Russia's Golden Slipper by @peyton.saunooke

Russia's Golden Slipper Summary

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-16 14:57:06 UTC

Similar to the commonly known story of Cinderella, Russia has its version involving an old woman with a daughter, marrying an old man who also had a daughter. The old man's daughter is hard-working and respectful, while the old woman's daughter is spoiled and lazy. The old man buys his daughter a heifer to look after and keep her busy, but eventually, the heifer helps the old man's daughter with chores and helps her through her hard times. After the old woman learns that the heifer is helping the old man's daughter with her chores, the old woman demands the heifer be killed. When the man's daughter learns of this, she goes and cries to the heifer but the heifer tells her not to worry and gives her this advice: "When they have killed me, ask thy stepmother to give thee my entrails to wash, and in them thou wilt find a grain of corn. Plant this grain of corn, and out of it will grow up a willow tree, and whatever thou dost want, go to this willow tree and ask, and thou shalt have thy heart’s desire." When the man's daughter began to wash the entrails, she found the corn and planted it in the earth. When she awoke the next morning, a willow tree had grown from where the corn was planted.

On Sunday, the old woman had dressed her daughter up finely and taken her to church but told the man's daughter to stay home and cook, threatening her that if dinner wasn't ready by the time they got back, she would kill her. When the old woman and her daughter had left for church, the man's daughter went out to the willow tree and wished for a grand dress, along with a carriage and horses, and the willow tree granted her wish and she set out for the church. While at church the young Tsarevich was immediately awestruck at the sight of the mysterious woman and immediately fell in love with her, but nobody recognized her. After service, she left for home a ditched all of her nice clothing, changing back into her rags to keep her identity safe from her stepmother. This process happened again the following Sunday and the Tsarevich was there again, and he was desperate to know who the mysterious woman was, so he smeared pitch where she would stand for church so her shoes would stick to the ground. After service and in a hurry to get away, the man's daughter left her shoes there and returned home.

To find the mysterious woman, the Tsarevich sent out a search party and decided that whichever woman's feet would fit in the shoe, would be his bride. All the feet that tried to golden slippers on were either too big or too small. When the councilors grew tired, they spotted the willow tree that the heifer had grown and decided to go and rest under the tree for a bit. The old woman had spotted them and decided to go out to them and have her daughter try on the shoes, but the shoes were too small for her. The counselors had asked for the stepdaughter to try on the shoes, but the stepmother was against it but they kept persisting. When the stepdaughter tried the shoes on, they fit like gloves and the councilors and the stepdaughter rejoiced. And so she was sent to be wed to the Tsarevich and together they lived happily ever after.

Comparing Cinderella and Russia's Golden Slipper.

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 02:13:46 UTC

These stories have a lot of similarities and differences creating enticing stories.

The old Man's daughter was oppressed by her stepmother.
In both stories, the stepmother forced their stepdaughters to do labor.
Cinderella and the old man's daughter had animals that helped them, and a tree that would grant their wish.
The old man's daughter was given beautiful gowns and shoes by the tree, just as Cinderella was.
The old man's daughter was the most beautiful woman in the prince's eyes, but nobody could recognize her, just like Cinderella.
Both Cinderella and the old man's daughter both lost their shoe, and the prince used it to find them.
Both of the stepmothers tried to hide the old man's daughter and Cinderella away from the guards who were looking for the princess.
Cinderella and the Old man's daughter both had a happily ever after with the princes.

Cultural Reference: Heifer Symbolism

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 06:59:20 UTC

In Russian folklore, a heifer symbolizes hard work and fertility. The old man's daughter was a hard worker and worked for what she wanted.

Cows also symbolize life’s continuance, motherhood, Mother Goddesses, and a nurturing soul. While the old man's daughter was having a hard time and was upset, the heifer was there to comfort her and help her do the things she needed to do. The cow truly cared for her because even after death she was still looking over the man's daughter, giving her something that could help her in the future.

Russia's Golden Slipper: Moral of the Story

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 07:11:18 UTC

The moral of the story of the Golden Slipper is that kindness and virtue will always prevail and can be rewarded. Another lesson could be to never change your morals, even when you are being treated unfairly.

Multimedia: Kill em with Kindness

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 07:18:59 UTC

This song relates to Russia's Golden Slipper because it relates to treating people with kindness instead of being mean. The man's daughter decided to stay kind and keep her morals rather than becoming mean back to her stepmother and keep her head up.

Cultural Reference: What does Tsarevich mean?

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 07:25:23 UTC

Tsarevich's description is: "the eldest son of an emperor of Russia."

Contrasting Russia's Golden Slipper and Cinderella.

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 07:30:18 UTC

There are fewer differences in these stories than you might think.

The only story that involves a heifer is Russia's Golden Slipper.
In Cinderella, there are two stepsisters. In Russia's Golden Slipper, there is only one.
The man's daughter cried over a heifer, while Cinderella cried over her dead mother.
Only Cinderella's story involves a Ball, and Russia's Golden Slipper involves a church.

Russia's Golden Slipper: Russia's version of Cinderella

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 07:36:51 UTC

Russia's Golden Slipper is a story that originated in ancient Russia and involves a tale about a young girl whose father remarries an evil woman who has a spoiled and lazy daughter.

The author of the story is unknown, but the story was collected by a man named Alexander Afanasyev.

Cultural reference: Why church and not a ball?

peyton_saunooke — 2025-01-17 07:45:17 UTC

In Russian culture, religion has always been a primary component in their lives. Instead of going to a ball like in the story of Cinderella, the characters in Russia's Golden Slipper go to church because the church is seen as more important than a dance, especially in ancient Russia.

Going to church instead of a ball would have been more likely because faith comes first.