Bedtime Fairytales
- Maya Dietrich
- Nov 8, 2025
- 6 min read
Hello curious readers,
I've been a bit MIA as of late, sorry. I'm busy writing excruciatingly long essays (annoying as many professors as I can with my endless ability to go over the word count). Not to mention filming (ššš) and recording (eeek!!!) some very exciting things that you don't get to know about yet.
Most importantly, however, I've been writing more than ever. I'm talking every waking hour. I get home, and I write. I'm on the train, and I write. It's non-stop, all consuming, and I can't get enough! There must be something in the airā¦
Anywho, that being teased, this time of year always makes me reflect on childhood nostalgia. And I've been specifically thinking about stories that have influenced my love of books and writing. While there are so many of those that I could make a whole series talking about them (and I just might), for now I thought I would share some interesting myths and fairytales that I've recently stumbled upon in my daily affairs.Ā
If you've been dreaming of sea-green ponds, thorny rosebush-covered castle walls, gleaming armour and tragic romance, then imagine you're being lulled to sleep by a childhood fairytale at bedtime, and relax as I share with you some legends I think you'll enjoy.Ā
To start us off, I thought I would introduce a story of a benevolent mermaid, since they're usually (as we will see later) portrayed in a rather negative light.
On the Isle of Man, mermaids were typically thought of as helpful, curious, and all-around delightful sea creatures known as the Ben Varrey, who hung around secluded areas, combing their hair and whatnot. One story talks about an apple-fiend. It goes like this:
There once lived an old fisherman who lived in a quaint cottage by the sea. In general, he'd sing his little sea shanties, go fishing, and care for his garden. A jolly old fellow, one might say. One day, the fish stopped swimming close to the harbour, and after several months of him being unable to catch any, he went out on a moonlit night, where the apple trees met the sea. Suddenly, he heard a voice coming from the depths of the water, and it told him where to catch the fish. This old man apparently didn't find this at all odd or creepy, and immediately assumed it was one of the Ben Varrey. The next day he followed the mermaid's instructions, and caught a big load of fish. In return for the Ben Varrey's help, he asked her if there was anything he could do to repay her. She told him to keep on singing his songs, and that she desired one of the apples from the trees by the sea, which were just out of her reach. He of course filled a basket right to the brim, which she was much appreciative of. Many years passed and the old man planted the Ben Varrey her very own apple tree at the edge of the sea, so she could pick and eat the apples to her heart's content. The sailor had great luck at the fishing for the rest of his years, and some say the apple tree still stands, although which one it is exactly (and the reason why it was plantedā¦) is up for debate.
As legend has it, a young couple (a knight and a fair maiden to be specific) were strolling along the banks of the Danube River in medieval Europe. Picture a beautiful day with sunny skies, when the knight decides to pick a bouquet of small blue flowers for his love.
Because of the weight of his armour, however, he falls in the river. As he's being pulled away by the current, he tosses the bouquet to his love, who is running along the bank, and shouts out "Forget-me-not!"
I mean, just picture thatā¦ Like, yeah, ok, this knight falls in and probably drowns boohoo, but alsoā¦ Picture a hot-shot knight showing this maiden (who probably hasn't showered since the 13th century) all his cool tricks with his little sword and silver armour and is like "don't worry babe, I'll get these flowers for you," goes too close to the river, and promptly FALLS IN!? Just to be immediately dragged away by the water?! Oh I just know that poor girl was trying not to laugh.
Rumour has it she wore forget-me-nots in her hair for the rest of her life, though, so maybe it was a little more heartbreaking than the legend makes it sound.
Either way, it was considered a sign of faithfulness and enduring love for women to wear these pretty blue flowers in their hair, so maybe the story rings with a little truth.
Okay, I simply had to include the myth of my favourite TV show's namesake - the myth of Lorelei. Now, although Gilmore GirlsĀ chose to spell the fan-favourite as "Lorelai," the original name in the myth is spelt with an E. This story is so interesting to me for so many reasons:
It involves mermaids. Sirens, to be specific
It comes from an 1801 poem, and
Most fascinatingly of all, it is based on a very much real, entirely visitable place. A specific landscape, to be exact.
To properly understand this myth, we need to isolate the distinct difference between mermaids!, and sirens. Although both (obviously, yet unfortunately) are entirely mythical, their portrayal throughout history has been completely different. While mermaids have maintained a steady association with clear seas, colourful hair, and whimsical charm; sirens, on the other hand, are typically portrayed as deceitful, cunning, and altogether terrifyingly beautiful works of art who have a passion for luring seamen to their death.
Big difference.
This story is about a siren.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful maiden named Lorelei living in Germany who fell madly in love with a suitor. She was wholly devoted to him, and, ironically, he had practically stolen her heart. This is where the story diverges, and two tales are equally told. Upon learning that he had been unfaithful to her, Lorelei, in despair, flings herself off a rock (we will come back to this) into the Rhine River. Another version is that she thought she saw her lover in the waters of the Rhine, and accidentally fell off the cliff, to her death. Either way, Lorelei somehow manages to end up head-first underwater. The story again has two possibilities here. Once she was in the water, Lorelei either:
a) dies and returns as a ghost to haunt the place or
b) is graciously turned into a siren by the magical powers of the Rhine River water.
Again, either way, Lorelei's soul is tethered to the very rock she fell (or jumped) off of. After this incident, it is said that Lorelei's golden hair, precious jewels, and flattering looks distracted pirates from the currents of the river, causing them to crash against the rock. It just so happens that at the time, the sound of the water bashing against the rock caused a rather melodious and loud echo, which actually did tend to distract and terrorize sailors back in the day, and many did in fact crash into the rock, meeting their untimely fates. Because of this, the rock is now literally called "Lorelei", and is a very much real rock right on the Rhine River, in West Germany. There is also a fountain called the Lorelei Fountain, which can be found in NYC.
So, Lorelei's haunting ballads, beauty beyond compare, and broken heart supposedly led to the death of many a sailor, and the rock is still visitable. Pretty cool!
That's it from me for now! If you'd like to read more about these myths, check out these sources! (Keep in mind that literally all of these are made up and very very old so there will be some discrepancies between versions.) Happy reading!Ā
The Friendly Mermaid:
The Legend of Forget-me-nots:
The Love-Drunk Siren:
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