What is the ATU classification of this tale?

It is classified as ATU 306, 'The Dancing Princesses' or 'The Princesses Who Danced Out Their Shoes.' Similar tales exist across Europe and the Middle East.

Why were the princesses enchanted?

The tale does not explain the origin of the enchantment, only that it compelled the princesses to dance nightly. In some versions, the princes themselves are under a curse.

What do the silver, gold, and diamond trees symbolize?

The trees may represent the passage to the magical realm, with each material showing increasing value and distance from the ordinary world. They also serve as proof of the journey.

How does the soldier prove he discovered the secret?

He collects twigs from the silver, gold, and diamond trees and a cup from the castle, all of which serve as physical evidence of his journey.

Is The Twelve Dancing Princesses based on earlier folklore?

Yes, variants exist in French, Italian, and Scandinavian traditions. Some scholars trace elements to Greek mythology and the story of the underworld.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

At a Glance

Europe / Germany

ATU 306

7 min read

Medium

Mystery

Magic

Perseverance

Key Takeaways

1.Perseverance and patience can solve mysteries that seem impossible to unravel
2.Wisdom often comes from unlikely sources—the poor soldier succeeds where princes fail
3.Secrets, however well-guarded, will eventually be revealed to the determined observer

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Annotations Enabled

There was once a king who had twelve daughters, each more beautiful than the last. They slept together in one great hall, and when they went to bed, their doors were locked and barred. But every morning, their shoes were found worn through as if they had been dancing all night. No one could discover where they had been, and the king was greatly troubled.

The king proclaimed that whoever could discover where the princesses danced at night could choose one of them for his wife and become king after his death. But whoever tried and failed after three days would be put to death.

Many princes tried, but none succeeded. Then a wounded soldier, returning from war, met an old woman who gave him a cloak of invisibility and warned him not to drink the wine the princesses would offer him, for it was enchanted. She also told him to pretend to sleep and follow them secretly.

The eldest princess, suspicious of the newcomer, tried to trick him by giving him enchanted wine, but he secretly poured it out and feigned sleep. When the princesses thought he was asleep, they opened a secret trapdoor beneath the eldest's bed and descended into an enchanted realm.

The soldier, invisible in his magic cloak, followed them through three groves of trees—silver, gold, and diamond—taking a twig from each as proof. They came to a great lake where twelve princes waited in boats to row them across. The soldier stepped into the youngest princess's boat unseen.

On the other side stood a magnificent castle filled with music and light. The princesses danced with their princes until the shoes were worn through, exactly as had happened every night. The invisible soldier took a cup from the table as proof.

As dawn approached, they hurried back, and the soldier returned before them, pretending to be asleep. The princesses, thinking their secret safe, slept soundly. For two more nights, the soldier followed them, collecting proof each time.

On the third day, he presented the twigs and cup to the king. The princesses, seeing their secret discovered, confessed everything. The soldier chose the eldest princess for his wife, for she had been the most skeptical, and they ruled the kingdom wisely. The enchantment was broken, and the twelve princesses never again danced their shoes to pieces in the night.