Henna Leaf, A Cinderella Story from Yemen retold by Carolyn Han

and translated by Kamal Ali al Hegri. Thank you to Nail Ahmed of Yemen for this suggestion.

ISBN 1-566-56-571-5

(grains; 3 rings, bird)

“Get to work!” the stepmother shouted. “You can’t come to the wedding party.”

“Please let me come with you,” Henna Leaf begged. “The Sultan’s daughters invited all the women in our village.”

“Only if you finish separating and grinding the grain.” The mean woman told her, laughing. She had mixed three different grains together and knew it would take too long. Her stepmother and her stepsister Ekrem then got ready for the party, laughing as they dressed. 

“Don’t stay up too late!” they said, slamming the door behind them.

a mourning dove

Tears covered Henna Leaf’s face but even in her sorrow she took care of her kitten, pouring it a saucer of milk. That’s when an old woman wearing a velvet gown appeared out of nowhere and asked, “Why are you crying? And why aren’t you going to the party?”

“Who are you?” cried Henna Leaf and the woman said, “I’ve come to help!” That’s when she produced a silken dress and shoes, along with a sliver necklace, arm and ankle bracelets. Then she found a hairbrush and began to brush the girl’s hair. When she was ready, the old lady led Henna Leaf to the gates of the Sultan’s palace. Then she disappeared. But Henna Leaf could hear her way: she just followed the sound of laughter and the music of the oud. Light shone from the windows and the alabaster stairway seemed to glow. Custom required that she removed her shoes before entering the room, so Henna Leaf did so. When she walked in, everyone stared and said, “Who can she be?”

            And Ekram said to her mother “It sure looks like Henna Leaf!” but her mother said that it couldn’t be. All of the other women began snapping their fingers and clapping their hands, welcoming Henna Leaf to the dance, but her sister was not satisfied. So she stuck out her foot and tripped the poor girl then helped her up to get a closer look. Seeing her beautiful face and sliver jewelry, she was suddenly not so sure who the young woman was, but in all the merriment there was no way to be sure. 

            Just then the Sultan’s son Ali, who had forgotten that his sister was having an all-women wedding party, arrived home. He tried to warn the revelers of his presence, chanting, ‘Allah, Allah, Allah!” as he came. But no one heard him, the music was so loud. Entering the room, the first person he saw was Henna Leaf and he knew that she was the one for him. In the commotion, the girl ran away, grabbing her silken shoes and running down the stairs. She dropped one in her terror and was home before anyone knew who she was. Ali picked up the shoe.

            “Too bad you couldn’t have joined us!” Ekram taunted when they got home. “The Sultan’s son came in and now he wants to marry the mystery woman who lost her shoe.” Too bad nobody knew who she was. The very next day however, Ali sent his manservant around with the shoe. Of course, the man couldn’t speak directly to the women of the village but the shoe was passed to a maidservant in each house so that each girl could try it. At last, they came to the last house on the street, and called at the mudbrick window. Ekram came and grabbed the shoe but it would not fit. Then Henna Leaf had a turn and the little shoe slipped right on! That’s when she drew the other out.

            The very next day a royal summons came, calling Henna Leaf to the palace. But the stepmother’s jealousy knew no bounds and so she made Ekram put on a hijab and veil her hair and face. Surely, the Sultan’s son would not be so rude as to demand to look upon his bride’s face? 

            Arriving at the palace, the first person Ekram met was an old woman who offered her something to eat. Always hungry, Ekram raced to the kitchen and grabbed a big silver spoon. Greedily, she dipped it into each pot, tasting every dish. 

            “Oh!” she exclaimed when it slipped from her hands and to the bottom of a large pot. Reaching for it, Ekram fell in headfirst and when she stood, stew spilled all down her front. She called for her mother who came and hit the soapstone vessel with a broomstick, breaking it open. But the rim of the pot was stuck around Ekram’s neck like a stone necklace and she was trapped. Meanwhile, the Sultan sent an escort to find Henna Leaf. They were married the very next day.

            The stepmother was not ready to give up yet though, and disguising herself as a servant, she snuck into Henna Leaf’s chamber. While the girl slept, the stepmother inserted tiny acacia thorns into the skin on her step-daughter’s face and the girl was transformed into a dove. The little white bird flew out the open window and when Ali found his bride missing he despaired. 

            Not far away, a white dove sat in an apricot tree. An old man approached and his face seemed so kind that Henna Leaf asked, “How is Ali, the Sultan’s son?” and the man told her that the prince was very sad. Hearing this, the dove began to cry and soon the sky filled with clouds, which also wept with sorrow. The old man ran away lest he be swept away in the flood. When he got back to the palace Ali asked if there was news of the girl. “No”, said the old man. But seeing how sad the young man was, he added, “But I did see a talking bird.” He told the story of the flood and Ali set off to find Henna Leaf before she was swept away. He walked the next day until he came to an apricot tree, where a white dove sat. As he approached, it flew right to him and he held it gently and stroked its feathers. That’s when he felt the thorns. Pulling each one out he counted. When he got to the seventh thorn and pulled it, the dove transformed back into a girl and hand in hand, Ali and Henna Leaf returned to the palace. The Sultan banished Ali’s jealous mother-in-law from the palace and Ali lived many years in peace with his new wife, who brought him many children. At last, the Sultan stepped down and appointed Ali in his place and he and Henna Leaf lived happily ever after. 

