In today's story:
The people of Solvei’s village mark the end of the growing season and the beginning of the dark time with a yearly festival. In this joyful celebration, the villagers dress as dragons that represent the things they fear. Solvei is too young to attend, but is so excited that she sneaks a peek on the night of the festival — and comes home with many different fears from the “dragons” that she saw there. Her mother explains that she has taken on “someone else’s dragon” and then helps her daughter give the fears back so she can fall peacefully asleep.
*This story is the subject of our conversation with Renee Jain, founder and chief storyteller for GoZen.com, an online anxiety relief resource for children around the world. The story gives a picture of how scary images or sounds can make children fearful and anxious – and models how to release those images as well the anxiety and fear.*