A rare well-drawn paint-on-glass animated film that's NOT directed by Aleksandr Petrov. About a boy who has a pretty terrible life at home and at school (partly through his own fault), who is saved by "the magic of Christmas" (and the tree was still put up at Christmas in Russia at the time that this story was written, not at New Year's). Although a good film (and the director's ONLY film), I do think that on the whole I prefer the original story. The film makes the boy who is the main character a little less nasty (it takes out all the times he bullies the other kids), adds a dream sequence (that ties in with a poem by Vladimir Nabokov that seems like it was made for this story, thought it was really written a few decades later), and plays up the hopefulness and the benefits of religious salvation, leaving out parts of the original story which are rather more ambivalent about the matter. The original story at least implies that the "magic", such as it is, does not last past Christmas, while the film ends on a hopeful note.

This is part of a trickle of animated films with a specifically religious message that have been funded in Russia in recent decades. They aren't especially well-represented on this site yet, but I should probably add some more of the most "notable" examples.

Isn't it a bit strange that I've waited this long to add "Nu, pogodi!" to the site, and started with #8?
Well, this is a classic, beloved holiday-season cartoon, so it's timely.
I can't be neutral about this one; it's part of my childhood. It's quite fun.

Though it also showcases some Russia-specific holiday traditions that can be a bit tricky to describe to others. Like the kids gathering around the big fir tree, Father Frost (like Santa Claus, but originally something like "Old Man Cold" or "King Winter") coming out, and all of them chanting "Sne-gu-roch-ka" ("Snow Maiden") to get his daughter to come out and hand out the presents (her mother is Spring). The Snow Maiden isn't some old folk character, but was really created (for all intents and purposes) only in the late 19th century by Ostrovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov in their opera, about the power of love and the pagan Sun god to melt coldness in springtime. Later adapted into an animated feature in 1952 by Ivanov-Vano.

Odd bit of history there, but it's basically just a fun tradition for kids now.

There are a few reasons the series hasn't been here until now - the films are a bit deceptive in that they mostly have almost no dialogue, but they do have many songs with lyrics that can be tricky to translate (yet often not very important to the film itself). This one is a bit of an exception (along with #15) in that it has a song sung by the main characters very prominently in the middle of the action. I'm lucky that I was able to find a good, rhyming translation of it by Boris Anisimov, which I've edited further.

Also, this series is/was so famous that it seemed like it didn't really matter whether it was here or not. And, the sheer number of episodes was a bit intimidating. I felt like if I was going to add one, I should add all of them at once. Not great reasons, but it is what it is.

Hanoi is experiencing very hot days, which is considered unusual for the end of December. You know, the winter in Northern Vietnam is very similar to the melting snow in the Arctic, when the cold seeps into the clothes and makes anyone shiver. However, climate change has made summer longer. Without wind, the combination of air and sunlight creates environmental problems : Dust flying everywhere, the smell of bacteria and garbage. So, this film is truly a frightening warning to all of us !

This is the comic version of the short story : EN & RU.

Only two films in this entry, whereas the first 5 Merry-Go-Rounds had had at least 3. Galina Barinova (married to series co-founder Anatoliy Petrov) again played it extremely safe artistically (after being criticized for being too bold in "Mosaic", in Merry-Go-Round #1). The project was likely chosen for her by the script editor (the Party's man at the studio). It's kind of charming but rather average, like most of her films during this period. I think she only became an excellent and artistically bold director about 10 years later in her career. I do wonder who the female voice in the song is, as it's not credited. Is it Barinova herself?

Next is Eduard Nazarov's film, adapting a children's story about a little hippo. It's only his second film, and probably my least favourite film of his career. It spends quite a long time being mopey and sad... which, to be fair, is in the original story, but when one is reading the original story, it goes by much quicker. Maybe the original voice actor (removed by management for his "sighs being too erotic") was better. I don't much like the design of the hippo, either (though Nazarov was quite pleased with how symmetrical he was). Nazarov's films after this would be much, much better, especially his final five. They're all on the site right now, except for his contribution to Merry-Go-Round #9.

