The Messed Up Origins™ of Rip Van Winkle | Folklore Explained - Jon Solo

[@tracyz9155]

I grew up reading every fairy ale, fable, folk tale and regional tall tale I could find. That’s why I’m happy to find more information about these stories. I love fanciful and magical tales. I didn’t realize that Rip Van Winkle wasn’t well known. For years this story added extra fears to camping trips. Plus some truly gruesome Appalachian ghost stories like “Helen go forth”. Thanks for all the extra fun.

[@BlueberryFundip]

Fairy ale sounds yummy

[@Neoentrophy]

@@BlueberryFundip NOOOO don't do it, that's how Rip got into this mess

[@tianahorsey-daydreamer8962]

I also grew up on this story and had no idea that other people didn't. Lol it's a wild world!

[@jevinday]

I had no idea that van winkle died. RIP.

[@psalm5187]

Muslims unfortunatly believe that this story (seven sleepers of Ephesus) was written by the god named al-lah and appears in the Quran via the angel Jibreel and the false prophet Mohammed. Someone is telling pork pies (lies).

[@celticpoet21]

There is a story very similar to this from a collection of Chinese folktales called "Tha Rainbow People by Laurence Yep". The story is called "The homecoming". It's about a woodcutter who is like Rip, but is also very easily distracted. He's always happy to help others and give advice but neglects his own work, chores and his wife. One day, she has to escort him out of the villiage to get him to go chop wood and warns him not to talk to anyone. He soon literally bumps into a couple of old men (who are saints) playing chess in the woods and soon can't resist hanging around watching their game and giving advice. The game goes on for what seemed like 7 days, and the players decide to call the game a draw and wonder that the woodcutter is still there and tell him to go home. Like Rip, he sees his equipment rusty, etc. When he eventually goes home, someone else is living in his house. When he tells the school teacher his name, the teacher recalls in the clan record book that a woodcutter had left the villiage thousands of years before and never came back.

[@GingerBeard24]

@Diana North That's really neat!

[@ashleymcconnell3369]

That seems like an interesting story!!!

[@eccentricthought4511]

Thats what he gets for not keeping his mouth shut when seniors are playing a game . He was truly courting death .

[@celticpoet21]

@@eccentricthought4511 Yeah, and for not keeping his priorities straight.

[@Mack_Kenzie]

Yeeeeesssss!! This is the story! I knew id heard something like Rip Van Winkle before but I could t remember what it was called! Thamk you sm! 😁

[@bradwolf07]

I think Rip was happiest to hear his wife would no longer be nagging him thanks to his power nap...she sounds like she had anger issues and Rip was just the wrong guy for her to marry...

[@c5365]

Not really, it sounds like Rip was a friendly, affable sort of guy, but couldn't hold down steady employment responsibly. That means his wife and children may have been dressed in rags and on the verge of starving, or at the very least, stressed from being too poor. I get why she'd be angry with him for goofing off all day.

[@alexiswelsh5821]

He was also referenced in Fairly Odd Parents. It was the episode where Timmy wishes no one can sleep.

[@Bookwormtalksabout]

“If 2022 is anything like 2021 the human race is doomed.” Truer words were never spoken.

[@vince11harris]

This aged well 😬

[@dwaynethemineraljohnson412]

@@vince11harris HOW do you mean. this year is so much better exept if you live in eastern europe

[@vince11harris]

@@dwaynethemineraljohnson412 dude this was 5 months ago.

[@canaisyoung3601]

It wasn't too bad, but life has always been full of crap we have to get through in order to live it. If you feel like sleeping through it is the only way to deal, then, in the words of Lois Griffin on "Family Guy": "Here's a bottle of Ambien and a Sylvia Plath book. I'm going to leave the room and whatever happens, happens."

[@neochrist33]

2024 and only seems to get worse lol WW3 here we come....

[@juliannagoodwin2875]

My intro to Rip Van Wrinkle was an episode of Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. It was a show apart of HBO’s children show line up. I only remember watching it once, but I still remember it bits and pieces of it.

[@jadacampbell9331]

So glad ypu referenced this! I was just thinking of that episode

[@Fred100159]

I loved that detail about Rip's wife dying from bursting a blood vessel in her head while yelling at a peddler.... Even back then, the storyteller didn't give an Old Hen any respect.

[@canaisyoung3601]

Well, did they do anything to earn it?

[@M3TAH34D]

​@@canaisyoung3601 usually not, but who knows what.

[@benkenobisgirl]

I remember reading/hearing this as a child and I was very sorry for Rip Van WInkle for losing 20 years. I've always been scared of death, so maybe that's why. And your puppers are darling!

