Sivka-Burka is a Russian fairy tale revolving around a man with three sons. When the man dies, only the youngest honors his father's dying wish to pray at his grave. He is rewarded with a magic horse, the titular Sivka-Burka, who helps his win a contest and marry a princess.
The story provides examples of:
- Cool Horse: The titular Sivka-Burka
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: The dead father rewards his faithful son.
- Gender Flip: The story shares many elements with the Cinderella story, with the main character triumphing over selfish siblings with the help of a dead parent, except with a poor boy marrying a princess over his brothers with his dead father's help. The protagonist even gets help from a grave like in Aschenputtel.
- Girl in the Tower: A self-imposed one. The princess locks herself in a tower, claiming she'll marry the man who can find a way to reach her. Good thing the hero has a magic horse.
- Purgatory and Limbo: The hero is rewarded for praying for his father's soul.
- Rags to Royalty: A poor boy marries a princess and becomes a king.
- Rule of Three: The old father has three sons.
- Youngest Child Wins
