An almanac of European and Anatolian forest and fire beliefs for sustainability teaching

<ns3:p>This interdisciplinary article examines forest and fire narratives across European and Anatolian contexts, highlighting recurring motifs, shared beliefs, and cultural attitudes toward fire. By compiling and comparing traditions from Turkey, Italy, Poland, and Latvia, the study demonstrates how culturally embedded stories historically functioned as mechanisms for landscape stewardship and fire management. The main aim of this paper is to provide educators with a resource to teach about fire, the forest and forest fires, and to link folklore with sustainability education. Within the framework of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), these narratives provide engaging and affectively resonant resources that bridge the gap between cognitive knowledge and behavioral change. Rather than prescribing specific behaviors, this “almanac” offers a foundation for creative, narrative-based educational activities that teach respect, awareness, and reflection on human–forest/fire relationships. Highlighting these common cultural beliefs promotes multicultural understanding and a sense of shared values, making such narratives valuable tools for holistic wildfire prevention education among young people.</ns3:p>