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

I watched the 1978 claymation Rip Van Winkle. Geez Louise, was it a trippy film. There are actually tales of fairies doing the very same sleep thing with people in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England (which I am somewhat familiar with) and other places. Usually, it involves someone finding a bunch of fairies dancing around in a ring (of mushrooms) and the unsuspecting person joins in the dancing, drinking and eating the fairy food offered (Never eat fairy food!). The person passes out and wakes up a long time later, usually years passed their lifespan. When someone tells them the year/time period, the long-lived person crumbles to dust. Or something like that. It's been years since I've read the old fairytales.

[@hospitalgal101]

I'm so glad that my memory of that wasn't a fever dream

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

@@hospitalgal101 I wondered the same until I looked it up. Just looking at the pictures weirds me out.

[@YourQueerGreatAuntie]

It's a pretty common trope in British and Irish folktales and mythology. You're right - it's the (faery) drink what does it! Interesting that Irving included that detail in his story. I think the Irving (Van Winkle) story shares a historisicing project with some of the Xtianised Irish stories (the ones where the returning person crumbles to dust after being baptised). It contrasts a "before" and "after" of some civilisational shift i.e. the coming of Xtinity / the American Revolution

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

@@YourQueerGreatAuntie It's funny how those stories last in different, yet similar ways despite everything that tries to get rid of them. Also, fairies and ghosts have been considered one and the same, just older than most ghosts. Such as the Milesians who conquered Ireland and the previous people, the Tuatha de Danann (I believe, if I remember correctly) went "underground"/died. After that, the people who resided in Ireland believed the Tuatha de Danann were fairies. Similar things happened in England/Scotland/Isle of Mann, etc. But it's been a while, so don't quote me. X)

[@DoubleDealingDisarray]

@Hyperskreem 82 I'm so sorry. X) Thankfully, I was too young and perturbed to pay attention to the lyrics.

[@srayj]

The story is very different than I thought it would be, but I love how you go into the details and explain everything. Have you ever done a messed up origins of the Sandman? I started wondering about it around Christmas since you did Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians and the Santa Clause 3, both of which also feature Sandman.

[@petestoutenburgh1412]

Great video. The slight additions in editing make a big difference in keeping it very entertaining. Keep up the amazing work!

[@JonSolo]

thanks Pete! 👊🏼

[@DannyJane.]

As a native New Yorker, and a person who lived in the upper Hudson River area for a large part of my life, I was so pleased to read your salute to one of my favorite tales, Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle. I've read it many times, but even as a youngster, I have held an unpopular point of view about the way the story is slanted. The one thing that always bothered me was Washington Irving's cruel slamt against poor Dame Van Winkle, an unfortunate lady for whom Irving never even saw fit to give a name. Rip's wife is tagged with the most unflattering terms, the mildest of which is "shrew". She has a sharp tongue and berates him constantly, even though Irving shows us in the clearest possible language how she came to be that way. The tale tells us outright that Rip's a loser! He will not hold down a job, he will not work his own land, and he's full of excuses. Rather than living up to his obligations, he's a drain on the scant family resources. Think about it. If you read about someone not blessed by Washing Irving's lyric prose, my guess is that you wouldn't be as sentimental no matter how nice the guy was.. But it's not enough that he will do nothing for the people to whom he has an obligation, he's quite willing to be at the beck and call of the rest of the community. Irving tells us that anyone in the village can obtain his time and energy just for the asking. So instead of being productive in any form whatsoever at home, he hangs out at the tavern. He has cultivated an amiable and sweet manner which earns him sympathy rather than well-deserved censure. Meantime, his nameless wife is trying to make a home for him and the children. She must do all the work, not only her own usual tasks--which in that time were considerable--but his as well. Money must have been extremely tight, and she's stuck with a spouse who refuses to contribute anything. His physical and emotional remove doesn't just distance him from her--but to their seriously neglected children as well. Her own offspring go undisciplined and ragged--she certainly hasn't got time to look after them properly while struggling to keep them alive--while he's away playing with every other kid in town. She must scrimp and watch helplessly as he wastes the few family resources down at the pub. Yet Irving calls her a termagant. His prose is gentle to her useless husband, calling him mild-mannered and kindly, glorifying Rip Van Winkle who neglects his family to point of abuse, and all the while condemns Dame Van Winkle for being angry about it. Imagine living for years like that and think what it could do one's spirit. Me, I wouldn't have wasted my breath, I have tossed that loser out of the house. In the end, it must have been quite a relief for her when Rip disappeared. I am guessing she never gave it voice, but she must have felt some secret satisfaction that what little she might have been able to bring in but could go to the benefit of her children. rather than ending up in the pockets of the taciturn Nicolas Vedder, owner of the town's inn,

[@DrDolan2000]

I see when you mean. As kind as someone can be, they should be called out for when they mess up Makes me wonder why Rip got married and started a family in the first place seeing as how he's far less than suited to take care of one

[@pluggy86]

This is a folk tale, not an in depth character study. Irving saw him as a lovable rogue. I don’t know if he viewed the Dutch as lazy. You’re right on the merits. This is not “War and Peace.” Take it or leave it. I just think you protest too much.

