What are the moral lessons in Cherokee children's stories?

A common moral in Cherokee bedtime stories is respect for all living things. For example, in stories where animals interact, like the one about the Rabbit and the Turtle, it shows that every creature has its own strength, and we should not underestimate others.

In 'Snow White', the moral is about the power of kindness. Snow White's kindness towards the dwarfs and even her stepmother (initially) is rewarded in the end. Her stepmother's jealousy, on the other hand, leads to her downfall, so it also warns against envy.

Many Yoruba children's stories teach the importance of honesty. For example, in stories where a character lies or cheats, they usually face consequences in the end. This shows children that honesty is the best policy.

In children's Ramadan stories, there is a strong moral lesson of gratitude. When characters in the story fast and break their fast, they are often shown to be thankful for the food. This makes children understand that they should be grateful for what they have. Also, the stories often teach patience. Just like the characters wait for the time to break their fast or wait for the rewards of Ramadan, kids learn to be patient in their own lives, which can be applied in various situations like waiting for their turn in a game or waiting for a special event.

Many Aztec children's stories taught the value of respect for nature. Since they were an agricultural society, stories often emphasized the importance of living in harmony with the natural world. For example, there were stories about how treating the earth well would bring good harvests.

The moral lessons are diverse. One key lesson is respect for traditions. In Shabbat stories, characters follow the Shabbat traditions, teaching children to respect and uphold their own cultural traditions. Stories also promote kindness. For instance, characters might share their Shabbat food with others, showing the value of being kind. And they teach about the power of faith. When characters face difficulties during Shabbat, their faith helps them get through, which is an important lesson for children.

Many children's stories also teach about perseverance. 'The Tortoise and the Hare' is a great example. The tortoise is slow but keeps going, while the hare is overconfident and takes a nap. In the end, the tortoise wins. This story tells kids that if they keep working hard and don't give up, even if they're not as fast or talented as others, they can achieve their goals.

A big moral in these stories is that kindness is not something to be selective about. In 'The Good Samaritan', the Samaritan helped someone who was from a different group. It shows that we should be kind to all, no matter who they are. And kindness can have a ripple effect. When one character is kind, it can inspire others to be kind too.

Perseverance is often a lesson. Tales of characters who face difficulties but keep trying until they succeed, like a little sparrow building its nest despite many setbacks, inspire children to not give up easily when they face challenges in their own lives.

In 'A Christmas Carol', the moral lesson is about the importance of kindness and generosity. Scrooge is a miser at first but after seeing his past, present and future, he changes and becomes a better person. In 'The Little Match Girl', it teaches us to be empathetic towards the less fortunate. We should care about those who are poor and in need, especially during the holiday season.