The Hazel-branch
by Brothers Grimm · from Household Tales
Original Story
The hazel-branch
A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
One afternoon the Christ-child had laid himself in his cradle-bed and had fallen asleep. Then his mother came to him, looked at him full of gladness, and said, "Hast thou laid thyself down to sleep, my child?" Sleep sweetly, and in the meantime I will go into the wood, and fetch thee a handful of strawberries, for I know that thou wilt be pleased with them when thou awakest." In the wood outside, she found a spot with the most beautiful strawberries; but as she was stooping down to gather one, an adder sprang up out of the grass. She was alarmed, left the strawberries where they were, and hastened away. The adder darted after her; but Our Lady, as you can readily understand, knew what it was best to do. She hid herself behind a hazel-bush, and stood there until the adder had crept away again. Then she gathered the strawberries, and as she set out on her way home she said, "As the hazel-bush has been my protection this time, it shall in future protect others also." Therefore, from the most remote times, a green hazel-branch has been the safest protection against adders, snakes, and everything else which creeps on the earth.
- * * * *
Story DNA
Moral
Divine intervention can imbue natural objects with protective qualities for the benefit of humanity.
Plot Summary
While the Christ-child sleeps, his mother goes to the woods to gather strawberries. She is startled by an adder and flees, hiding behind a hazel-bush. Once the adder departs, she gathers the strawberries and blesses the hazel-bush for its protection, declaring that it will forever protect others from creeping creatures. This establishes the hazel-branch as a symbol of safety against such dangers.
Themes
Emotional Arc
peace to fear to relief and blessing
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale reflects a common motif in folklore where natural elements are given special properties through divine or magical intervention, often linked to religious figures. The Brothers Grimm collected tales from German oral traditions.
Plot Beats (11)
- The Christ-child is asleep in his cradle.
- His mother decides to fetch him strawberries from the wood.
- In the wood, she finds beautiful strawberries.
- An adder springs out of the grass as she stoops to gather a strawberry.
- Alarmed, she leaves the strawberries and flees.
- The adder pursues her.
- She hides behind a hazel-bush.
- The adder eventually creeps away.
- She gathers the strawberries.
- She blesses the hazel-bush, declaring it will protect others from creeping creatures.
- The story concludes by stating that a green hazel-branch has since been protection against such creatures.
Characters
The Christ-child
An infant, sleeping peacefully in a cradle-bed.
Attire: Swaddling clothes or a simple infant's garment appropriate for the period.
Peaceful, innocent, beloved.
Our Lady
A motherly figure, capable of quick action and resourcefulness.
Attire: A long, flowing blue or white tunic and veil, typical of traditional depictions of the Virgin Mary.
Caring, protective, resourceful.
The Adder
A venomous snake, likely dark or mottled in color, with a distinctive head.
Attire: Its own scaly skin.
Aggressive, threatening, predatory.
The Hazel-bush
A leafy shrub with dense branches, providing good cover.
Attire: Green leaves and woody branches.
Protective, steadfast (by its nature).
Locations
Christ-child's Cradle-bed
The place where the Christ-child had laid himself down and fallen asleep.
Mood: Peaceful, loving, serene
The Christ-child is sleeping, and his mother decides to gather strawberries for him.
Wood outside
A forest area with beautiful strawberries growing.
Mood: Initially pleasant, then suddenly dangerous and alarming
Our Lady finds strawberries but is startled by an adder.
Hazel-bush
A specific hazel-bush within the wood, large enough to hide behind.
Mood: Safe, protective, a place of refuge
Our Lady hides from the adder behind the hazel-bush, which then becomes a symbol of protection.