[@sarahsnow9088]

Great video! I learned so much about this subject in the last 16 minutes that I had to show the hubby. I too am over this "can't see your family or friends unless _______ " situation since it has put a damper on every important event for everyone we care about! Just had my birthday yesterday and I remembered that the messed up origin of Capricorn is coming up soon!

[@josephinemarieclayton7254]

Congratulations. Cool 😎. Happy birthday 🎂 🎁 🎉.

[@karandavis5197]

I have been looking up the claims of Christians destroying temples and stuff during the time of Decian and could find none. The Christians refused to offer sacrifices for the emperor (because we don't do blood sacrifices) and that started the wave of persecution. Christians did not start actively destroying temples until later during the rule of Constantine. the story of the Seven Sleepers was used during the time of Theodosius as proof of the resurrection.

[@axstorm2191]

thank you.

[@judywashington4848]

As a Christian, not an evangelical, I apologize if you were taught a strenuous, controlling religion. Christianity isn't a religion. It's a faith, a way of life, showing loving and forgiveness to everyone, whether they deserve it or not

[@justineck5664]

I once slept from Paris Texas to Lake Pontchartrain in a military convoy doing 35mph on our way to operation Katrina. I woke up and couldn't see land anywhere, we were just driving on a highway that was in the middle of the water. I was scared out of my mind until I decided i was fine with death.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

Is Lake Pontchartrain the same one depicted in Lucio Fulci's *The Beyond* (specifically the scene on the bridge with the blind girl)?

[@justineck5664]

@@TheRealNormanBates yes, that's the one.

[@Ryodraco]

13:45 I hope you're not relying too much on that one book in your views on the time period. The Darkening Age, to quote wikipedia: "received extensive criticism from professional scholars of late antiquity and the Middle Ages, who accused it of telling a simplistic, polemical narrative and exaggerating the extent to which early Christians suppressed aspects of older Greek and Roman cultures." The wikipedia page lists a lot of quotes from a lot of scholars, all but one of them at least partially negative, and give the impression this book was terribly biased and misrepresented many things. Even a scholar who agreed that more attention should be paid to wrongs Christians did to Rome, found that in the process Nixey had heavily downplayed the Roman society's own flaws. There are multiple sides to most stories, and seldom can blame be placed squarely on any one group, especially when a group is huge and diverse, and this book doesn't give much attention to counter arguments, to the point that the reader would leave with the impression the writer's claims are uncontested. In particular I am bothered that this book apparently perpetuates the myth that the middle ages were a period of blind faith and intellectual stagnation. I thought it had long been established that the "dark ages" were not really a thing.

[@jonathonrobinson6081]

What you say has been long established only with those that are uncomfortable with myths. This guy lives for myths.

[@Ryodraco]

@@jonathonrobinson6081 which is fine, so long as they are noted to be myths.

[@anayelisoria37]

Considering how christians behave today (yeah today 2022) makes pretty easy to believe the things on that book are 100% truth. Religion has always been behind the worst parts off human history, Imperialism, war, countless genocides, the crusades, sexual violence, pedophilia, blind faith, slavery, the holocaust, etc. You may say this is human nature and that all of that existed before the Middle Ages, that's true, but is also undeniable that Christianity and Catholicism REALLY want to put their personal twist on it. Me, personally have rejected any type of organized religion and I honestly believe if Jesus have existed he would be very very disppointed by humanity.

[@Ryodraco]

@@anayelisoria37 I'd say it's more truthful to say religion has been used as an excuse/justification for imperialism, war, genocides, etc. that were motivated more by the desire for more land and resources or the elimination of enemies both real and perceived. One can also argue that morals promoted by various religions are a major reason why so many of those practices became seen as wrong over the ages. And the fact remains that most scholars regard The Darkening Age's claims as being exaggerated, misleading and in some cases outright false. Lastly, of course Jesus would be disappointed by humanity. Humanity being horribly flawed and in need of a savior, and incapable of ever earning said saving, are some of the central tenets of Christianity.

[@logankearl8115]

@@Ryodraco I totally agree with you. People are so quick to have a scapegoat: religion, ethnicity, or political parties. Life unfortunately can't be boiled down to religion: bad, Me: good. Religious freedom opens the door to many other freedoms.

[@amyeaton882]

i didn't grow up reading fairy tales and didn't hear about Rip Van Winkle till my favorite PBS show, Wishbone did an episode about it. Love hearing the backstory to this story!

[@TroyPacelli]

BEST INTRO EVER!! Liked. Already subscribed.

