Summary

Read and listen to The Legend of the Snow

Ciao a tutti, cari amichetti nostri. Finalmente è arrivato il freddo (non che ne sentissimo la mancanza) e, in tante parti d’Italia, anche la neve.

But have you ever wondered where the snow comes from? There history that I will read to you this evening will tell you a beautiful and fairy-tale version, which (perhaps) is not the true explanation, but it is nice to believe that it could really be like this.

Read with me

A long time ago, a shepherd boy took his sheep to graze on the mountain. The grass was fresh and the water was clear; the sheep got on so well that they never wanted to go back and the shepherd boy decided to please them, because he too was happy up there.

The Legend of the Snow — Grazing sheep in the mountains

But when the summer ended, the sheep didn't want to go back to the stable in the village.
The grass was still green and the sheep asked the shepherd boy to wait a little longer.
The shepherd boy, who was young and inexperienced, decided to please them and waited.
When it was time to go back, the rainy season had already begun and the road was too slippery to go home.

The sheep were afraid and asked the shepherd boy to wait a little longer.
By the time the rain had passed, the frost had already set in and the road was too icy to go home.
The sheep were afraid and asked the shepherd boy to wait a little longer.
But the frost had also frozen the pastures and the sheep could no longer find anything to eat.
One day, the eldest of them looked up at the sky and saw clouds.
“Why don't we search in the clouds? There will certainly be something to eat up there.”
The flock decided to try - they climbed higher and higher, until they disappeared.

Beyond the clouds, they found an enchanted realm. The air was warm, and fragrant herbs and small trees full of fruit grew above the clouds; the sheep got on so well that they never wanted to go back and the shepherd boy decided to please them, because he too was happy up there.

However, in the realm beyond the clouds lived the sky goblins, mischievous little creatures. As soon as the animals fell asleep, they took their scissors – zac… zac… – cut the curls of wool and threw them down, on the Earth.

Passing through the clouds, the hedgehogs got drenched in water.
Passing through the wind, they froze.
By the time they arrived on Earth, they had turned into snowflakes.
Since that day, every time the wool grows back on the sheep, the celestial elves cut it and throw it down: and that's why the snow comes down!