I tried to translate the song to rhyme in the first film, but it wasn't always possible. For the second film, I did most of it myself but got stuck on translating the "mayhem" passage ("представляете себе, что бы это был за грохот и топот! И гул и гам! И бам и тарарам! И ужас что такое!"), and ended up using Microsoft Copilot to help (final result: "just imagine what sort of crash and clatter it would be! And roaring and racket! And wham and ker-whallop! And a terrible to-do!").

Overall, this entry (and the one before) were kind of low points in the Merry-Go-Round series up to this point. From its start as artistically-bold mini-films for children by enthusiastic artists at the beginning of their careers, it had become safe and anodyne, with uninspired direction, and scripts and art style made to appeal to management. In the following years, though, I think they began to get more interesting again.

According to the ancient worldview, life was formed, sustained, and developed by the harmony, or rather the continuous movement, of living beings. All of this was encapsulated in the image of the fiery horse and the love of the boy for the girl. However, why did Ivan have to ride a small and somewhat disabled horse? And why did Ivan become a tall and strong man after bathing in boiling water? Ultimately, the tsar always made unreasonable demands and met a tragic end?

Although the 1947 film has a simpler structure and is quite faithful to the original compared to the 1975 version, I consider its artistic meaning to be deeper. However, this is just my personal opinion, as each era will have a different perspective on a work, because they are always influenced by societal factors.

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Vietnam Animation JSC

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00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,000
Legend has it that:

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00:00:41,500 --> 00:00:46,500
Right here – Bích Đào Cave,
now known as Từ Thức Cave,

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00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,000
belonging to Nga Thiện Commune,
Nga Sơn District, Thanh Hóa Province.

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Around the third year of Quang Thái
in the Trần Dynasty, or Gregorian 1390,

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00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,500
it happened that:
<b>Từ Thức Marrying a Fairy</b>

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00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:12,500
It seems that the love's warmth
still lingers to this day.

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- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

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[Village festival]

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[Folksong <i>Entering to the Pagoda</i>]

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[Buddhist chanting]

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Glory to Buddha!

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Lady, why are you picking flowers?

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00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,000
Novice Monks!

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I accidentally broke that stem.

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Then you have to pay for it.

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Have you ever heard this saying:

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00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:05,000
Even though paying Buddha ten times,
he just smiled and refused to accept it.

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00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,500
What will you pay us?

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00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,500
Novice Monks!

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I have nothing to pay.

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00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:19,000
We'll have to keep you here
until someone bails you out.

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00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,000
Sir, the pagoda is a merciful place.

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00:04:24,500 --> 00:04:27,500
Why can you keep me
for a small mistake?

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For the love of Buddha, forgive me!

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It can't be!

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Novice Monks!

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00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,000
Why would you tease a flower
in the Buddhist sanctuary?

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Young master, we really
didn't mean to tease her.

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00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,000
Why did you want to keep a maiden?

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She broke a flower stem
but she refused to pay it.

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How do you want her to pay?

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Sir, it has to be anything,

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because the pagoda is a fair place.

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I'll give you a brocade tunic.

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Release her immediately!

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Glory to Buddha Amitabha!

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Forgive us, young master!

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We were monks, but our hearts
were still not free from life dust.

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Young master, who are you?

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You have such a kind heart.

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00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:06,500
Tell me your name!
I want to repay you.

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I am Từ Thức (awakening).

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Don't rush, please!
I am very grateful to you.

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When can I meet you again
to repay your kindness?

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Never mind, lady!

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Where did you come from...

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...to encounter such misfortune?

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00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:57,500
Now cross Thần Phù Estuary
to reach the other side of sea,

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where there is a mountain
shaped like nine dragons.

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I will answer you there.

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Go ahead, Sir!
Don't be afraid!

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00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,000
Now cross Thần Phù Estuary
to reach the other side of sea,

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where there is a mountain
shaped like nine dragons.

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I will answer you there.

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We bow in greeting, my lord!

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You have brought here
the warmth of the earthly world.

