As a kid, I have heard many adults say with a firm conviction that, even though we could not see Jinns in their true form, animals could see them and that is the reason why sometimes at 3 a.m. at night, we can hear a dog bark without any reason at all.
The child in me always believed that somewhere somehow all the living entities in this universe are assisting each other to find their true purpose. This invisible inter-relation of entities is beyond past, present, and future.
As an ardent reader, I have always wondered how a myth from one culture connects with one from a totally different one. Perhaps, it may be because each myth and legend has passed down mouth to mouth for several generations, making them universal. Mythologies trump authorship. They are not limited to a particular culture or era. Myths encapsulate the unspoken truth of society and culture.
The genesis of fairy tales can be traced back to tradition of oral stories told by wandering storytellers. Such stories, which were passed on from mouth to mouth for long years without being written down ever, fascinated the children for centuries and kept their imagination alive. These stories remain in their memory along with their deep underlying moral streak, even when kids grow up. Such is the power of folklore and fairytales.