Hi Curious Kids,

Fairytales have been around for centuries, and make up a big part of our childhoods. From being tucked into bed with images of scary stepmothers, or sneaky wolves running through your dreams… You have most definitely heard a fairytale. Most popular fairytales were originally written for adults and not children. Your fairytale classics may just have a scary and gruesome origin.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves:

There are a few things that have been watered down in the version of Snow White we know today. In the original version, the queen ( the heroine’s stepmother) doesn’t only ask the huntsman to kill the poor princess (only a seven year old child) and bring back her heart as proof, but also her liver and lungs which are to be served for dinner.

Also in the original, Snow White doesn’t wake up from her poison apple-induced coma when the prince gives her a magical kiss. Oh no, she is boringly woken up by the prince’s horse as he takes her back to his castle.

Goldie Locks and the Three Bears:

In the first version of Goldie Locks, Goldie doesn’t escape out of the window when the bears find her; she ends up being their lunch! The second version, Goldie is not a young girl, but an old hag who ends up breaking her neck after jumping out the window. In a ‘happier’ version, the old lady is arrested for trespassing.

Cinderella:

The first tale of Cinderella came from 1st century Greece B.C., during which Strabo’s Greek heroine was called Rhodopis (‘rosy-cheeked’), not Cinderella. Instead of glass slippers, she wears sandals, and there is no pumpkin coach. Other than that, the story is still the same.

The Grimm brothers’ version was pretty grim. Cinderella’s nasty stepsisters end up cutting off their toes, to get their feet to fit into the slipper. Prince Charming seemingly needing glasses doesn’t notice all the blood filling the slipper, as two pigeons have to reveal the stepsister’s trickery to him. The wicked stepmother and stepsister get their eyes pecked out by pigeons as punishment, and spend the rest of their lives as beggars.

The Pied Piper:

The modern version has the Pied Piper bringing the kids he drew out of the town with his music, back to their parents when they agree to pay him for getting rid of the rats in town. The original story is much darker, as all the children end up drowning in a river.

Little Red Riding Hood:

Little Red Riding Hood is the best example of why talking to strangers is the absolute worst. Red ask a strange wolf what the best way to grandma’s house is, and the wolf happily gives her the wrong directions. He takes the faster route so that he can have Little Red and her grandma for lunch. Luckily, they get saved by a woodcutter who chops the wolf open to rescue them from his tummy.

The Little Mermaid:

Our favorite mermaid still gets new legs in the original story, but it isn’t all smooth sailing as shown in the movie! The Little Mermaid’s feet end up feeling like knives with every step she takes. Then the love of her life ( the prince) ends up marrying another girl right in front of her eyes. Our Little Mermaid is offered the choice to kill the prince, but she chooses to become sea foam instead.

There are a ton of cool fairytales that have gruesome twists and turns! Google your favorite fairytale and see if it has a wacky twist! Have fun and stay curious kids.