[@BiancaBabe]

Same!

[@jonathonrobinson6081]

Perpetual victims often do like having their self-imposed victimhood being vindicated.

[@chrissyr8387]

I remember Happily Ever After Fairytales for every child did a version of the story from the wife's perspective. It can be a little preachy at the end, but I think it was a pretty nice retelling.

[@сесилияалександрова]

That is so cool! Right now I'm writing a novel with a similar theme, and I've stumbled across a few more stories. My favorite is about Urashima Taro. Well, he spent 3 days eating and drinking into the underwater palace of the dragon king, but when he got home, 300 years have passed, so it still falls under the same category. There's a Chinese legend from the 5th century or so, called Ranka or Lanke. I'm not gonna retell them, but the sleeping-for-years motive can also be found in the stories about the Indian king Muchuukunda, another Indian king Kukudmi, the Irish Niamh and Oisín, The Voyage of Bran, another Irish legend, the jewish schollar Honi HaMe'agel, the novel The Sleeper Awakes, and the fairy tale The princess and the iron shoes. Also, I didn't really read Rip van Winkle, so thank a bunch for the retell [and don't tell anybody]. And... Please do the months in Bulgarian folklore, and make series on Stephen King and Japanese Mythology! Pretty please!

[@gusjerge9539]

The Roman Empire was already falling apart when christianity was on the rise. Not only were they persecuted by several emperors, but the Roman men in particular starting marrying Christian woman a lot, which I’m sure had something to do with the change in culture.

[@nayyarrashid4661]

It was not called Christianity at that time though.

[@jonathonrobinson6081]

The Roman Empire lasted until the 15th century AD.

[@Sergi25026]

@@nayyarrashid4661 It kinda was though. Many Roman historians, including Tacitus and Pliny the Younger, referred to them as “Chrestianus”. The Church later edited the “e” to an “i” to correct the spelling error.

[@Ryodraco]

And from what I've seen, the Darkening Age used as his source is considered horribly biased, inaccurate, etc. and is seen quite negatively by most scholars.

[@JonSolo]

There were obviously many events and factors that led to the Roman Empire’s decline. I’m not blaming ancient, radical Christians for the fall of the Empire. I’m saying they destroyed its culture: burned its greatest libraries, knocked down its temples, defaced statues of the gods, etc.

[@christinaknapp1980]

My first introduction to Rip Van Winkle was through the PBS series "Wishbone". The titular character would play out the story while trying to apply its moral or use it as inspiration to help his owner (Wishbone is a dog, fyi) resolve a conflict. Can't remember how this episode went, just that they had the dog play Rip Van Winkle.

[@meshangatphoh3034]

I was one of those kids that grew up reading every kind of fairy tale and story. All the folk Lore i could find. This is why finding this channel has been so great for me, gives me alot more information about all these stories I've read.

[@lenbaribault6652]

I use to walk across the rip van winkle bridge in Catskill new york when i lived there

[@dominiczibuda5232]

My father figure had told me the story back when I was a tiny child, sleeping for a hundred years seems dangerous

[@BaraBrith]

Nice to finally know the story, makes a lot more sense as to why my father used to call me Rip Van Winkle in my teenage years, honestly always thought he was referring to an obscure music artist or band he used to listen to, also when Jon was describing the return to town and the confusion it reminded me of a scene from a film I can't think of so now that's annoying me trying to think what it is...

[@Sailor_Enchantix]

I had obviously heard of Rip Van Winkle before, but I had never heard the full story. Thanks for enlightening me.

[@zenagitana]

I'm a book worm that read every myth and fairytale I could growing up. I remember seeing a TV show about RVW, and thought I knew the story. Guess I was wrong! I had no idea it was based in New York.

[@helenamirian908]

What makes that hard to understand is that at the time it was written, New York was still largely inhabited by Dutch immigrants and, in the context of a fairy tale setting, seemed more like Europe.

[@pluggy86]

@@helenamirian908By then most would have been generations removed from the Netherlands. I remember seeing the ceremony at the Dutch church in Fishkill. The oldest tombstones from the 17th century are in Dutch, but the rest are in English.

[@peng1luver259]

I feel sorry for poor Rip Van Winkle, when I read it, almost everyone who knew him had died.

[@1anastudent]

There are also stories of fairies and elves guiding people into realms where hours there are years in the real world.

[@rubyambler2005]

Great job as usual! I never was very excited about the story but I was excited to see a "Jon Solo" video!

