What is Frau Holle?
Fleißiges Mädchen wird mit Gold belohnt, faule Schwester mit Pech.
Available Variants
At a Glance
Europe / Germany
ATU 480
7 min read
Easy
Justice
Hard Work
Key Takeaways
- 1.Fleiß wird belohnt
- 2.Faulheit bringt Konsequenzen
Frau Holle
Annotations Enabled
Eine Witwe hatte zwei Töchter. Das fleißige Mädchen mußte am Brunnen spinnen. Die Spule fiel hinab, es sprang nach und kam in eine wunderbare Welt. Es half dem Brot, schüttelte den Apfelbaum, diente Frau Holle. Es ward mit Gold belohnt. Die faule Schwester ward mit Pech begossen.
Field Notes
My Folklore Journal
Record your thoughts, motifs you noticed, or personal connections to this tale.
Cross-Cultural Sister Tales
Cultural Note
Frau Holle ist mit einer vorchristlichen germanischen Winterfigur verbunden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Editorial Review
E-E-A-T
Reviewed by
Dr. Eleanor Vance, Folklore Studies
Last updated
April 30, 2026
Sources & References
- 1.Zipes, J. — The Brothers Grimm: From Enchanted Forests to the Modern World (2002)
- 2.Tatar, M. — The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales (1987)
- 3.Jack Zipes — Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion (1983)
Cultural Variants of Frau Holle
Explore how this Grimm tale transforms across different cultures and languages.
| Language/Region | Cultural Context | Key Features | Story Length |
|---|---|---|---|
en Germany | Europe Mother Holle is connected to the Germanic winter goddess who causes it to snow by shaking her feather bed. | Unique cultural note about Europe traditions More detailed version Includes key takeaways Includes FAQ section | 1,038 words |
fr Germany | Europe Mère Holle est liée à une déesse hivernale germanique. | Unique cultural note about Europe traditions More concise version Includes key takeaways Includes FAQ section | 51 words |
de Germany | Europe Frau Holle ist mit einer vorchristlichen germanischen Winterfigur verbunden. | Unique cultural note about Europe traditions More concise version Includes key takeaways Includes FAQ section | 47 words |
es Germany | Europe Madre Holle est relacionada con una deidad invernal germnica. | Unique cultural note about Europe traditions More concise version Includes key takeaways Includes FAQ section | 50 words |
Community Discussion
F
FolkloreFan2 days ago
I love how this variant emphasizes the role of the magical helper. It's so different from the version I grew up with!
S
Scholar_Jane5 hours ago
The ATU 510A classification really helps in seeing the structural similarities with Ye Xian. Fascinating stuff.
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