Legends

Legends: Old and Popular Short Stories to Read Online

Few stories travel further or live longer than legends. Born around campfires, whispered through monasteries, sung in marketplaces, and finally written down centuries after they began, legends are the old, popular short stories that every culture keeps coming back to—tales of heroes and tricksters, of saints and monsters, of holidays explained and mysteries half-believed. On Ririro you’ll find a carefully curated collection of legends in English, drawn from Britain, Greece, Scandinavia, Russia, Ireland, America, and beyond. Many are illustrated, most are short enough to read in a single sitting, and all of them are free to read online—with audio versions and PDF downloads available on many titles.

Christmas Legends

Long before Christmas became a season of shopping and snow globes, it was a season of stories—old legends explaining where holiday traditions came from, why certain ornaments hang on the tree, and how kindness on a cold December night could change a life forever. These popular Christmas legends are short, warm, and perfect for reading aloud in the days leading up to the holiday.

1. The Legend of the Christmas Spider
A poor family with no money for ornaments wakes on Christmas morning to find their tree shimmering with silver and gold spider webs. This gentle Eastern European legend explains why tinsel decorates Christmas trees—a short, kind-hearted story for kids that pairs beautifully with a quiet evening read aloud.

2. The Legend of the Christmas Tree
A poor woodcutter and his wife welcome a hungry stranger on Christmas Eve, and the next morning the small fir tree by their door is heavy with golden gifts. One of the most popular old Christmas legends in the English-speaking world, this short story celebrates generosity, hospitality, and the quiet rewards of an open heart.

3. The Legend of Babouscka
A Russian old woman misses her chance to follow the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem—and now, the legend says, she still wanders the world on Christmas Eve, leaving small gifts for sleeping children. A short, audio-friendly Christmas legend with a gentle moral that has charmed readers for generations.

4. The Legend of Ded Moroz and Snegurochka
Russia’s Father Frost and his Snow Maiden granddaughter star in this beloved winter legend, a New Year’s classic that explains the icy figures children all over Eastern Europe still wait for in late December. A short, atmospheric story for first and second graders.

Halloween Legends

Few seasons love a legend like Halloween. From jack-o’-lanterns to headless horsemen, the autumn months are full of old, popular short stories that keep readers turning pages by the light of a single candle. The Halloween legends below range from kid-friendly to genuinely spine-chilling—pick the one that matches your reader.

1. The Legend of Stingy Jack
The Irish legend behind the jack-o’-lantern: a sly old trickster outwits the Devil twice, only to find that neither Heaven nor Hell will take him in. Doomed to wander with a glowing turnip in hand, Jack becomes the figure modern Halloween still remembers. A short, accessible legend for middle-grade readers and a wonderful conversation-starter about consequences.

2. The Legend of the Headless Horseman
This kid-friendly retelling of the famous American legend brings the ghostly Hessian horseman thundering through the autumn countryside. A five-minute Halloween read for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders—just spooky enough to thrill without being too much for sensitive readers.

3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Washington Irving’s original tale of Ichabod Crane, the lovely Katrina, and the ghost rider of Sleepy Hollow remains one of the most popular old American legends ever written. Audio is available on Ririro—an atmospheric Halloween read for older middle-schoolers and adults alike.

4. The Devil and Tom Walker
Another Washington Irving classic: a greedy New Englander strikes a bargain with the Devil and lives to regret it. A short Halloween legend for adult readers, full of dark humor and biting moral commentary—a perfect pairing for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

5. The Curse of Yig
For older readers and horror fans, this longer Halloween legend by Zealia Brown Reed (with H.P. Lovecraft) follows a chilling tale of frontier-era America and a serpent god whose curse refuses to be broken. A genuinely scary short story for high-schoolers and adults.

Greek Legends

The Greek legends are perhaps the oldest popular short stories still widely read today—tales of gods, heroes, and tragic mortals that have shaped Western storytelling for nearly three thousand years. The collection below ranges from the most famous Greek legend on Ririro—Echo and Narcissus—to compact Aesop fables steeped in Greek mythology.

