Holidays people celebrate Part 4 - Paul Bunyan day - Information for Gr 1-3

The saying goes "You are never too old to learn" and that is very true.  I did not even know about the next holiday that people celebrate, so lets read and learn and answer the questions.

'Paul Bunyan day' is a day when American folklore is celebrated and especially the 'legend' of this lumberjack.

Now what is folklore?  It is stories that is told from one generation to a next and it is not always true stories, but is is entertaining stories and people like to believe it.

• What work does a lumberjack do?
• When do you think somebody is a 'legend'?

This day is celebrated on the 28th of June and it is celebrated by people in America who

enjoy a good story, like red flannel shirts, and wish they had a giant pet ox. 

 Paul Bunyan is a giant lumberjack in American folklore. His exploits revolve around the tall tales of his superhuman labors, and he is customarily accompanied by Babe the Blue Ox. 

If you have never heard of this 'legend' have a look at the video so that you will know who Paul Bunyan is.

People like to read some folklore stories on this day and if they live in America they will visit some of the statues of Paul Bunyan that is found in different areas.  There is also a Paul Bunyan amusement park.

• You are going to do some research on your own and find out the following:

1. Name at least 3 states where you will find statues of Paul Bunyan.
2. Find some pictures of this.
3. See if you can find information or videos on the amusement park and find out what you can do there and decide why you would like to go there and what you would do there to entertain yourself.
4. Name 5 stories that are known as folklore - choose a few stories and read it to yourself.  You can find a whole list here.
5. Watch the video of a folklore and re-tell the story to somebody.

The story of Paul Bunyan starts in the early 1900 when it was written by James McGillivray and were retold and was even used as an advert for a lumberjack company.

The more the story was told from one generation to a next, the stronger and bigger Paul Bunyan became and he even got a blue ox.  He is one of America's favorite folklore heroes.

Lets look at some fun 'facts' that came from these stories....

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1. Paul Bunyan was such a huge baby that it took 5 storks to carry him to his house when he was born.
2. The first time he learned to clap his hands it was so loud that all the windows in the house broke.
3. One day he was very tired and he dragged his ax behind him and that is how the Grand Canyon was formed.
4. Paul and Babe got lost in a snow storm once and their footprints in the snow ended up becoming the lakes at Minnesota.
5. Davy Crockett (also a folklore legend) was a friend of Paul and he gave Babe to him as a present.

• See if you can find more legends on Paul Bunyan.

People love believing in things and legends, like Father Christmas, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy so all and all this is just another fun legend and a day to have fun filled celebrations.

At the Trees of Mystery attraction in Klamath, California there is a 49-foot tall statue of Paul and a 35-foot statue of Babe the Blue Ox.

            

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