[@tamarasmith9060]

I've always wondered if the story is just supposed to make you think about what you want out of life in a philosophical sense. Do you want to "sleep" your way through life lazily & wind up with not much (lost his wife, home, & missed his kids growing up) or do you want to put in more effort now, working hard to prepare for the future & hardly have time to make friends or be a good neighbor? Those are the extremes & what usually makes most people happy in the long run is finding that work/fun balance. In the story it seems Rip's marriage wasn't that great, he & his wife weren't suited for each other & her wanting more than just barely getting by caused her to berate him often. He didn't change his attitude or life as a result of his lost time, showing that he truly deep down was the kind of person that didn't want a lot & had faith that things would always be fine. So he's the "lazy" extreme. You have to reflect on what your personality type/stress tolerance is & weigh it against what you want out of life. It isn't necessarily wrong or bad if you are 1 extreme or the other instead of in the middle like most, but you have to realize you will one day see the results of your chosen path/attitude so you better choose wisely or the result is highly likely to be very different from what you wanted.

[@laskmj24]

I loved reading this story as a kid!! One year, I even dressed as Rip Van Winkle for Halloween!

[@thejennzee04]

Could you do the messed-up origins of Swan Lake? For the many animated movies that tried to recreate the Disney format there was only one that has stood out my childhood and that was the Swan Princess, along with that one line of dialogue from it that lives rent free in my head, "You should write a book. How to offend women in five syllables or less."

[@angie-iy4by]

We really appreciate the amount of research and effort goes into your videos! ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER SLAY

[@simonaalmeida6589]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Just what I need rn. Thanks Jon 💜

[@Angelone1]

I grew up reading and watching wishbone the dog tell the story. You did a great job Jon

[@Manganra7]

When you started the episode, I thought you were joking when you asked if any of the younger generation knew about Rip Van Winkle. Me: “of course I know who he is!” I feel old now. I’m only 35.

[@BatmanBeyondBelief]

Your sense of humor and way with words is half the reason i watch this show. You crack me up man.

[@GoatNamedBruce]

I always thought this story had some roots in attempting to explain comas. Rip probably did go up the mountain after his goat but fell and experienced some kind of brain injury and "sleeping" for 20 years. Obviously doesn't explain who took care of him for 20 years, but makes sense that he would be confused by the passage of time and why some of the older folk even remembered his disappearance.

[@FallingAwake16]

Red Dead was my favorite video game. He was my fav character. This video just made my day more than you'll understand. 😅💛

[@EBThisThat]

Irving was known for Sleepy Hollow as well. Both stories are a couple of my absolute favorites. Have you ever looked into Little Nemo or Winken, Blinken and Nod ? Both revolve on stories involving sleep, and I'd love to know what your thoughts are.

[@AndrewVelonis]

Glad to see there's someone else familiar with Little Nemo.

[@EBThisThat]

@@AndrewVelonis The only reason I’m familiar is because of the old comic series, the story and the failed anime film. It had potential, honestly. I wrote a much-needed sequel.

[@lindseyleslie3366]

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is a movie I remember watching when I was very young and it was terrifying.

[@eileengalindo4949]

@@lindseyleslie3366 I loved it lol.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Rip Van Winkle lost 20 years of his life. He never was drafted to the war, he never attended the wedding of his kids, he never get to the funeral of his wife and friends. But the question remains...is he related to the one who sang that gibberish rap known as "Ice, ice baby"?

[@bradwolf07]

Don't forget the itty bitty "ching"

[@TheRealNormanBates]

@@bradwolf07 or the NInja Rap! Go ninja, go ninja, GO!

[@Luke-uf3jw]

I love this video so much! A similar story happened in one of the books of Brian Froud. A man sat under a tree in the forest, listening to the fading melody of elven/pixie music, which can have interesting but often negative effects on humans. He listened as the song ended and opened his eyes, finding the tree he layed under dead. Then he went to town and his old house. A young man, his grandson, opened the door. The old man introduced himself and the young man said: 'I've heared my father tell me about your dissapearence many times.' Then, the old man turned to dust on the doorstep. The end. Edit: The name of the sleeping man in the book is Shon ap Shenkin.

[@conniecarroll747]

It's been a very long time since I read Rip Van Winkle so have forgotten how he came to fall asleep. Thanks.

[@Marialla.]

To me, this story sounds like a rotten deadbeat dad/husband who went on walkabout for 20 years, then wandered back home with a tall tale to excuse his absence. He's totally overjoyed to now get to be a deadbeat living off his daughter with nobody expecting anything useful out of him anymore.

[@RandomGirl.RandamuOn-nanoko]

Funny that you publish this on the same day that my Dad slept in for an hour and a half and was running late for a legal obligation. VL

[@erinmeyers7635]

One fairy tale that always reminded me of Rip Van Winkle was the Japanese story of Urashima Taro.

[@sallywerner4011]

Literally just read Rip Can Winkle in my English class. Loved the video btw

[@LuinTathren]

These stories have similar elements to the Japanese story of Urashima Tarō and the Irish story of Oisín.

