring had come. The sun rose higher and higher in the sky, the snow melted, the tender grass began to shoot, the birds sang and built their nests. But the more the sun warmed, the paler and sadder Snegurochka grew. One spring day young maidens and men strolled and danced in a ring with singing. Then when each youth should choose a maiden for him for dancing, Snegurochka was sure that he would choose her, but he went by and approached Kupava, inviting her for the dance.

Snegurochka was disappointed and felt upset; she rushed deeply to the forest and began to call her mother Spring begging her for help. “Mother Spring,” cried she, “What is love, that makes suffer even me, though I cannot love anybody! I want to have feelings like people, I want to love!” Her mother, beautiful, bright and tall woman appeared and responded, “My poor child, you know that it is impossible, due to your father Frost. In my power I can grand you love only for one minute, but then you will die. So I can’t do this, I can’t kill you.” “But mother,” begged Snegurochka, “The only wish of mine is to feel love. Let me die after it, because anyway I will die without love! Please, Mom!” And Spring agreed through her heartache to fulfill her daughter’s desire. She said, “Farewell, my dear girl” Then she flourished her hands and disappeared.

Just that time Mizghir was sitting beneath a birch and crying about his unhappy love to Snegurochka. Suddenly he heard some noise and saw Snegurochka running headlong between green birches. He stood up, and seeing him, she flung herself into his hot arms. They kissed passionately, Mizghir was happy and called Snegurochka to her adopted parents to ask their blessing for their marriage. But before he can say a word, she disappeared. Only a little puddle remained on the ground.

Thus hot feeling melted the cold Snow Maiden. A light mist rose up and vanished slowly in the blue sky…

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  The Firebird  ( Translated by Irina Zheleytova)

In a certain kingdom, in a thrice-ten realm that lay far away, beyond the thrice-nine lands, there once lived a mighty king. The king had an archer who was as brave as he was strong, and the archer had a horse that was as strong as it was fleet of foot. One day the archer got on his horse and rode off to the forest to hunt.

He rode along a road, and a wide road it was, and he saw a fire-bird’s feather lying there and flaming like fire. Said his horse to the archer, “Leave the feather where it is, for if you don’t you will know a great misfortune.” Now, this made the archer stop and think. He was sorely tempted to take the feather, for if he presented it to the king, the king would surely reward him, and who is there that does not prize the favor of a king! In the end, he decided to take it, and, picking it up, carried it away with him and presented it to the king. “Many thanks to you, Archer,” said the king. “But since you were able to fetch its feather, you must fetch me the fire-bird itself; if you don’t it’ll be out with my sword and off with your head!” The archer went back to his horse weeping bitterly. “Why do you weep, Master?” the horse asked. “The king has ordered me to fetch him the fire-bird.” Horse said, “I told you not to take the feather, still, you must not fear or give way to despair. You are in no great trouble now, there is worse to come! Just go to the king and ask him for a hundred bags of corn to be strewn over that field yonder.” This the archer did, and the king had a hundred bags of corn strewn over the field.

At dawn on the following day the archer rode to the field. He unbridled his horse, let it roam there at will and himself hid behind a tree. All of a sudden the wind swept over the forest and sent it rustling, the sea rose in waves, and the Firebird came flying to the field. Down it dropped and began pecking the corn, and the archer’s horse ran up and stepped hard on one of its wings, pinning it to the ground. The archer then rushed out from behind the tree, and, binding the Firebird with a rope, got on the horse with it and rode at a gallop for the palace. He presented the Firebird to the king, who was greatly pleased, thanked the archer for serving him so well, promoted him and at once set him another task. ”You were able to fetch the fire-bird, so you should be able to fetch me the maid I wish to marry, Princess Vassilissa. She lives at the very end of the earth, where the bright sun rises, and it is her I want and none other. If you bring her to me, I will shower you with gold and silver, but if you don’t, it’ll be out with my sword and off with your head!”