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But where is this?

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And who are you two?

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M'lord, this is a fairy word.

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We are servants of Fairy Queen.

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She's waiting for you, Sir.

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Welcome to young master!

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I am Giáng Hương (perfume),
who you saved at Peony Festival.

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Do you remember me, Sir?

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I do.

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But why are you here?

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Where is this place?

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A fairy world just for you.

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00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,000
Thank you for bringing here
the warmth of earthly world,

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and the tolerance of gentleman!

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Thank you for bringing me
the beauty of the fairyland!

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Did this fairy mountain satisfy you?

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00:12:56,500 --> 00:13:00,000
You have given me the honor
of visiting the fairy mountain.

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But I just...

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00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:06,500
Is there anything else that worries you?

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I believe you did everything for me,

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while I was unable to reciprocate yet.

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Because I remember the earthly world.

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♪ O you who are enjoying yourself in the fairy mountain!

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♪ Do you remember the peaceful life in the earthly world?

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♪ O two boats drifting aimlessly!

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♪ If it's crowed there, come here!

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♪ My bed mat and net are ready here,

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♪ Come, my arm is as a pillow for you.

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Indeed for him,

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there's no place like the earthly world.

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Did I bring him unhappiness,

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yet I mistook it for happiness?

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Từ Thức!

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I understood your feelings.

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I don't want my own happiness...

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... to make the fairyland gloomy.

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I leave the decision to you.

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You brought me happiness
in the fairy mountain,

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but I couldn't control myself:

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I still yearn for the earthly world.

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It is my letter.

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00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:49,500
You should only open it,

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when you don't want to return here.

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This is a peach of longevity,

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what to help you in times of trouble.

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00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:07,500
Thanh you, darling!

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Elder!

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00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,500
Do you know of a family
that used to live here?

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00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,500
Where have they gone?

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00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,000
Oh!

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00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:16,500
How can I remember?

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00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:22,000
A long time has passed.

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Now I am 130 years old,

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and the oldest person in this village,

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but I know nothing about them.

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Hey!

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Young man!

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00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:45,500
Don't be disappointed!

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I remember now.

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00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,500
When I was a boy,

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the elderly said that:

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This is a family with a son named Từ Thức,

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00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:09,000
whom went to Peony Festival one day
and then disappeared in the fairyland.

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Sir!

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I am Từ Thức.

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♪ O you, who is going downstream,

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♪ Let me send a message to him that:

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♪ If he gets on a boat to go out to sea,

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♪ I'll row it no matter how hard it is.

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<i>Farewell, darling!

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<i>I wish you find happiness
<i>in your earthly world soon.

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<b>THE END</b>
© Animatsiya.net 2025

Это кусочки карамболы («star-fruit / плод-звезды» на английском языке), фрукта, растущего только в тропиках и имеющего два вкуса : кислый (зелёный) и сладкий (жёлтый). 1 2 Во Вьетнаме с ним связана легенда, которая, вероятно, хорошо знакома тем, кто знает русский язык.

Это история о двух братьях, которые разделили наследство после смерти родителей. Старший брат, конечно же, забрал большую часть ценного имущества, а младшему оставил лишь небольшой сад, где росло одно дерево карамболы. Однажды гигантская птица прилетела, чтобы полакомиться этими плодами. Говорят, что это был ворон, орёл или феникс. Однако он попросил младшего брата сделать небольшую сумку, чтобы отправиться с ним на остров, где было много золота. Тогда вы, вероятно, догадаетесь, что случилось с этими двумя братьями.

Это очень знакомое вьетнамцам растение, поскольку все его части обладают лечебными свойствами. Его листья можно использовать для ванн, а плоды очень полезны для больных людей, особенно беременных женщин. Вьетнамские певцы и актёры часто едят этот фрукт, чтобы прочистить горло. Иногда его также используют при приготовлении блюд с рыбой, чтобы устранить рыбный запах.

