Fairy tales are true stories

PROVO — Fairy tales are true.

So says Norway's Princess Martha Louise, a real princess and author, this year's guest as Featured Author of the Year at BYU.

Fairy tales are metaphors and excellent, creative ways to teach children about life and who they are, she said.

Recounting her childhood, not in a palace, but on a farm, the princess said that through imagination teachers can reach children creatively.

Recalling her growing up years was also remembering a time of imagination. So in word pictures she described her farm, the neighbor's orchard (which grew tastier fruit than the orchard on her own farm), the entry hall and stairs where stern portraits of her ancestors stared down on her as she entered. (To a child that was scary, she said.)

Her ancestors show up as characters in her children's book, "Why Kings and Queens Don't Wear Crowns."

She also describes the green room at the top of the stairs, the English nanny who was afraid of the princess's green parakeet because of the Hitchcock movie, "The Birds."

With that imaginative backdrop, Princess Martha Louise described how fairy tales were written to tell stories in metaphor that imparted wisdom of the ages. Trolls in ancient lore were really one's fears so killing the evil troll was symbolic for overcoming fear.

"Suddenly you see the world in a whole new way," she said.

Children need to learn how to overcome fear in a place that is safe. Fairy tales offer that chance because they take place in their imagination.

Children get the symbolism of fairy tales but lose it as they mature.

Using the fairy tale of Cinderella as an example, the princess said the critical voices people have in their heads are symbolized by the mean step-mother and the two step-sisters. Overcoming negative self-criticism becomes the real mission of Cinderella.

In the story, Cinderella is locked away in the attic. In reality, Cinderella is the good person deep inside who is hidden away, she said.

"Why do we listen to those voices? If we didn't . . . we would live wonderful lives."