[@omarsmusic4316]

I had heard of RIP Van Winkle as a kid but never really knew much about it until I got to read it for my English and American Literature class at my college here in Abu Dhabi. I really enjoyed it one of my favorite classes that I ever took!

[@AsgardCupcakes]

I grew up with the show Wishbone, and a few old fairy tale books that were in my grandpa's house. But I feel like Wishbone was my first introduction to the story of Rip Van Winkle.

[@Px828]

Wishbone was the best.

[@DamonNomad82]

I perfectly understood the reference. The story was one of my favorites as a kid. I figured everyone knew about it.

[@meppep6733]

Great video, Jon! I find this version of the story kind of interesting since I didn't know it before. The version of Rip Van Winkle I grew up with came for a show called “Happily Ever After: Fairytales For Every Child”. In the episode (note that I'm going purely off of memory), we meet Rip’s wife first, who’s a hippie and singer. She meets Rip, who's a rock star, at one of his concerts. Once they're married his wife is left living the role of a mother and housewife. Rip isn't helping her with anything and just sleeping around. I forgot how but Rip does eventually fall under his sleep spell. When he wakes up he's in the modern-day, where he finds his wife, running for some kind of political office. It's interesting to compare the two versions in my head.

[@madelinerock6951]

YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IVE WAITED FOR THIS!!!

[@LoraZenta]

"He took a power nap that lasted 57 years. The weird part is that he was still tired." No, that sounds about right. 🙃

[@calico27]

Definitely like your summaries, as I will not be seeking to read these tales on my own time. This is the best way for me to gain awareness and knowledge of folk tales.. and your narration just makes it so much more enjoyable! So, thanks.

[@clarimm6675]

I searched for something to watch before bedtime yay 😊 and I've never heard of this story before like so many other stories Jon covered which is always super interesting (especially since I'm from the country of weird ass tales - Germany haha)

[@sarazens7200]

Fun

[@carlitaarn2958]

Nothing about the “rusty gun”? That was my professor’s favorite part

[@whtiequillBj]

Yes. I was already familiar with the story of Rip. Though I thought he slept for a century with slightly more repercussions from not remembering anything.

[@metalhead5204]

Gonna be honest, I've first heard of Rip Van Winkle from the anime Hellsing Ultimate so I'm pretty happy that this video is up so I can learn more about the guy.

[@turkeybeard2010]

I've always found this story relatable when out hunting, sitting in the blind or under a tree waiting for whatever your after to walk out only to dose off for a unknown time.

[@josephinemarieclayton7254]

Especially if you don't have a watch or smartphone. Lol 😆.

[@jokerzbabe13]

In Irish (and possibly other celtic mythologies as well, Im just Irish) We have Oisin, who goes with a beautiful woman to a land where time doesn't pass, and when he asks to visit home, she tells him not to let his feet alight on the ground. He is such a kind neighbor that when he sees men struggling to move a boulder on the road, he leaps from the white steed given by his wife to help them. Shortly after his feet touch the ground, he ages into a frail old man. He had been gone for I think hundreds of years, and it felt like three days/weeks (depending on the version you hear).

[@jokerzbabe13]

This is vastly limited version of the tale, but I reccomend the narration on the tedtalk channel if you like good voicework and animations.

[@alexiswelsh5821]

I remember reading this for a literature class and commenting on how could someone sleep for 20 years and have no one find his body? Then the next day while I was at the trolley stop waiting for the trolley to come, the shadows suddenly changed. When I checked the time, I saw to my horror that I had been there for almost 20 minutes and had one or two trolleys pass me by without me noticing at all. If I hadn't planned on getting to school early that day, I would've been late and possibly have missed a class.

[@marlisharogers5025]

Love it! Soooooo....... basically he lived his life right. Good for him. My new idol.

[@tayloredwards4968]

Please do messed up origins of the wonderful wizard of Oz

[@NemoNebulous]

Doesn't really have messed up origins, so probably not. As far as I can tell, the only "messed up" thing about it is Dorothy was named after Baum's deceased niece. Besides that, it's just a book(series of books actually) that were written. Nothing else to it, unless you know something I don't or just assumed it had a more extensive history.

[@EmilioReyes_97]

"This book literally helped get rid of that lingering feeling of guilt most Christians carry" Speak for yourself buddy, It's not guilt I carry its responsibility to learn.

[@hannahlarge5738]

ah jon solo, you sweet summer child, wait until you're trying to explain to little deidrich what the world was like when you were a teen, you'll understand the appeal of a story about a dude who feels like twenty years just vanished.

[@Ash.Crow.Goddess]

I know him. I had a kids story album with The Tale of Rip Van Winkle on side B. It was my favorite. Side A was The Headless Horseman. The tale was also adapted by Once Upon a Time. Never eat or drink in the Underworld or in Faerie. Instead of Dutchman ghosts, think of them as Fairies. Then again, maybe they were crew mates of Davy Jones.

