Rumpelstiltskin

The poor miller wishes for nothing more than for his daughter to have a better life one day. He does everything in his power to ensure she has a good life. But times are hard, and there is no economic upturn in sight. Whilst delivering flour to the castle, the miller jokingly tells the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold – just to be the centre of attention for once and make an impression. The king becomes very curious and orders that the miller’s daughter must prove this special ability to him. Should it turn out, however, that this is a lie, there would be serious consequences.

Of course – as in every good fairy tale – there is a mysterious helper who rescues the poor girl from her predicament. But this ‘little man’ also demands his reward. If only we knew what the ‘little man’ was called …?

The fairy tale conveys important messages – for example, how important it is to be able to call a spade a spade in order to free oneself from dependencies. It also shows very clearly that boasting and lying can have serious consequences. You can quickly put yourself, your loved ones or others in great danger.

The fairy tale emphasises values such as honesty, responsibility, courage and the great importance of language and knowledge. At the same time, we learn: you can get help when you really need it – but often not without giving something in return. Anyone who makes a promise must keep it – even if it is difficult.

Fairy tales tell of the longing for a better life and the dream of a fairer world – and they almost always end well.