The archer went back to his horse weeping bitterly. “Why do you weep, Master?” the horse asked. “The king bids me fetch him Princess Vassilissa.” Horse said, “Do not weep or be sad. You are in no great trouble, there is worse to come! Go to the king and ask him for a gold-topped tent and for food and drink for you to take with you on your journey.” The king gave him food and drink and a tent with a top of gold, and the archer got on his horse and set off on his way. Beyond thrice-nine lands he traveled, and whether a short or a long time passed nobody knows, but he came at last to the end of the earth, where the bright sun rises from the blue sea. And there on the sea, in a silver boat that she pushed with a paddle of gold, was Princess Vassilissa herself. The archer unbridled his horse and let it roam at will in the green meadow and pick at the fresh grass, and then he set up the gold-topped tent, put foods and drinks on a table, and sat down to eat and drink while he waited for Princess Vassilissa.

Then Princess Vassilissa saw the gold top gleaming in the sunlight, paddled to shore, and, stepping out of the boat, stood there looking admiringly at the tent. “Good morrow to you, Princess Vassilissa!” the archer said. “Pray come in and share of my board and taste of the wines I brought from far-off lands.” Princess Vassilissa came into the tent and she and the archer ate and drank and made merry. A whole glass of wine did she drink and was so overcome that she fell fast asleep. The archer called his horse, and when it came running, folded the tent with the top of gold, picked up Princess Vassilissa, and mounted the horse with her in his arms, and set off home. As fast as an arrow he flew and was soon in the palace.

The king was overjoyed at the sight of Princess Vassilissa. He thanked the archer for having served him so well and gave him a still higher rank. But when Princess Vassilissa awoke and learnt that she was far, far away from the blue sea, she began sobbing and weeping and her face turned dark with grief. And though the king pleaded with her not to be sad, there was nothing he could do. He begged her to marry him, but she said, “Let him who brought me here go to my realm at the end of the earth and fetch my wedding dress which lies under a large rock in the middle of the sea. I will not marry without it!” The king sent for the archer. “Go at once to the end of the earth where the bright sun rises. In the middle of the sea you will find a large rock and under it Princess Vassilissa’s wedding dress. Bring the dress here, for I wish to wed without delay! If you bring it, I shall reward you richly, more so than ever before, but if you don’t, it’ll be out with my sword and off with your head!” Back went the archer to his horse weeping bitterly. “I will not escape death this time!” said he to himself. “Why do you weep, Master?” the horse asked. “The king bids me fetch him Princess Vassilissa’s wedding dress from the bottom of the sea.” Horse said, “Didn’t I tell you not to take the Firebird’s feather? But never fear, you are in no great trouble, there is worse to come! Get on my back and let us go to the blue sea.”

Whether a short or a long time passed nobody knows, but the archer came to the end of the earth and stopped on the shore of the blue sea. A huge lobster came crawling over the sand toward him, and the horse saw it and stepped on its tail with its hoof. Said the lobster, “Spare me, Horse, do not let me die! I will do whatever you ask.” And the horse said in reply, “There is a great rock lying on the bottom of the sea and hidden under it is Princess Vassilissa’s wedding dress. Fetch the dress for me!”

The lobster gave a great roar that carried over the whole of the sea, the sea rose in waves, and lobsters, big and small, came crawling to the shore from all sides. And so many were they that there was no counting them! The lobster who had called them and who was their elder bade them fetch the dress, and they plunged into the sea and came back with it before an hour had passed.

The archer brought the dress to the king, but Princess Vassilissa was as stubborn as ever and said that she would not marry him until he had made the archer take a dip in boiling water. The king at once ordered an iron cauldron to be filled with water, the water to be heated, and as soon as it came to the boil, the archer to be thrown in it. Everything was soon ready, the water began to seethe and to boil, sprays of it flying to all sides, and the archer was led in.

“Poor, unhappy man that I am!” thought he. “What made me take the fire-bird’s feather? Why didn’t I listen to my horse?” And recalling the horse, he said to the king, “Oh great king, my ruler, allow me to bid my horse goodbye before I die!” “Very well,” said the king. The archer went to see the horse, and the tears poured from his eyes. “Why do you weep, Master?” the horse asked. “The king bids me dip myself in boiling water.” “Fear nothing and do not weep, you will not die!” said the horse, and he cast a spell over the archer that he might not get scalded by the boiling water. The archer left the stall, and the king’s servants seized him and threw him into the cauldron. He took a dip and another and jumped out of the cauldron, and lo! — So handsome had he become as neither pen can write nor tongue tell! Seeing this, the king took it into his head to take a dip himself. He jumped into the cauldron and was boiled alive! And after he was buried the archer was chosen to rule the realm in his stead. He married Princess Vassilissa and they lived together for many long years and were as happy as happy can be.

