In this collaboration between creator of Scaffolding Magic, Donna Lee Fields and myself, we’ll be doing a monthly deep dive into a fairy tale of your choice! Be sure and cast your vote on our Facebook Community Group.
Rumpelstiltskin
“Rumpelstiltskin” is a classic fairy tale originating from Germany, most famously recorded by the Brothers Grimm. The story revolves around a miller’s daughter who is forced by the king to spin straw into gold or face dire consequences. In her despair, she encounters a magical little man named Rumpelstiltskin who offers to help her in exchange for her first-born child. Desperate to save herself, she agrees and the little man spins the straw into gold. However, when the king discovers her talent, he marries her and she gives birth to a child. When Rumpelstiltskin returns to claim the child, the queen desperately tries to find out his name. Eventually, she learns his name through cunning or trickery, and Rumpelstiltskin, enraged, leaves and is never seen again. The tale carries themes of the consequences of making rash promises, the power of knowledge, and the importance of cleverness in overcoming adversity
The Juniper Tree
“The Juniper Tree” is a lesser-known but haunting fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. The story follows a woman who desires a child and finally gives birth to a son, whom she names Hans. Unfortunately, she dies shortly after childbirth. Her husband remarries a woman who already has a daughter named Marleen.
The stepmother favors her own daughter over Hans, and one day, while making a pudding, she accidentally drops the lid, which beheads Hans. Shocked by what she’s done, the stepmother hides his body and concocts a story, blaming Marleen for the accident.
Meanwhile, a beautiful bird flies to the juniper tree near Hans’s grave and sings a haunting song about his fate. The bird’s song is overheard by a passing tailor, who fashions a beautiful box from the tree’s wood and sells it to the king. Inside the box is a songbird, who repeats the tragic tale of Hans’s death.
The king, moved by the bird’s song, seeks out the tailor and learns the truth. The stepmother and Marleen are brought to the king’s court, where the bird sings the story once more. As punishment for her crime, the stepmother is sentenced to be dragged to death by horses, and Marleen inherits the kingdom.
The tale ends on a bittersweet note as Hans is magically resurrected by the bird and reunited with his family. They live happily ever after, with the memory of the juniper tree serving as a reminder of the power of truth and justice. “The Juniper Tree” is noted for its dark themes and elements of resurrection and justice prevailing in the end.
The Cowherd Boy and the Weaver Girl
“The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl,” is a Chinese folk tale that has been passed down through generations. It tells the story of two lovers, represented by the stars Altair and Vega, who are separated by the Milky Way and are only allowed to meet once a year.
The cowherd, named Niulang, is a simple yet hardworking young man who tends to his cattle. One day, he comes across seven celestial sisters bathing in a river, and he hides their clothes to play a trick on them. The youngest and most beautiful of the sisters, Zhinü, is the Weaver Girl, who weaves the colorful clouds in the sky.
Moved by Niulang’s sincerity and kindness, Zhinü falls in love with him and decides to marry him. They live happily together and have two children. However, when the Queen Mother of the West, the ruler of the heavens, learns of their union, she becomes furious and orders Zhinü to return to the heavens.
Separated by the vast Milky Way, Niulang and Zhinü are only allowed to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when a bridge of magpies forms across the river. This day is celebrated as the Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
“The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl” explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the longing for reunion despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It has become one of China’s most beloved and enduring love stories, symbolizing the enduring power of love to transcend boundaries.
Watch the February 2024 options for Fairy Tale Flip on Youtube
The Cowherd Boy and the Weaver Girl (Chinese Tale)
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