CINDERELLA STORIES and VARIANTS
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

1) Marushka and the Twelve Months Brothers is a Slavic fairytale, a Cinderella variant. Great story for the beginning of the New Year. It is also on Dan Keding's book, Stories of Hope and Spirit.
Midwest Book Review
Compiled and edited by musician, storyteller, and recording artist Dan Keding, Stories of Hope and Spirit, Folktales from Eastern Europe, is a wonderfully presented and enthusiastically recommended anthology of thirteen folktales drawn from the countries and cultures of eastern Europe. The include: The Best Wish (Croatia); The Most Precious Gift (Turkey/Croatia); The First Story (Republic of Georgia); The King's Ears (Serbia); Strawberries in Winter (Slovakia); The Prince Who Married a Frog (Croatia); The Three Brothers and the Pot of Gold (Moldavia); One Man's Trouble (Latvia); The Enhanced Princess (Russia); The Old Traveler (Estonia); How the Rich Man Learned a Lesson (Chechnia); and Nail Soup (Croatia). In addition to an informative Introduction, Stories Of Hope And Spirit is also enhanced with the inclusion of "Telling the Stories" and a bibliography.
From School Library Journal
The author's grandmother brought to this country the folktales from her native Croatia and from other Eastern European countries. "Noni" told the same stories to Keding as a way of entertaining him; of keeping the tales alive; and of teaching, guiding, and perpetuating the values that have strengthened and sustained families and communities throughout centuries of conflicts. The tales, which reflect the flavors of the countries of origin, illustrate how we must act toward one another-how evil begets evil, and, conversely, how kindness begets kindness. Some stories are variations of familiar tales ("Nail Soup" for "Stone Soup"), and the heroes, princesses, monsters, and sorcerers behave in ways that lead predictably to satisfying, or unsatisfying, outcomes. Many of Keding's tales are easy to read and ready to tell just as they are written, while others require more time to learn, especially those that contain a tale within a tale. Here are stories for teachers, clergy, parents, and friends to do what Noni did-teach, guide, and entertain. Listeners of any age will hear the messages of hope and spirit woven into these selections, each of which provides a road map to a better world.-Judy Sokoll, Florida Storytelling Association, Naples
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2) Here are the bones of
The Twelve Months – A Slavic Tale
[Bones taken from Marushka and the Month Brothers – A folktale retold by Philemon Sturges and Anna Vojtech, North-South Books Inc.,
New York. ISBN 1-55858-628-8]
Once there was a kind, gentle, sweet girl named Marushka, beautiful inside and out. She lived in a cottage with her stepmother and stepsister. Marushka’s father was long dead and her stepmother favored Holena, her own daughter. Although Holena was not unattractive, her ungrateful, selfish and rude disposition shriveled her beauty. The stepmother feared that Holena would never marry, for every young man who came to call was immediately charmed by Marushka. She vowed to make Marushka ugly with hard work, harsh words. She gave her the worst, most thankless chores, while her own daughter, Holena, lazed about. Yet, no matter what her stepmother heaped upon her, Marushka remained beautiful. The stepmother’s fury and envy grew. One bitter cold winter day the stepmother decided to send Marushka in search of the impossible—violets in winter. Marushka cried out, "But it’s winter. There are no violets in winter." The stepmother told her not to return until she had found them; thrust her out into the frozen snow. Marushka traveled through fields of deep drifting snow, into the dark forest. Half frozen, she followed a light that glowed between the trees. She came upon twelve men sitting in a circle on seats of stone. She gently asked if she could warm herself by the fire. The eldest of the men agreed. "Do you know who we are?" he asked. "You must be the Twelve Month Brothers," Marushka answered. Indeed, the oldest was January, the first month of the year. He asked why she was out in such harsh weather.
"My sister wants violets, violets in winter. I can't go home without them."
January stood up and gave his staff to Brother March. March waved the staff, the snows melted away and violets bloomed. They told her to hurry and gather them. She filled her apron, thanked them and returned home. When she returned, her stepmother was shocked. She demanded to see the violets. Her stepsister reached out and grabbed every one of them, saving none for Marushka.