1. Echo and Narcissus
The unforgettable Greek legend of Narcissus, the beautiful youth so consumed by his own reflection that he wastes away beside a forest pool, and Echo, the nymph cursed to repeat only the last words she hears. Ovid’s tale gave the English language the words “narcissism” and “echo”—a short, haunting story about vanity, longing, and consequence, ideal for readers aged 9 to 13.

2. Theseus and the Minotaur
The hero Theseus descends into the labyrinth beneath Crete to face the half-bull, half-man Minotaur—armed only with a sword and a thread from the princess Ariadne. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s vivid retelling is one of the most popular old Greek legends in the collection, with audio available for an immersive read.

3. Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and Momus
A short Aesop legend in which the gods compete to create the finest thing on earth—and Momus, the god of mockery, finds fault with every entry. A witty, popular Greek legend about envy and impossible standards, perfect for fourth through sixth graders.

4. The Trees Under the Protection of the Gods
The gods choose their favorite trees in this short Greek legend—and the goddess Minerva makes the wisest pick of all. A one-minute read by Aesop, full of quiet wisdom about value beyond beauty.

5. The Lark Burying Her Father
A compact Aesop legend rooted in Greek mythology, this brief tale offers a poignant explanation for the lark’s distinctive crest. A lovely short read for older children and an elegant introduction to the way ancient Greek storytellers explained the natural world.

Famous Heroes: King Arthur, Robin Hood, and More

No collection of legends would be complete without the great heroes whose names have echoed across centuries of English storytelling. The legends below feature knights, outlaws, and dragon-slayers—the kind of long-loved popular short stories that introduce children to the very idea of a hero.

1. King Arthur (Full Book)
Beatrice Clay’s classic retelling brings the legendary king of Camelot to life across multiple chapters—Excalibur, Merlin, the Round Table, and the noble knights who serve under Arthur’s banner. One of the most popular old legends in the English language, this audio-supported chapter book is ideal for readers aged 7 to 9 ready to explore an epic in bite-sized pieces.

2. Robin Hood (Chapter Book)
Mary Macleod’s chapter book gathers the famous legend of Robin Hood and his band of merry outlaws—stealing from the rich, giving to the poor, and outwitting the Sheriff of Nottingham at every turn. A popular old English legend with audio, perfect for third, fourth, and fifth graders looking for adventure short stories with heart.

3. St. George and the Dragon (Short Version)
Louey Chisholm’s short retelling of England’s patron saint and the dragon he slew is a two-minute bedtime classic for early readers. A perfect first taste of legendary storytelling for first graders and kindergarteners.

4. How Thor Went to Jotunheim
A Norse legend of the thunder god Thor, the trickster Loki, and a fateful journey into the land of giants. A wonderfully readable old legend for older middle-schoolers, full of humor, deception, and unexpected wisdom.

Other Popular Legends from Around the World

Beyond Christmas, Halloween, Greek myth, and the great hero legends, Ririro features short legends from every corner of the globe. These popular old stories prove just how universal the legend tradition really is.

1. The Loch Ness Monster
The Scottish legend of Nessie—part folklore, part educational—told in just a minute or two for the very youngest readers. A delightful introduction to legendary storytelling for preschool and kindergarten listeners.

2. The Flying Dutchman
The famous old Dutch legend of a ghost ship doomed to sail forever, never reaching port. A short five-minute read that has inspired everything from operas to films, suitable for fourth through sixth graders.

3. The Star Lovers
A bittersweet Japanese legend about two lovers separated by the Milky Way, allowed to meet only once a year. A short, lyrical introduction to East Asian mythology for fifth and sixth graders.

4. The Two Bags
A one-minute Greek legend by Aesop about the way human beings see the faults of others much more clearly than their own. Short, sharp, and unforgettable.