[@netzach7]

crazy how he turned into john marston in 1899

[@Kieran_Duffy]

ong

[@Lillian2167]

Just got in from work and this was a nice surprise in my sub box.

[@colosine]

I've never felt Christian guilt, or white guilt or any other guilt for things I didn't do, I don't believe sin is hereditary, each of us is only responsible for our own sins and not the sins of others

[@bekkaje]

I love this response. I was looking to see if anyone caught that. I don’t have Christian guilt either…not to sound ignorant but what even is “Christian guilt”?

[@colosine]

@@bekkaje it's the idea that back in the day christians have done some pretty nasty things like burning people alive or conquering lands through brute force, but I never understood why anyone should carry guilt over the actions of others

[@thedorklaird9562]

The open disdain was unnecessary and painted an entire community with a broad brush.

[@sonnywoods6846]

@@thedorklaird9562 He completely ignored the fact that Christians were persecuted before they started doing the persecution. Violence creates more violence. I Guess since Christianity is the top religion they get the blame for everything

[@Ryodraco]

If it helps, other users including myself commented on that the book Jon references has been heavily criticized for inaccuracies and exaggerations. Jon's acknowledged this and says he'll keep it in mind should he reference the book again. This is great, though I wish he could add a note in this video about the controversial nature of The Darkening Age.

[@AlltheKingsdresses]

I literally Still need to hear/see you like 3 times a week!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@socalcol1]

Only thing I am a little disappointed by is that you didn't reference the Wishbone Rip Van Winkle. Other then that, yeah a guy who avoids everything by sleeping.

[@ginabell694]

That's where I heard it! Thanks for reminding me.

[@celticpoet21]

I remember that Episode. This story was also adapted for an episode of Faerie Tale Theater too! I'm surprised Jon doesn't mention either show!

[@WholeLottaSleezz]

Aye Man, 6:35. THAT THUNDER SCARED ME 🤧

[@jaspr1999]

The story is all over the place in one form or another. In a few science fiction stories, it's found in Star Trek, an episode of Babylon 5 (the nice twist is that it's an alien Kahn Noonian Singh), and so on. As I grew up reading the story, my take has always been that life will go on without you if you're not out living it and will forget you when you don't get out into the world and do something. Basically dying without the death part.

[@GrimmShadowsII]

Yeah that's been my take as well, if you don't pay attention to whats going on around you the next thing you know everything is completely different. My favorite modern version would probably be the original ending to Army of Darkness where the Wiseman gives Ash a potion to drink so he can sleep to his own time but he get's distracted by the sound of falling rubble and takes an extra drop and sleeps too long.

[@nitev4407]

And this episode comes out as I notice that I overslept on my lunch break... The fates are mysterious indeed.

[@RadMad789]

The story is meant to be an entertaining way to highlight the changes that happened to the American colonies as a result of the revolution. A lot had changed in a relatively short time of 20 years.

[@MalBeats]

RIP Van Winkle: America's first hippie

[@ryand730]

That’s great that Jon found a book to read about Christianity but I would like to encourage him to read more books about the faith. CS Lewis’ The Abolition of Man or Mere Christianity are good books to read.

[@NemoNebulous]

After the screen still at 15:07, I'm going to go out on a limb and say he doesn't care to read about Christianity.

[@CJHdad]

The intro pumped me up man. Loved the content too, as always.

[@taekwongurl]

I've always thought that Van Winkle was just a funny name we gave to a character, turns out, it was a common Dutch name.

[@lesterstone8595]

Robert Van Winkle is the real name of the rapper known as Vanilla Ice, "Ice, ice baby."

[@taekwongurl]

@@lesterstone8595 I've only ever known that guy as Vanilla Ice lolll and as being "that kind of guy" 👀

[@lukewarren7857]

How appropriate that I find this rip Van Winkle video 3 years after it was produced Thanks Jon Solo

[@xpkareem]

Hmmm. Jon a little salty about Christianity.

[@pjbace4757]

Of cause he is, he just told you at 15.09 he is a satanist.

[@banecrux1736]

You know when John marston says rip van winkle in rdr2 it’s because he read R.I.P van winkle on a tombstone right?

