A nixie is a water spirit in Germanic folklore, often depicted as female and associated with rivers, lakes, and wells. They can be helpful or dangerous.

What is the ATU classification?

ATU 313, 'The Magic Flight.' This tale type features protagonists escaping magical pursuers by throwing objects that create obstacles.

Why do the comb and axe become obstacles?

The comb becoming a mountain of thorns and the axe becoming a mountain of iron symbolize the transformation of everyday tools into magical defenses through courage and need.

Is this tale still told in Germany?

Yes, though less commonly than some other Grimm tales. It remains popular as a cautionary story about water safety and supernatural dangers.

What does the well represent?

The well symbolizes the boundary between the known world and the dangerous unknown. It represents places where children should not go without supervision.

The Water Nixie

At a Glance

Europe / Germany

ATU 313

5 min read

Easy

Cautionary Tale

Magic

Consequences

Key Takeaways

1.Children should be cautious near dangerous places and heed their parents' warnings
2.Cleverness and courage can help escape even the most dangerous situations
3.Freedom is precious and worth fighting for, even against powerful supernatural forces

The Water Nixie

Annotations Enabled

Once there were a brother and sister who were playing by a well. They were having such a wonderful time that they did not notice how close they were to the edge, and suddenly they fell in.

At the bottom of the well lived a water nixie. She said to them, 'Now I have you. You will work hard for me or you shall never see the light of day again.' She gave the brother a tangled mess of hemp to spin, and he had to fetch water with a sieve. The sister had to spin thread from a tangled fleece and carry water in a bucket full of holes.

The children worked miserably, their hands bleeding and their hearts filled with despair. But one Sunday when the nixie was away, they escaped. They ran across the meadows, but the water nixie saw them and pursued them with great strides.

The children saw a meadow full of flowers. The brother threw a comb behind him, and it became a great mountain of thorns. The nixie had to climb over slowly, cutting her way through. Then they came to a field with an axe. The sister threw it, and it became a mountain of iron.

The nixie was forced to climb slowly, her feet bleeding. When she finally neared the top, the children reached their home and leaped inside, safe behind locked doors. The nixie pounded and shrieked outside, but the house was too strong for her magic.

At last she gave up and returned to her well, never to emerge again. The brother and sister lived safely with their parents, having learned a valuable lesson about playing near dangerous places. And they never forgot the horror of the deep well, or the sweetness of freedom earned through courage and cleverness.