Three years ago, when I became a father, I was confronted with a dilemma every single parent faces: how should I raise that kid? Children, after all, don’t come with instruction manuals and, being a single child from a single parent household, I did never quite manage to understand how a “normal” family is supposed to work.
One key issue me and my wife wrestled with early on was the question of media. What should we show our kid, and how could we make sure to pass on a good set of values and ideas into that little head of hers? Thankfully, my wife and I agree on most things, including spiritual matters. Still, for the longest time we were not quite sure about how much to “push” our beliefs unto our child. Shouldn’t every kid get the chance to decide for his or herself what to believe in? Isn’t it somewhat abusive to force a child to comply to a set of values and morals that they do not fully understand?
At the end of the day, we both agreed that it was important for us to introduce our child to our practices and values. After all, if we did not raise our child, who would? Still, there are many ways to present one’s spiritual and religious ideas to a little kid and some are arguably less forceful than others.
When raising a child with Paganism, though, things can be a little complicated. There are not quite the same amount of resources, educative or otherwise, that larger religious groupings out there can enjoy. Discounting intermittent festivals and other communal events, each and every family unit is pretty much left to their own devices when it comes to transmitting the faith. As a result, there likely exist countless practices, strategies, and opinions on the subject, and the present piece will not dare detailing these here.
Instead, I wish to focus on one easy and obvious way to introduce small children to the world of the Old Religion: kids’ entertainment and media. Paganism, after all, has historically influenced virtually all aspects of arts, ideas, literature, and aesthetics and continue to do so today. It is therefore not too hard to find examples of kids’ media that, if not straight-up Pagan, could still be used to familiarize a child to this universe.
The following list is based on my own experience with my two-and-a-half-year-old child, so the items presented will of course be those best suited for younger kids. The criteria for what constitutes a Pagan or Pagan-friendly media item are arguably up to debate but I thought that the following ones would be relatively non-controversial:
- The story includes/presents characters taken from the mythology and folklore of Pagan or Polytheist cultures. Those do not need to be completely faithful to the original sources, or even the modern understanding of those figures but they should play a significant role in the narrative.
- The story showcases magic or ritual in a positive, neutral, or nuanced manner. The trope of the evil witch is therefore not okay, but a tale where both the protagonists and their adversaries use magic is fine. Stories that paint magic as a disruptive and dangerous force could potentially be fine, but probably would be best suited older audiences.
- The story does not include significant figures, locales, or plot devices characterized by their link to a monotheist religion. A church in a background picture is fine, as are casual depictions of priests, nuns, and the like, but any story that revolves around or uncritically present religions that have historically hostile to Witchcraft and Pagan worship will not cut it.
Finally, it also matters that the media in question is actually good. What is good is of course a matter of personal opinion, but one should always keep in mind to nurture the future generations with media and art that come first and foremost from a place of love and passion. Keep in mind also to check that whatever you plan on showing your kids does not contain shocking or violent imagery, they will have plenty of time to deal with things like that in their teens anyways.
Now with all that, I will present you 10 pieces of children media and entertainment that, not only I believe make excellent entryways in the world of Paganism, but have also hugely entertained and enchanted my own daughter.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff – written by Nat Lambert and illustrated by Christina Forshay
Also known as bukkene/bockarna Bruse, this beloved ages-old story of the three goats who have to confront a scary bridge-dwelling troll in order to (literally) access greener pastures is as popular in Scandinavia as it is in North America. My daughter’s kindergarten even sing song and organizes small plays retelling the story, to the amazement of the small ones! This book was selected because, besides the beautiful, colorful illustrations, introducing your children to folkloric creatures such as trolls will familiarize them with a folklore that is very much Pagan at its core.
Good Night Fairies – written by Kathleen Hague and illustrated by Michael Hague
Let’s face it, every kid likes fairies. What is not to like about those beautiful ethereal dwellers of the skies? In this whimsical and poetic good-night book, your children will be served absolutely breathtaking, intricate art-nouveau inspired illustrations depicting a little folk that cares for nothing more than bringing joy to kids and the natural world alike. This book was selected primarily because it showcases a hopeful, positive, and truly magical worldview that is bound to mystify any curious child.
The Earth is Good – written by Michael DeMunn and illustrated by Jim McMullan
This adorable book might be more pantheist than Pagan, it nevertheless makes for a beautiful, and easy read for or to a little kid. In it, you will follow a little boy running around wide open spaces, and read how everything in the natural world is just… good. This books was selected because of this simple, yet meaningful message which is guaranteed to seep deep into the mind of your toddlers in no time.