These days, my mind is filled with sadness because all my efforts at Wikimedia have been destroyed by ill-intentioned persons, and it's also disheartening because they are all Vietnamese like me. (They have lived in the United States since childhood and are not even fluent in Vietnamese, yet they abuse their power to impose their ignorance on knowledge of Vietnamese culture and history, while I have no authority to speak up) However, c'est la vie, you try to build a beautiful house, but someone can still tear it down just because they don't like you, not because they don't need the house. I suddenly remembered The Gnomes and the Mountain King (Гномы и горный король), a cinematic masterpiece that I uploaded to the English-Wikipedia a few years ago and which was also deleted in the worst possible way.

The story is about a boy who accidentally discovers a cave where many ancient gods reside. It is similar to East Asian myths about humans marrying animals. For example : Bees, butterflies, goats... That cave or animal world is actually a representation of the voice of the soul, which is always innocent and truthfuf, and at the same time, always in contrast to harsh reality. But in any case, we all have to face reality. That's also why the boy had to leave the cave, or why the young man in my story had to return home after 300 years wandering in the world of fairies.

In the terrifying story of the Estonian pagans, the dragon is a force hindering evolution, which is manifested through love. However, as far as I know, the dragon or exactly the toad is also the ancients' surreal representation of volcanic craters, which served as an insurmountable threat (you know, volcanoes can erupt at any time, so every time one awakens, all human efforts are destroyed). But in any case, the ending of the Eastern European story was not as tragic as that of the Vietnamese. I'll tell you now!

In the past, people in Southeast Asia used to chew a mixture similar to chewing gum to protect their teeth, although a side effect was that it stained their teeth black (hence, black teeth were once a beauty standard). The mixture consisted of betel leaves, areca nuts (related to coconuts, but their fruit is only as small as a lemon), and quicklime. These three ingredients, when combined, created a blood-red dye, but prolonged use would leave teeth a glossy black color. After Western colonial rule, most Southeast Asians abandoned this practice, so it is now only found among the elderly. It's worth adding that this mixture can be addictive. That's why there's a very good short story from a Vietnamese person living in Eastern Europe, who recounts meeting an old woman whom had moved to Eastern Europe with her son, and because she missed that mixture so much, she had to chew gum to ease her craving. The story ends with the author bidding farewell to the old woman before returning to Vietnam; she sheds tears of homesickness. Back to the story:

A young man came to a family to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. He sat for a while, then suddenly dropped dead. The girl was the only person near him when the accident occurred, so she was detained by local officials for questioning. The maiden testified that she only had time to pick betel leaves from the garden and offer them to the victim before he died. The official was unable to determine the cause, so the girl was declared innocent. Some time later, that official was replaced by someone else, and the incident continued to repeat itself without any evidence. Many young men in the village had died, causing the girl to be feared and shunned by everyone. A few years later, an official known for his erudition was appointed. He carefully examined the limestone beneath the betel plant, as he suspected it might contain some kind of poison. However, when he accidentally broke the rock, he discovered a small cave underneath, and inside the cave was a giant toad. That toad would often crawl out of its burrow at night to lick the dew drops on betel leaves, and that's why the young men died after chewing these leaves. Therefore, the official ordered that from then on, all villagers must cut off the top part of the betel leaf before using it. This custom has spread throughout the country and become a tradition passed down through generations.

Mykola Hohol's seemingly horrific story is actually a subtle way of expressing the psychophysiological development inside the female body, or more accurately, the issue of hormones. First, why does a maiden transform into an old woman? Next, why does the girl die during the day and come back to life at night? Finally, why does she befriend a demon, or more precisely, animal genitalia? Once you understand these issues, you will know why the seminarian said: "In Kyiv, all grannies in the market-place are witches".

Now you'll have a clue to unraveling the story. A different way of telling it, typical of Vietnamese storytelling, but with a more optimistic ending. A student was on his way to the capital to take an exam when it got dark. He asked to stay at an old man's house, whose daughter had been lying motionless for three days. The student accidentally discovered that three demons had possessed the girl's body to prevent their own souls from dissipating. The young man used his knowledge to drive away the demons and restore the girl's health. What happened next is probably something everyone can guess.

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