Dutch Fairy Tales |
The roots of the folklore of the Low Countries (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) are steeped in
pre-Christian Gaulish and Germanic culture.
Examples of this include the worship of trees and woods. Also from this area come the character Sinterklaas, who many people know today as Santa Claus.
Our selection has been compiled form 'Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks' by William Elliot Griffis.
Klaas Van Bommel is a well behaved boy, but he has a huge appetite. One night he sees hundreds of tiny lights that tell him to follow them to find cheese.
Long ago when the Dutch were pagans, baby girls were often left to die. Honig-je' was spared this fate and also survived being swept away in a great flood.
After the Dutch discovered cheese they ate it whenever they could and had cheese parties. These often led to bad dreams for which they blamed the goblins.
This is the tale that explains why the girls and women of Friesland have for many years proudly worn a golden head dress, with golden rosettes at each ear.
The spirit in the ice was a fairy named Uller. He was the patron of boys and girls and invented skates and sleds and all the fun that can be had in winter.
Kabouters are dark elves who spend their days mining for precious stones and minerals. They will reward the wise and play tricks on the stupid and foolish.
Long ago many good fairies came from the sun, changing into the plants and trees we know today. In those trees lived other fairies, it was a magical time.
Here is the tale of Santa Klaas, a good and kind man as all children know. But many don't realize helping him are Black Pete and a horse called Sleipnir.
Sources And Further Reading |
Project Gutenberg Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks by William Elliot Griffis