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  The Golden Fish

Once upon a time an old man and his wife lived on the shore of the blue sea. They were poor and lived in an old mud hut. He made a living by fishing, while his wife spun cloth. One day he caught a small golden fish in his net. The fish begged him, “Let me go, old man. I will reward you for my freedom by giving you anything you desire.” The fisherman was astonished and frightened because he had never before heard a fish speak. He let the fish go and said kindly to her, “God bless you, golden fish. I don’t need anything from you.”

The fisherman went home and told his wife the wonderful thing that had happened to him at the shore. But she cursed him angrily and said, “You are such a fool not to make a wish! At least you could have asked for a watering-trough, since ours is broken.”

The old man returned to the seashore, where little waves were rushing up onto the sand. He called out to the golden fish. She swam up and asked, “What do you need, old man?” He bowed and replied that his wife cursed at him because she needed a new trough. The fish comforted him and promised to grant his wish.

When the fisherman returned home he saw the new trough. But his wife shouted at him, “You are such a fool! Go back to the fish! Ask for a new house.”

The fisherman went back to the sea, where the water and sky had become overcast. He called the fish, who swam up to where he was standing. He apologized and said that his snappish wife wanted a new house. The fish comforted him and promised to fulfill his wish. When he returned, he saw a nice new cottage with a gate. But his wife shouted even louder, “You are such a fool! Go back to the fish! I do not want be an ordinary peasant, I want be a noblewoman!”

The poor old fisherman went to the sea. The waves were beginning to rise and beat on the shore, and the sky had become even darker. He called the golden fish, who swam up and asked him what he wanted. He bowed humbly and explained, “Don’t be angry, Your Majesty Golden Fish. My wife has gone mad; she wants be a noblewoman.” The fish comforted him.

And what did he see when he returned home? The hut had become a great house. His wife was wearing an expensive sable jacket and had a kokoshnik (headdress) of brocade. She had on pearl necklaces and gold rings. There were many servants bustling around her. She hit and slapped them. The fisherman said, “Greetings, Milady, I hope you are satisfied now.” She didn’t deign to answer him, but instead ordered him off to live in the stable.

Several weeks later, the wife ordered her husband to appear before her and instructed him to go to the sea again, saying, “I am still subject to the rule of those above me! I want be queen of all the land!” The old man, frightened, said, “Are you crazy, old woman? You have no concept of courtly manners. Everybody will make fun of you.” At these words his wife glowered with rage, slapped his face, and ordered him to obey. The old man went down to the seashore. The water was roiling; the sky and sea had become almost black. He called the golden fish. When she swam to the shore, he bowed and said that his wife now wanted to be queen of the land. The fish comforted him and let him go home. When the fisherman arrived, he found a great palace, which inside his wife was seated on a throne. Boyars and other noblemen were her servants. Around her stood menacing guards. The old man was terrified, but approached the queen and said, “Greetings, Your Majesty. I hope you are happy now.” She did not even look at him, and her guards drove him out.

Several weeks later the queen sent for the old fisherman and again ordered him to go to the sea–this time to ask the golden fish to become her servant and make her Empress of Land and Sea. The fisherman was so terrified of her that he did not even protest. He submissively went back to the sea.

A terrible storm was raging there, with lightning, thunder, and giant waves crashing against the shore. The old man yelled as loud as he could and the fish rose out of the waves. He explained to her what his wife wanted now. This time the golden fish did not reply, but turned and swam away out to sea. After waiting a long time in vain for any answer, the fisherman returned home–where he found his old mud hut, his poor old wife and a broken trough in front of her.

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Little Red Riding Hood

(by Charles Perrault)

Once upon a time in one of the village there lived a little girl and she was so pretty that there was no one better than her in the world. Her grandma presented her with a red hood for her birthday. Since then the girl wore her new, smart red hood. The neighbors said about her:

- Here the Red Riding hood comes!

