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Comment
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ajaxisabella
Unregistered User
(1/16/06 10:51 am)
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Coat of Salamander Skins?
Hi.
My sister and I are trying to remember the name of a fairy tale that involves someone having to perform three (we think) impossible tasks, (in order to marry, or set by someone who didn't want to marry) one of which is going to the heart of a mountain to defeat a salamander (or salamanders) and make a coat of the skins. There may also be a magic tree or forest and a waterfall.
Unfortunately, we both have only the vaguest memories. .. and for some reason, the part about the salamanders seems to have stuck with us.
There is a story from the '70's called The Practical Princess which has a similar salamander story, but we both think that what we are thinking of is something older. . ..
Does anyone have any ideas?
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Writerpatrick
Registered User
(1/17/06 10:21 am)
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Re: Coat of Salamander Skins?
There's a few stories such as "The True Sweethearts/The True Bride" that involve challenges. But I couldn't find one that specifically involves salamanders. You might want to try scanning through the stories on SurLaLune.
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Gypsy
Unregistered User
(1/19/06 2:18 pm)
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Re: Coat of Salamander Skins?
oh, ive read this story! it was my favourite when i was growing up, because the princess was so clever. Unfortunately, I have lost the book, but i think the names was The Practical Princess.
when the princess was born, three witches (or fairies, like in sleeping beauty) blessed her. one gave her beauty, the other grace, and the last gave her practicality.
when she grew up, she had all these things, and one creepy old man wanted to marry her. she set three tasks for him: the first was to bring her a branch from a tree that grew jewled flowers. he went, and one day later came back with a branch. she smelled it, and said: is not the jeweled tree a living plant? he said if course it was, and she asked: then how come these flowers have no smell?it was fake. he had his jewelers make it for him.
then she bid him and go get her a coat made of fire salamander skins(which are fire proof), which lived on (or in) a volcano. he went, and came bach within two days. he gave her the coat, and she promptly threw it in the fire, where it burst into flame. He cried and said: waht are you doing? she said: are fire slamander skins not fireproof? he said of course they were. then she said: then howcome the coat burst into flame?
sadly, i cannot remeber the last task, but i seem to remember something about the princess possibly being kidnapped by the old man and hidden in a tower,where dicovered a man living there, and his hair was so long becuase he ahd been living there for so long. she used his hair to climb out of the tower, and got the old man in trouble. the man inthe tower turned out to be a prince, also put there by the old man, and the princess married him (after they cut his hair).
I hoped that was able to jog your memory a bit. sorry i couldnt remeber the last task.
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ajaxisabella
Unregistered User
(1/31/06 12:42 am)
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I think you're right
Yes! I think that is the story. .. .Seems to be out of print, though. .. I'll have to keep looking for a copy.
Thanks!!!!
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