Ulddageađgi (Huldresteinen) – written and illustrated by Sámmul Iŋggá Heidi (Heidi Persen)
This small peculiar book comes with text in two languages: Norwegian and Northern Sámi, one of the languages of Norway’s northern indigenous people. It is a retelling of an old folk story about a bewitched stone inhabited by a beautiful yet ominous supernatural woman, a hulder. While this book is not available in English, Google Translate (or any basic Norwegian dictionary) can easily make this story accessible to anyone. This book has been selected because it tells an intriguing story stepped in indigenous folklore and culture that deserves better recognition.
The Vikings are Coming – written and illustrated by Mauri Kunnas – colors by Tarka Kunnas
Coming from Finland’s most popular children author, this book introduces the Viking Age to kids in a cutesy, PG, and yet faithful manner. In this book, you will find short, funny, and gorgeously illustrated stories set in the Viking Age alongside thematic sections such as, sailing, daily life, and, of course, the Norse Gods. My daughter not only loved the many adorable characters like the Viking-cat or the pig-berserk, but also very quickly learned the names and attributes of Gods such as Odin, Thor, Frey, and Frigg. This book was selected, among many other things, for that reason.
Delightful Moomin Family – directed by Masayuki Kojima
Based on the works of the legendary Swedish-speaking author Tove Jansson, this anime, which originally aired in the early nineties is widely considered a cult classic among those who (like me) were lucky enough to watch it growing up. The series follows the peaceful, if not altogether tranquil lives of a family of cute, hippo-like trolls who go on adventures in a beautiful, Nordic-inspired world. This anime was elected because it is filled to the brim with fascinating wizards, ghosts, witches on the top of being one of the most comfy animated series ever made.
The Halloween Tree – directed by Mario Piluso – written by Ray Bradbury
Let’s face it: most Witches and Pagans love Halloween, but Halloween is not always either PG, or actually Pagan-y. This animated movie from the 90s, based on the eponymous 1972 book re-centers the mythos of Halloween on Samhain and other similar festivities and rituals. Featuring narration by the author, as well as voice acting from none other than Leonard Nimroy, this movie is authentic Americana-Halloween that manages to educate just as much as it charms.
Bamse and the Witch’s Daughter – directed by Christian Ryltenius
While relatively unknown outside of Scandinavia, Bamse is a true star up here in the North. Half Mickey Mouse and half Asterix, Bamse is the world’s strongest -and nicest- bear and has been a fixture of popular kids media since the sixties. While the story’s core identity is grounded in humanist and liberal values, magical and folkloric elements do show up time to time, like in this 2016 feature where the protagonists are a family of witches struggling to find their place in Bamse’s world. This nicely-animated feature is guaranteed to teach a thing or two about not only Witchcraft, but kindness too.
My Neighbor Totoro – directed by Hayao Miyazaki
One of the most beloved Studio Ghibli animated movies, My Neighbor Totoro mixes magical realism with a deep sense of reverence for nature and childhood alike. Moving to the woods in the middle of nowhere, two young sisters soon encounter a flurry of friendly (and soft) supernatural creatures who will help them with the issues they face in their daily lives. If other Ghibli movies might surpass Totoro in terms of artfulness, nothing will enchant the life of a kid like watching Totoro, or “bus-cat film” as my daughter calls it.
Coco – directed by Lee Unkrich
This CGI-animated movie based on the folklore of the Mexican Day of the Dead follows the story of a music-loving young boy growing up in a family that does not tolerate this art form at all, and who must step in the realm of the departed to find both himself, and relatives of his. While this pitch might not sound anything too over the top, this ridiculously colorful movie actually centers on the importance of making offerings to one’s ancestors and working with them for the benefit of both the living and the dead. I could not imagine a more Pagan narrative if I could, especially not for a Disney-Pixar production.
I hope that this short list – presented in no particular order – has proved both useful and entertaining, and that it might inspire young and expecting parents to think about what kind of media, art, and entertainment they might want to provide to their spawns. I also hope that it will generate further conversation on this topic and maybe motivate other Pagan parents to make similar lists. Finally, if this piece proves popular, I cannot rule out making another one in a few years time, when my child is not a toddler anymore and will have access to even more complex, refined, and influential art and media. Gods know how many more books and movies I have ready for her when that time comes!
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