Beginnings and Endings

Traditionally told tales often start with a few words at the beginning designed to prepare listeners for a different kind of discourse: a long narrative not supposed to be literally true, set in a kind of dreamtime that is apart from, but closely involved with, ordinary reality. The standard opening, the one that everyone knows, is "Once Upon A Time." However, there are many others to choose from. “There was, there was, and yet there was not”, a personal favourite, is a popular way of introducing a story in the Caucasus, in both Georgia and Armenia. Here are some other options:

At the time when men and animals were all the same and spoke the same language  ... (Traditional Navajo opening)

I do not mean, I do not really mean that this story is true, but they say ... (Ashanti)

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, in a little village, there lived... (Russian)

In a land that never was in a time that could never be...

In ancient times, when the magpie was a Cossack chief and the duck a policeman, the bear had a long stumpy tail, as splendid as Mistress Fox's. (Tartar)

In olden times, in times when rams were still without horns and sheep without tales, there lived... (Kazakh)

In the days now long departed... (Scandinavian)

In the old, old, half-forgotten times, before the gardens of Tartary were overrun with weeds, there lived ... (Tartar)

It all happened long ago, and believe it or not, it is all absolutely true. (Traditional Irish opening)

Long, long ago, soon after sky and earth had become separated so that there was room for trees to grow and the tribes of men to move between them, many gods and spirits still lived in the world. (Maori)

Long, long ago, when some folk were already dead and others not yet born, there lived a ...(Tartar)

Long, long ago, when there was less noise and more green on the broad banks of Lake Baikal, (Tartar)

Long years ago, in the early ages of the world... (Hungarian)

Many years ago, in a time when memory was young... (India)

Once there was, one day there will be: this is the beginning of every fairy tale. There is no 'if' and no 'perhaps,' the three-legged stool unquestionably has three legs. (Breton)

Once upon a time what happened did happen - and if it had not happened, you would never have heard this story. (Andrew Lang)

Once upon a time, and a time before that ... (Scandinavian)

So long ago that no one can quite say when ... (Scandinavian)

This is my story which I have told you. If it be sweet, tell it to someone again and then some of the thanks will come back to me. (Africa)

This is what the Old Ones told me when I was a child... (traditional Cherokee opening & ending)

This tale goes back to a time long ago, when sheep grazed peacefully in the green folds of the Tartar homelands. (Tartar)

Twas not in my time, 'twas not in your time, but it was in somebody's time. (Irish)

Traditionally told stories often have formulaic endings too, to let listeners know the story is over, bring them back to earth, and ease the transition to normal conversation -- or maybe whatever conversation is required in order to get the next tale started. The usual one is "and they all lived happily ever after." There are many alternatives though, some of which you can find listed below:  

And there happened in the end what should have happened in the beginning...and everyone knew and has never forgotten that whoever has a mind turned to wickedness is sure to end badly. (Andrew Lang)

Chase the rooster and catch the hen, I'll never tell a lie like that again. (Bahamas)

A grief shared by many is half a grief. A joy shared is twice a joy. (Vietnamese)

I hope you won't fail to be pleased by my tale. For a potful of butter, I tell you another. (Russian)

I jumped in the saddle and rode away to tell you the stories you've heard today. I jumped on a spoon and away I flew and you've heard all my stories, so God bless you. I jumped on a spindle and away I spun. And God bless me, my stories are done. (Romanian)

If I get another story, I'll stick it behind your ears. (Ghana)

If my story is not true, may the soles of my shoes turn to buttermilk. (Ireland)

In that town there was a well and in that well there was a bell. And that is all I have to tell. (Russia)

My story is done. Let some go and let some come! (Ghana)

My story is done. But this story will go on, as long as grass grows and rivers run. (Native American)

So you see, wonders abound...if you play your cards right. (Russian gypsy)

They lived in peace, they died in peace, and there were buried in a pot of candle grease. (Bahama)

They reached a ripe old age and died in peace. (Russia)

This is what the Old Ones told me when I was a child... (traditional Cherokee opening & ending)

Three apples fell from heaven: one for the teller, one for the listener, and one for him (sic) who takes it to heart." (Armenian)

We shall exist as long as our stories are moist with our breath. (Navajo saying)

Well, whether it was false or true, the tale spread far and near, because the tale was fun to hear. (Saam)

When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth. (Ethiopian)

There is nothing to stop you and those you work with from being different, though, and finding your own ways to start and finish the stories you have to tell. In fact, the more original they are, the better, as this will no doubt help to make them more memorable too.