'The magic hat' is a fairytale I found recently, neither author nor country of origin was indicated. This is a very short version:
The hunter Kejan finds a beautiful fox in one of his traps one day. The fox pleads with him, saying that if Kejan would only let him live, he, the fox, would give him a present that will always protect the hunter.
After some thought, Kejan the hunter lets the fox go. Just before he disappears, he gives Kejan a tiny hat.
'This is supposed to be this great gift that shall protect me forever more? The fox has tricked me!' thinks Kejan. He puts the hat on his head to prove that it is really good for nothing. But low and behold! The hat grows until it is just the right size for his head!
'Well, well', thinks Kejan and puts it back in his pocket, absentmindedly. 'It surely is a magic hat after all.'
On his hunt Kejan suddenly finds himself in a bad storm and thinks he must freeze to death, so icy are the gusts of wind. But when he puts on the magic hat for a bit of warmth it suddenly grows larger and larger, until it is like a tent around the hunter, protecting him from the storm and keeping him warm.
Another time Kejan goes on a seal hunt with his brother. All of a sudden Kejan's canoe is dragged underwater and beneath the drifting ice. His brother does his best to pull him out but the ice is heavy and large and it takes him minutes to pull his brother from underneath it. He thinks that his brother must be dead. But no, Kejan has put the hat on just in time and, like a bubble, it has caught enough air beneath it so that Kejan could breathe and is still alive.
I tell you, the two brothers were really grateful for that magic hat!
