The elf with the handkerchief

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The Elf with the Handkerchief ( Swedish En natt i maj ) is a story by Astrid Lindgren .

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The story takes place on a day in May. It is spring and the apple trees in the garden are covered with thousands of blossoms. Lena celebrates her birthday. She receives many gifts, including a beautiful lace handkerchief from her aunt Emma. When Lena's mother puts Lena to bed in the evening, she explains to Lena that she should take good care of the handkerchief. Lena promises.

When her mother leaves, Lena hears a pitiful sob from the room. It comes from a little elf named Muj. She is terribly sad because the king comes into the garden that night to dance with the elves and she has torn her only dress. Muj cannot go to the ball naked. But then she sees Lena's handkerchief. Muj is enthusiastic about the fabric and asks Lena to leave it to her as a ball gown. Lena had promised her mother to take care of the handkerchief, but the dress is so important to the elf that Lena cannot help but agree. The handkerchief becomes a beautiful dress. The elf is really looking forward to the ball because she loves the king. She explains to Lena that she can watch the ball. The elf is having a wonderful evening and dancing with the king. Lena is watching the party enthusiastically. After the ball, the elf explains to Lena that this night was the most beautiful of her life.

background

In Sweden, the story was first published in 1949 in the Nils Karlsson-Pyssling short story collection (1952, German There are no robbers in the forest ).

The story was also released as an audio book. It was read by Manfred Steffen and was published on cassette in 1992 under the title Sonnenau and other stories . A new publication followed later on CD under the title Astrid Lindgren. Fairy tale. In Sweden the story was personally read and published by Astrid Lindgren.

The story was processed into various plays. Among other things, she was performed in Näs, the farm where Astrid Lindgren grew up. The music for the play was written by Julia Karlssons . The story could also be seen in Germany as a shadow play, as a puppet play, and as a ballet play.

Published in Germany in

  • There are no robbers in the forest, 1952, Verlag Friedrich Oetinger, Hamburg
  • Astrid Lindgren tells, 1971, Verlag Friedrich Oetinger, Hamburg
  • Fairy tale, 1978, Friedrich Oetinger publishing house, Hamburg
  • Moon and stars: The most beautiful sleep stories, Regina Zwerger (ed.), Annette Betz an imprint from Ueberreuter Verlag - illustrated by Judith Loske
  • Favorite stories for little heroes, Ellermann, Petra Steckelmann (ed.), Illustrated by Yayo Kawamura

Individual evidence

  1. There are no robbers in the forest. .
  2. ^ Astrid Lindgren (Deutsche Gramophon) .
  3. ^ Astrid Lindgren. Fairy tale. .
  4. En natt i maj. .
  5. En natt i Maj .
  6. Astrid Lindgren's saga EN NATT I MAJ spelas i Vimmerby .
  7. En magisk natt i maj… .
  8. The Elf with the Handkerchief - trailer .
  9. Shadow theater: "The Elf with the Handkerchief" (2 - 8 years) .
  10. Shadow stage .
  11. Marionette Theater: The Elf with the Handkerchief. .
  12. The elf with the handkerchief .
  13. Ballet School. Fairytale for the anniversary. .