Since you all enjoyed the last Brothers Grimm fairytale I read, I thought it would be appropriate to share another. After all, there is no such thing as too much Brothers Grimm at bedtime…
I’ve always loved old stories, and now having the opportunity to bring them to life - for you - with my voice is an honour. Fairy tales, such as the one I read tonight, do not simply entertain, they linger, they whisper their wisdom from generation to generation.
The Hidden Magic of Grimm’s Fairytales
We often think of fairytales as just whimsical bedtime stories, but the original folk tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were never just stories for the sake of storytelling. They were lessons; cautionary tales passed down through generations, filled with warnings, wisdom, and the values of a sadly extinct era. These stories taught survival, resilience, and morality in ways that were unforgettable. So unforgettable that we still tell them to one another today.
I find that stories this era are packed with fluff and coated with sugar, they often prioritise spectacle over substance, but the Grimm folktales were deeply rooted in something far older and far more durable: oral tradition. They carried the echoes of parents who used stories to shape young minds, preparing them for the unpredictability and dangers of life. They weren’t afraid to warn, to guide, to be dark and sharp around the edges. And perhaps that’s why they still hold such power today.
Sleep Peacefully to The Twelve Dancing Princesses
This week’s episode of Rest brings you, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. A story of an old solider, a magic cloak, and of course, a secret hidden beneath the surface. What happens when twelve princesses wear out their shoes night after night? And what magic lies behind the locked doors of the castle?
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Wherever you choose to listen, I hope this story brings you peaceful sleep and a blessed night’s rest.
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