DER HOLZHAUER, DER ZUR UNZEIT TANZTE
by Friedrich Giese · from Türkische Märchen
Adapted Version
Once there was a woodcutter. He was poor. He went to the mountains. He went to cut wood there.
He saw some men. They sat on the ground. They had a jug. Food and wine came from it. They ate much food. They drank much wine. The jug never empty.
The Woodcutter went to them. He talked to them. They were Wise Fairies. They liked him much. One Fairy spoke to him. He said, "Make a wish." "We will make it true for you." "What do you want?"
The Woodcutter wanted the jug. The Wise Fairies gave a warning. They said, "Be careful with it." "The jug can break easily." "If it breaks, it is gone." "You will lose all things." "Do not wish for it." But the Woodcutter did not listen. He wanted the jug much.
The Woodcutter still wanted the jug. The Wise Fairies gave it to him. He took the magic jug. He was very happy now.
The jug gave him much food. It gave him much wine. He sold food and wine. He had much money now. The Woodcutter became very rich. He had a big house. He had nice clothes.
He wanted to show his jug. He invited his friends. They came to his house. He had a big party. His friends saw the jug. They were very surprised. The Woodcutter was proud. He smiled much. He had many good things.
The Woodcutter felt much joy. He was so happy. He put the jug on his head. He started to dance. He danced around the room. He laughed loudly. He showed off the jug.
He danced very fast. He slipped on the floor. He fell down hard. The jug fell from his head. It hit the ground. The jug broke into many pieces. It was all gone.
All his food was gone. All his wine was gone. All his money was gone. He had nothing left. He was poor again. Like before, he had no money. The Woodcutter lost everything. He broke the special thing. He did not listen to the warning. It is good to be careful. Do not show off special things. Be careful with special things. Do not be too proud. This is a good lesson.
Original Story
37. DER HOLZHAUER, DER ZUR UNZEIT TANZTE
In Kerdifan ging ein Holzhauer einst ins Gebirge, um Holz zu fällen. Als er auf dem Berge an einen schönen Platz gekommen war, sah er dort fünf bis zehn Mann sitzen, und vor ihnen stand ein Krug, aus dem sie Speisen und Wein, soviel sie wollten, nahmen und nach Herzenslust sich satt aßen.
Als der Holzhauer dies sah, trat er zu ihnen und mischte sich ins Gespräch. Da ihnen seine Gesellschaft sehr gefiel, sagte einer von ihnen zu ihm: „Sage uns, wenn du irgendeinen Wunsch hast. Wir werden ihn erfüllen.“ Sie waren nämlich Gelehrte aus dem Feengeschlecht. Der Holzhauer wünschte sich den Krug. Sie antworteten: „Du kannst ihn bekommen, aber es ist schwer, ihn zu behüten. Es wäre schade um dich, denn, wenn er zerbrochen ist, läßt er sich nicht wieder machen, und du hast nichts mehr von ihm zu erwarten und wirst auch alles verlieren, was du durch ihn erworben hast. Wünsche ihn dir lieber nicht und fordere etwas, das dir nützlicher ist.“
Der dumme Holzhauer hörte aber nicht auf ihren Rat, sondern sagte: „Ich wünsche doch den Krug. Ich werde ihn schon, soweit es möglich, beschützen und ihn wie meinen Kopf halten.“ So gaben sie ihm den Krug.
Der Holzhauer wurde in kurzer Zeit sehr reich. Eines Tages hatte er seine Freunde zu einer Gesellschaft eingeladen. Als die Eingeladenen diesen wunderbaren Zauberkrug sahen, waren sie sehr erstaunt. Der Holzhauer stand im Übermaß seiner Freude auf, setzte den Krug sich auf den Kopf und fing vor Freuden an zu tanzen, indem er sagte: „O du Kapital meines Wohlstandes, du Glanz meines Lebens.“ Während des Tanzes glitt er aus, fiel aufs Gesicht, der Krug fiel ihm vom Kopfe und zerbrach in tausend Scherben. Sogleich schwand sein großer Reichtum und Wohlstand dahin, und er wurde wieder so arm wie vorher. Alles, was er bis zu diesem Tage an Geld gesammelt hatte, verschwand.
