Het Meisje Met De Zwavelstokjes (The Little Match Girl)

This fairytale has been part of the attractions in the Fairytale forest since the Winter Efteling of 2004-2005.

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Story

Originally a Hans Christian Andersen tale.

It was a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve and it was snowing outside. Night was drawing in. A poor little match girl with bare feet and no coat was wandering through the streets carrying her matchsticks in a tatty old apron. She could see the candles alight in the windows and smell the roasted geese being cooked for the New Year’s Eve’s celebrations. But the little girl was cold. She had not sold any matchsticks and dared not go home to her angry father, knowing he would beat her. So she crawled into a corner between two houses and crouched against the wall to keep warm. As she was sitting there, she decided to light just one of the matches to keep her hands warm. As the match lit up, everything around her felt warm and cosy. Then the match went out and she realised she was still crouched in the same cold corner. Hoping it would happen again, she lit another match. She felt the same warmth all over again and just for a moment, saw the most beautiful scenes. So the little girl lit all of the matches one by one; and when she got to the last match, her grandmother suddenly appeared. It was a miracle. Her grandmother had died but somehow managed to come and fetch her. Her grandmother was the only person to be kind to the little match girl, and now she picked her granddaughter up in her arms and they flew away: they flew up and up, high into the sky..... but where did she take her?

To read the full story go to the Efteling souvenir shop and purchase the Efteling Book of Fairy Tales.

Get souvenirs from the Efteling souvenir shop

Translation

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The story of The Little Match Girl is played on audio during the show. This is in the Dutch language. Please find below a translation for your benefit.

New Year's Eve,
Icy winds, a small lonely girl.
An abandoned child, a life in poverty.
No love received, stone cold feet, her slippers lost.
One was stolen (a miscreant)
The other lost in the dark street

Matchsticks, that no one would buy
Fear of home, to avoid punishment
Behind the windows, prosperity and peace
Only a bit of warmth is her simple prayer
Would a single match from the bundle be missed?
A single match, does she dare light?

A hearth lights, a radiant glow
Is it a miracle? Can she believe her eyes?
The dream fades, disappears on the wind
Miracles exist, but not for this child

A second stick, it lights in her hand
A banquet appears when it ignites
A roast goose, how could that goose be alive?!
A dream that is fleeting, it only takes a moment.

A third flame shows the splendid majesty of a twinkling Christmas tree that disappears into the night.
Fairy lights scatter like stars.
They rise up to decorate the heavens.

One star in the sky races past the others, a memory of what grandmother said:
'A shooting star, a soul will travel
To heavenly peace, to God's Paradise'

And behold, there's granny, she reaches for the child.
Radiating goodness with a love that wins.
Oh granny, dear granny, oh take me away
To the intimate warmth of your heavenly peace.

And see, in grandmothers arms she flees this earth.
Forever spared from worry and disaster.

In the snow stays this girl, in cold deceased
Her mouth frozen in a smile.
A smile of peace.

It is the power of love that always wins
Happiness is for everyone, and now for this child.

!The video below has English subtitles!