stories from around the world

In Ireland, the Banshee is a well - known ghostly figure. The Banshee is often seen as a female spirit, usually an old woman, who wails near a house when someone in the family is about to die. It's a very eerie concept and there are many tales of people hearing the Banshee's wail on a windy night, which is said to be a very chilling experience.

In Japanese folklore, there's the story of the Kuchisake - Onna. She has a slit - mouth and asks people if they think she's pretty. If you answer no, she'll kill you. If you answer yes, she'll slit your mouth to make it like hers. This story was used to keep children in line.

Some familiar stories include 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. Jack trades his cow for magic beans, and then climbs the beanstalk to a giant's castle in the sky. 'Beauty and the Beast' is another. A beautiful girl named Belle ends up in a castle with a cursed beast, and through her kindness, she breaks the curse. 'The Ugly Duckling' is also a well - known story. It tells of a duckling that is different from the others but eventually grows into a beautiful swan.

Well, 'Alice in Wonderland' is a very famous story. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a strange world full of odd creatures and situations. Then there's 'Hansel and Gretel'. These two children are abandoned in the forest but manage to outwit the wicked witch. Also, 'The Little Mermaid' is famous. A mermaid gives up her voice to be with a human prince.

The Scottish Kelpie is another spooky folklore story. Kelpies are shape - shifting water spirits that usually take the form of a horse. They lurk in lochs and rivers. If a person gets too close and tries to ride the Kelpie, thinking it's a normal horse, the Kelpie will drag them into the water and drown them. It was a story told to keep children away from dangerous water bodies.

The Loch Ness Monster is a well - known real unexplained story. There have been numerous sightings of a large, unknown creature in Loch Ness in Scotland. While some believe it could be a prehistoric survivor like a plesiosaur, others think it might be just misidentifications of known animals or even a hoax, but the mystery endures.

One good folktale is 'Cinderella'. It's known in many cultures. The story of a mistreated girl who gets a chance at a better life through magic and kindness is very appealing. Another is 'The Tortoise and the Hare', which teaches the lesson that slow and steady wins the race. And 'Little Red Riding Hood' is also great. It warns about the dangers of talking to strangers in a very engaging way.

There are numerous famous legends and stories. For example, the legend of Robin Hood in English folklore. He was a heroic outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. In Hindu mythology, the Ramayana is a well - known story. It's about Prince Rama's journey to rescue his wife Sita. Also, the Native American legend of the Trickster Coyote, which has many humorous and moral - laden tales.

In Australia, there's a beach where seagulls learned to steal people's reusable straws. People would be sipping their drinks through the straws and the seagulls would swoop in and snatch them. It was hilarious yet also made people think about how much these birds were attracted to human items.

In Africa, there's a charity that distributes mosquito nets to prevent malaria. It has saved countless lives. Simple as it may seem, this small act of charity has a huge impact on public health in areas where malaria is rampant.