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

I’m not religious, so I don’t have a dog in the theological fight- however, I DO have a dog in the history fight. When it comes down to studying/researching history *(especially ancient history)* I always strongly encourage people to read and study far more than just a couple books/articles/blogs/youtube videos/etc. (and they should also include studying a wide variety of perspectives on the topic), before forming any sort of rigidly hardlined opinions about that topic. Then, even if/after you’ve studied all of that-if it’s a topic from ancient history, you should *always try to remain neutral* and never allow yourself to form a deeply negative OR positive emotional bias towards it. Because that’s precisely what causes people to develop an unhealthy “tribalist” mentality, that will slowly poison the mind against seeking/accepting any newly discovered information that either doesn’t support, or could drastically change/destroy their own tribalist worldview. We know this’ll happen, because that exact scenario has already happened in the world of academia (sadly, quite a few times)… Where there have been situations involving the hiding, sabotaging, altering and/or outright DESTROYING of new research/evidence-simply because it would prove them wrong, publicly bruise their ego and would ultimately result in the loss of their department’s public grants/funding for their own research and projects (I think the loss of funding is probably one of the main culprits driving their actions.)🤷‍♀️

[@cesarquijano94]

I wanna see the Messed up Origin of The Grimm Reaper

[@DavidAmrod]

Un, Jon? You may want to reread the story. One of the big points in the story is what Happened when Rip was sleeping. Everyone was VERY pro-King George before he slept. After he woke up? Not so much... to the point where Rip was almost beat to death for the thought that EVERYONE had at the bar named After the King back before Rip fell asleep. Try reading it with that thought in mind. The sleep was not the story, merely a way to present the truer story. That is why it was such a great sell way back when.

[@franklinbonnefoy2295]

I read a version where Rip and his dog had went to go hunt for food for his family but failed. He had gotten tired from chasing game all day so he and his dog fell asleep. They two woke up a hundred years later where people though he was crazy. He was homeless for a while until his granddaughter (or son, I don't remember that part), happily finds him and tells him that his father always believed that Rip would come back. It ends happy but its still kinda sad cause Rip's wife died of a broken heart and his son died before he came back. And yes somehow the dog slept for a hundred years too

[@claudefrolltomstein8935]

I absolutely love Jon Solo and how in depth he goes into the history of folklore! However, he is often disrespectful to Christianity as a whole and it gets quite irksome to Christians listening. People should respect other's religious beliefs, even if they are not their own. I won't at all dismiss that there have been very nasty and destructive things done by people within the church, but that is not the religion itself. It is ok to acknowledge that.

[@xxandrewwilsonxxable]

Rip van wrinkle drank away his sorrows.... Became an alcoholic for 20 years in a drunken daze. Sobriety made him realize that happyness and life awaited him back at home.... But time had already passed and so had his life.

[@barbarahouk1983]

I read the Rip Van Winkle in my childhood. I took from the story, he lost valuable time with community. He was married to an incompatible person. This was a tragic story to me. I knew from an early age (2 1/2 yo my oldest sister died) life was short. I also was precocious and had much to get done (I decided to be a doctor at 2 yo). This story meant a lot to me in my youth. I spent hours thinking about it.

[@Grim_Sister]

Honi Ha’Me’agel is another version of this fairytale. Honi journeys over Israel and sees a man planting a tree. When Honi asks him of the tree, the man explains his forefathers planted trees like it for him and he is just paying it forward to his children and grandchildren. Then Honi falls asleep by the road. He wakes up 70 years later, discovering that the tree that was just planted is now huge and that the farmer has died and his grandchild is caring for the tree

[@Grim_Sister]

Honi is also known for his greatest miracle: during a drought, he draws a circle in the sand around him and swears that he’ll stay there until God gives the people rain. He keeps that promise, though I can’t tell you for the life of me how long that took (Ha’Me’A’Gel means to circler or the rounder in Hebrew, and adding this to Honi’s name means it’s his most famous miracle)

[@madelinerock6951]

Would you consider heading back to the Disney stuff and make one about Robin Hood? I used to have a crush on him :/

[@anguirus6803]

The fox or the man ? I won't judge

[@Z3nHolEminD]

“ what would the Fox 🦊 say ? 🎼 “

[@anguirus6803]

@@Z3nHolEminD Hooda Lolly Hooda Lolly

[@madelinerock6951]

@@anguirus6803 In my defense, Disney has a way of drawing those animals very sexy!! 😂😂 And he had a lovely voice too 😂😂

[@christianhulipas5692]

Thank you Jon Solo❤️You’re doing great ❤️

[@thomasnuedling9167]

Washington Irving was a wonderful writer. 😁

[@sunshinerobinsonmacmillan2395]

Your videos are so relaxing and never disappoint

[@stevenfaber3896]

I think the emphasis of Rip's story isn't on Rip though, it seems to me to have a "nagging wife - don't be one" theme. If I remember correctly, isn't Rip overjoyed by hearing of her demise?

[@erinbailey4631]

I grew in a Christian church and now I’m what I like to call a wandering Christian (because Christians in the past really messed some stuff up) but I had honestly never heard about the “Christian’s” sleeping in a cave. I’ll have to do some digging in that rabbit hole.