Once her mother baked the pie and told the daughter:

- Little Red Riding Hood, just go to the Grandma and bring her that pie and a pot with  butter and find out whether she is healthy.

Little Red Riding Hood went through the forest and  Grey Wolf came across her:

- Where are you going to, Little Red Riding Hood?

- I am going to my Grandmother and bringing her this pie and a pot of butter.

- And how far does your grandmother live? – Wolf asks.

- Far enough, - Little Red Riding Hood answers. – Over there in that village, behind the mill, in the first house from the end.

- Well, -said Wolf, -I also would like to visit your Grandma. I will go this way and you will go that way. And we will see who will come first.

Wolf said that and ran for all one is worth along the shortest path.  Little Red Riding Hood walked along the longest path. She walked without hurry, she stopped from time to time, picked up flowers and made bunches out of them.

Wolf came running to Grandmother`s house and knocked at the door:

- Rat-tat!

- Who is there? – asked Grandma.

- It`s me, your granddaughter, Little Red Riding Hood, - answered Wolf with a thin little voice. – I have come to see you and brought you the pie and the pot with butter.

The Grandma felt unwell at that time and was in bed. She thought that it was really Little Red Riding Hood, and cried:

- Pull the rope and- the door will be opened!

Wolf pulled the rope and the door was opened. Wolf rushed at the Grandma and swallowed her. Then he closed the door, lay in Grandma`s bed and started waiting for the Little Red Riding Hood.

Soon she came and knocked:

- Rat-tat!

 Little Red Riding Hood came in the house and asked:

- Grandma, why do you have such big hands?

- To embrace you tight, my dear child.

- Grandma, why do you have such big ears?

- To hear you well, my dear child!

- Grandma, why do you have such big teeth?

- And this is to eat you quickly, my dear child!

Hardly could Little Red Riding Hood sigh, as an evil Wolf rushed at her and swallowed together with her shoes and a red hood.

But fortunately woodcutters passed by the house with their axes over the shoulders at that time. They heard the noise, ran into the house and killed Wolf. Then they unripped his stomach and Little Red Riding Hood came out from it and her Grandma followed her – both safe and sound.
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Hi! my name is Tatiana and i will tell you the history about my lovely Russian Nesting Dolls.

The nesting dolls - Matrioshka is the most famous Russian toys, a symbol of Russia, and considered to be one of the phenomenon in the world folk art. It is very popular not only with the connoisseurs of the language, history and culture of this country but also by those who just begin their acquaintance with Russia.

It is hard to imagine now that only about one hundred years ago Matryoshka has no

t existed at all. The first one appeared only at the end of the 19th century when a new artistic trend known as 'Russian style' appeared. The legendary Matrioshka was made in the workshop 'Children's Education ' of A. I. Mamontov (an owner of a printing-house, publisher, translator and a collector of Russian paintings). He gathered in his studio highly qualified creative toy makers who had talent, initiative and fantasy.

A famous predecessor and prototype of Russian nesting doll was brought to Russia from the Island of Honshu (Japan), by the way the Japanese claimed that the first doll of such type was made by unknown Russian monk. It was a figurine of a good-natured bold headed old man, Buddhist sage. Now this figurine is kept in the Artistic Pedagogical Museum of Toys in Sergiev Posad (Russia).

In provincial Russia the name Matriona, Babushka Dolls, Stacking doll, Matrushka, Matrioshka, Matryoshka or Matriosha was a very popular female name. It was associated with the image of a mother of a big family who was very healthy and had a portly figure. Subsequently it became a symbolic name.

Even now Matrioshka is considered to be a symbol of motherhood and fertility. A mother doll with numerous dolls-children perfectly expresses the oldest symbol of human culture.

Matryoshka is both sculpture and painting, image and soul of Russia.

  So,i was open this Boutique,i am so glad that a lot of people love them,and i am feel very proud when i have arround hundreds people who care about them..

We are located in Prudential Center,Boston,Ma ,where you can find hundreds of Nesting Doll,all hand painted,all Made in Russia...

You can also visit our website on :  http://russiandolls-boutique.com 

        Come and visit us,and you will not regret!

Thank you!