The next day Holena demanded to have strawberries with her dinner. Once again, the stepmother pushed Marushka out the door, warning, "Don't come back without them!" Marushka stumbled out into the snow and came upon the Twelve Month Brothers again. She told them she had to find strawberries for her sister.
January rose, handed the staff to Brother June. Instantly, the snow melted, flowers bloomed and strawberries grew red and sweet. They cautioned her to hurry. She picked them as fast as she could, thanked them and left for home. Once again, the stepmother and Holena took them all and left none for Marushka. The next day the sister demanded apples, and Marushka was sent out into the snow.
When she arrived at the place of the Twelve Month Brothers, January cautioned her that he could only help her once more. Marushka asked for apples and Brother January handed his staff to Brother September. The snow melted, leaves grew and blossoms turned into green apples. Brother September told her to shake the tree, one apple fell. She shook it again, a second one fell. She picked them up, thanked each one of the Month Brothers and left for home.
When she returned she held out the two apples in her hands. Holena demanded to know why she hadn’t brought more. Marushka explained that she could take only two. They called her a liar, took the apples from her and didn't share a bite. Holena's greed overtook her. She threw on her cloak and set out into the fierce cold for more apples. Her mother called out that the snow was too deep, it was too cold, there were wolves about...but Holena paid her no mind. Holena saw the same light, followed it and came upon the Twelve Month Brothers. She did not ask if she could warm herself, she went right up to the fire without asking permission. When they asked who she was, she scolded, "It is none of your business!" and after she had warmed herself, she made her way into the forest in search of apples.
Brother January was enraged, he raised his mighty staff and a great storm blew. Back at the cottage, Holena's mother saw the storm. She grabbed her coat and went in search of her daughter. The storm raged for days. Marushka stayed home tending to the animals, keeping the food warm and the chores done, waiting for their return. But they never came back; they froze to death in the forest.
Marushka inherited the small farm and animals. In time she married an equally kind and caring farmer and they lived happily together for the rest of their days.
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Web Source:
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/diamondstoads/stories/12months.html
http://www.rambles.net/sturges_marush96.html
Karen C.
http://www.storybug.net
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3) Film: Three Nuts for Cinderella (1975, Czechslovakia) A Czech retelling of the classic rags-to-riches tale.
DVD: Three Oreshka Dlia Zolushki / Three Nuts for Cinderella
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4) There's a storybook version, Princess Furball retold by Charlotte Huck and illustrated by Anita Lobel put out by Scholastic in 1990. In this paperback version, Charlotte Huck explains that Furball is one of many variants of Cinderella. She cites similarities to Catskin and Many Furs or Thousand Furs.
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5) In the more traditional versions of All-Fur or Allerleirauh.which is considered a Cinderella variant (Cinderella is AT 510A; All-Furs is AT510B), the princess runs away to avoid marrying HER FATHER. One of the main distinctions between 510A and 510B is the element of incest. Usually, the girl's mother had died, making the king promise he would only marry someone as beautiful as she had been - and the daughter grows up to be the only one who meets that requirement. Although the more widely known Cinderella tales (AT510A) lack the incest motif, there are enough elements in common for folklorists to see both the Cinderella type and the All-Furs type as related.
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6) Robin McKinley has written a powerful novel for young adults (library jargon meaning adolescents) called Deerskin, exploring the incest theme of the folktale All-Furs.
From Library Journal
Heir to her late mother's legendary beauty, Princess Lissar becomes the victim of her grief-maddened father's desire. Fleeing her home, she seeks solace and solitude in a great forest--and discovers a magic that leads her toward healing and justice. Loosely based on "Donkeyskin," an obscure fairy tale by Charles Perrault, this story of a young woman's survival and recovery is both a classic hero's journey-tale and a parable for modern times. Award-winning YA author McKinley turns her storytelling acumen and stylistic grace toward an adult audience, handling incest and rape with unflinching honesty while at the same time building a case for hope and renewal. A good choice for fantasy collections.
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7) Folktale of All Kinds of Fur
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/incest.html#allkinds
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/donkeyskin/stories/allfur.html
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8) I found this list of Cinderella stories by continents and thought you might be interested.
Click here: Cinderella stories by continent
http://nancykeane.com/rl/322.htm
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(This web page updated 11/29/03; 11/2/07' 4/22/08)