Story DNA
Moral
Be careful what you wish for, and do not let pride and excess destroy your good fortune.
Plot Summary
A poor woodcutter encounters fairy folk in the mountains who offer him a wish. Despite their warnings, he chooses a magic jug that provides endless wealth. He quickly becomes rich, but in a moment of excessive pride and joy, he dances with the jug on his head, slips, and breaks it. Immediately, all his fortune vanishes, and he returns to his original state of poverty, having learned a harsh lesson about the fragility of unearned wealth and the dangers of hubris.
Themes
Emotional Arc
poverty to wealth to poverty
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Friedrich Giese was a German folklorist and writer, collecting and adapting tales. This story reflects common European folk tale themes of wishes, magical objects, and the dangers of hubris.
Plot Beats (10)
- A woodcutter goes to the mountains to cut wood.
- He finds a group of men feasting from a seemingly endless jug.
- He joins them, and they reveal themselves as scholars of the fairy folk, offering him a wish.
- Despite their warning about the jug's fragility and the consequences of its destruction, the woodcutter insists on wishing for the jug.
- The fairy folk grant him the jug.
- The woodcutter quickly becomes very rich using the jug.
- He invites friends to a party to show off his newfound wealth and the magic jug.
- Overcome with joy and pride, he places the jug on his head and begins to dance.
- He slips, falls, and the jug shatters into a thousand pieces.
- Immediately, all his wealth disappears, and he is left as poor as he was before.
Characters
Der Holzhauer (The Woodcutter)
A man of average height and sturdy build, accustomed to physical labor. His hands are likely calloused from handling an axe, and his face weathered by exposure to the elements in the mountains. He carries the practical, unadorned look of a working-class individual from rural Kerdifan (Brittany/Celtic region).
Attire: He wears practical, durable clothing suitable for his profession: a coarse linen or wool tunic, likely in muted earth tones (browns, greys, greens), possibly with a leather belt. Sturdy trousers or breeches and simple leather boots or wooden clogs would complete his attire. His clothes would be functional, not decorative.
Wants: To escape poverty and gain wealth, to enjoy a life of ease and abundance.
Flaw: Greed, foolishness, inability to heed wise counsel, excessive pride leading to carelessness.
He transforms from a poor laborer to a rich man, then back to poverty due to his own foolishness and inability to protect his magical gift. He learns a harsh lesson about the fragility of unearned wealth.
Simple-minded, greedy, easily swayed by immediate gratification, boastful, joyful (when rich), foolish, unheeding of advice.
Die Gelehrten aus dem Feengeschlecht (The Fairy Scholars)
Five to ten figures, appearing human-like but with an ethereal quality. They are likely of slender build, with an aura of ancient wisdom and otherworldliness. Their features are refined and calm, suggesting a deep connection to nature and magic.
Attire: Flowing, natural-toned garments made of fine, perhaps shimmering, fabrics that seem to blend with the mountain environment. Their clothing would be elegant and timeless, possibly adorned with subtle natural elements like leaves or vines, or simple, unadorned robes that emphasize their scholarly nature.
Wants: To observe, to offer gifts based on merit or request, to impart wisdom, to maintain balance.
Flaw: Their inability to directly prevent foolish choices, bound by rules of granting wishes.
They remain unchanged, serving as a source of wisdom and magical intervention, observing the consequences of human choices.
Wise, benevolent, cautious, discerning, prophetic (in their warning), generous (with conditions).
Locations
Kerdifan Mountainside Clearing
A beautiful, secluded clearing high in the Kerdifan mountains, likely in a temperate European forest setting, with ancient trees and a soft, mossy ground. The air is fresh and clear.
Mood: Mysterious, serene, and later, magical and inviting.
The woodcutter encounters the fae scholars and receives the magical jug.
Woodcutter's Cottage Interior
The interior of a simple, half-timbered Fachwerk cottage, typical of a German woodcutter, now adorned with signs of newfound wealth. The main room is used for entertaining, with a large wooden table and benches, and a prominent hearth.
Mood: Joyful, celebratory, and later, dramatically tragic.
The woodcutter hosts a party, dances with the jug on his head, and accidentally breaks it, losing all his wealth.