TIDDALICK THE FROG – Aboriginal Dreamtime Story

TIDDALICK THE FROG

Tiddalick The Frog is an Aboriginal Dreamtime story which the elders of the Tribe would tell the children to teach them a couple of important lessons.


The Story

Once , a long time ago in the Dream Time there was a greedy frog called Tiddalick.Tiddalick wanted to be the biggest frog in all the land.

One very hot day Tiddalick was very thirsty so he began to drink and drink and drink until the whole billabong was all dried up. When all the other animals came to the billabong to drink there was no water. They knew it was the greedy frog who drank all the water. They were very angry at him. If the animals wanted to get all the water out of Tiddalick and back into the billabong they would have to make Tiddalick laugh until all the water came out.

The echidna tried to make him laugh by rolling down the hill into the dried up billabong but Tiddalick didn’t laugh. Kookabura was perched high in the gum tree, he pretended to fall out but Tiddalick still didn’t laugh. Wombat started dancing but Tiddalick still didn’t laugh. None of the animals knew what to and they were still very thirsty. When the eel was dancing he tied himself into a big knot, Tiddalick could not stop laughing at the eel. He laughed so much that all the water came out and ran back into the billabong. From that day on Tiddalick was never that greedy and only drank what he needed.

tiddalick

Morals

*A little laughter in a bad situation can make a whole lot of difference

*Greed is disliked


I grew up with Aboriginal Dreamtime stories – this being one of my very favourite.  I also love the story “The Rainbow Serpent” which teaches about the winding rivers of the world.

The Dreamtime tales of my people have been passed down for many thousands of years and I pray that this tradition continues for many thousands more.

– Rosie xx

2 thoughts on “TIDDALICK THE FROG – Aboriginal Dreamtime Story

  1. Pingback: aboriginal dream-time story of the great flood. – Re-theologizing

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