Throwback: Blue Corn Maiden

Hello! Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host Amanda Weldon. Today's story is a throwback episode. Tune in to hear one of our classic stories from the archive that you might have missed the first time around. We have stories podcast merch available at storiespodcast.com slash shop. We're also on Camille for all of your personalized video message needs and don't

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Thanks, enjoy the episode! The Blue Corn Maiden Over many mountains and down winding streams, lived the Hopi people.

With them lived a spirit named the Blue Corn Maiden. She appeared as a beautiful young woman dressed all in blue. Blue paint on her cheeks and blue strands woven into her flowing dark hair. During a spirit she had a bit of magic about her, and she used it to bring comfort

and joy to the Hopi people. All year round the Blue Corn maiden would work her wonders. With a touch she could fill an empty bin with delicious Blue Corn, even in the dead of winter when nothing would grow.

And thanks to her power, the Hopi people were never hungry. One day, the Blue Corn maiden decided she would go out and gather some firewood. It wasn't something she usually did, but she had already made plenty of corn for the day, and she was feeling a little restless.

She slipped on her dear skin moccasins and left her pebblo, which was a cozy home made from a doby mud and stone. Outside, she padded off into the forest. The sun was shining golden bright, but there was a chill in the air.

It rode in on the breeze, making the blue corn maiden give a slight shiver and rub her arms. It's my time. Came of voice.

The blue corn maiden spun around, but there was no one. The words seemed to come from the wind itself. Who said that? I'm sorry.

Said the breeze, and then the wind roared, bursting into a flurry of snowfall. I'm sorry. Said the breeze, and then the wind roared, bursting into a flurry of snowfall. bursting into a flurry of snowflakes and booming with a thunder clap.

A moment later the breeze was gone, and they are stood the winter Katzina, the spirit that brings winter to the world. Winter, what are you doing here? It's barely fall, go spread your snow in the mountains.

Winter Katzina smiled, his breath came out frosty in the air and his teeth shown like ice behind his blue and white mask. Oh, I'm not here to spread snow." He said.

Then why are you here? Asked the blue corn maiden, shivering as winter's breath passed over her. I'm here for you! I've decided that you, the most beautiful and beloved of the spirits, should be my love.

Come with me to the home of winter and live with me like a queen. The blue corn maiden took a step back. My place is here with the Hopi people. I make the corn it's what I love to see them fed and happy.

It makes me happy. So no, I can't come home with you to the home of winter. That's where you're wrong! Said winter.

There was a clap of thunder and a howling blizzards gale, and the blue corn made and felt cold all over and then dizzy, and then, with a crack of ice, she found herself in a pebble, made of ice and stone. Winter! What have you done? She ran to the window and looked out. Outside was nothing but a plane of snow. Snow piles, snow drifts, great mountains of snow gleaming like the sun itself.

Snow driven in waves before the wind and then crashing and bursting into fluries. Is this? You brought me to the home of winter! Winter smiled again and gestured to a pile of furs.

I've brought you plenty of warm clothes. Nothing but the softest. I'm sure you'll like it here. You can't do this! What will the whole thing do without my blue corn? I told you I didn't want to come. But winter didn't care. No matter how much the blue corn made in Beggd or Raged or Pleated or Stormed, winter didn't care. Eventually, the blue corn maiden stopped fighting. She began to pretend, instead.

She pretended she loved the snow. She pretended she loved Winter Kitsina. She even pretended to love being away from home. Finally, after weeks of pretending, Winter Kitsina finally decided to leave her alone in the home of Winter. No, remember, no running away while I'm gone. He said, his voice frosty in the air, even here.

Of course not, said the blue corn maiden. It's beautiful here, and no one expects me to make corn for them. What more could I want? Winter smiled and began to leave.

The blue corn maiden felt her heart swell. Her plan was working. She would leave her alone and she could make her escape. The door closed behind Winter Kitsina.

The blue corn maiden watched it intently as it shut. The moment it did, she ran to fetch all her things for the journey. She had her furs, so many that she looked more like a bear than a girl.