Cinderella #363 Aschengrittel

Cinderella #363 Aschengrittel 

"A tiny, white bearded dwarf"
gives her 6 wishes: three good and three bad!
Illustration by Jacques, R. 

Once upon a time, in what is now Germany, there lived a girl called Aschengrittle. This was not her name, merely an ugly slur cast upon her by her two younger stepsisters. They and their mother made Aschengrittle do all of the dirtiest household work, and sleep in the scullery. Since they never gave her new clothing to wear she was soon covered with ashes. That is why they gave her the nickname. Her little step-brats were so mean that one of their favorite games was to throw "lentils in the ashes for her to sort". She ate only what she gleaned from the sooty hearth. It happened that her "Father goes ajourney" one day, and "asks what gifts he shall bring for his daughters." Her little stepsisters greedily request dresses and sweets and trinkets, but Aschengrittel asks only for "the first twig that hits Father's hat". So her father goes, and soon enough comes back. To his young stepdaughters he presents new dresses and shoes and necklaces, with fruits and sweets besides. For his own daughter he has jokingly gift-wrapped a fir twig. As her sisters  jeer and laugh, Aschengrittle thanks her father. Then she "places [the] twig in her bosom, and carries it always with her." The following day is wash day, and first thing in the morning, poor old Aschengrittel is sent to the distant well to draw water. When she gets there, "a tiny, white bearded dwarf appears, and promises to perform three good and three evil wishes" for her. Well, the girl says that she will not accept the evil wishes, and wants only that "her stepmother and stepsisters may be kind to her in future". Dwarves are canny creatures, and this one could tell that the girl's heart was pure and good. So he gave her a "golden wand that will perform anything she wishes", bade her good day, and was gone. Alone, she tests the wand by "striking it against the edge of the well" and articulating her desires. They manifest! Her dirty clothing has been replaced by a clean dress, and a meal has appeared before her. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, she eats the food and changes back into her rags before returning home. It happens that soon "a young king, wishing to choose a bride, gives a grand ball". Of course her stepmother forbids her to go, and takes her own girls with her. As soon as they are gone, Aschengrittle runs to the well and activates her wand. "Instantly [a] wonderful dress with gold and pearls is before her". She puts it on, strikes the well again, and now has  coach and six to transport her. At the ball, she is radiant, and attracts the attention of the young king. But she leaves midway through the evening, and he is bereft. So he announces that he will hold a second ball the following night. This time Aschengrittle comes in "more splendid attire" and again captivates the king. Yet once more she gives him the slip. What can he do but host a third ball? For this final evening of revelry, Aschengritte's wand really works some spectacular magic. It clothes her "in a still more gorgeous dress". She is "beyond measure happy"when she arrives at the palace for her third date with the king, but he has made some preparations this time. An order has been given to "have every door but one closed, and this is smeared with pitch" after the guests have entered. This evening passes in a whirl of sweet talk and fast dancing, and before he knows it, Aschengrittel is heading for the exit once more. He follows at a discreet pace as she goes from exit to exit, finding each one sealed. At last she finds an open door! Pushing through it, she feels her feet stuck fast to something on the other side. The king is nearly upon her, when she makes a snap decision: "she leaves [one] golden shoe sticking to the pitch rather than let the king follow her home." With a kick, she pulls free of her shoe and runs swiftly away. Appetite now fully whetted for the hunt, the young king smiles as he bends to recover the shoe.  "He is delighted to have [it] and gives notice that he will wed whomsoever it fits." Taking the shoe himself from door to door, he comes at last to Aschengrittlel's home. Of course, her stepmother has pushed her out the back door. She pulls her own girls forward, insisting that they take the shoe into the other room to try it on. There she "makes one daughter cut off [her] big toe and the other daughter [a] piece of heel." Showing first one and then the other girl to the king as they model the shoe, the stepmother manages to trick him for awhile. But then he notices the sticky red puddles on the floor and says, "Gru, gru, there is blood in the shoe; this bride is not the true." So he guesses that there must be one more young girl in the house. At last the stepmother admits that there is though she is "too ugly and dirty to be seen". The king demands to see her anyway, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

From: Cox, M. R. (1893/2011) p.316

Notes: Here is another rare example of a "fairy godFATHER" in place of the usual nurturing female. Dwarves are ancient creatures of mythology; reputed to live deep within the earth and to be skilled miners and metalworkers, their literary roots are deep. According to Alison Jones, author of the Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore, dwarves are "hot tempered and quick to take offense but nevertheless generous and loyal to those they befriend." In the mythology of Scandinavia, they are "created by the gods from the giant Ymir, and although less powerful than their creators were wiser than humans." (p.153) For more folktales and more about Marian Roalfe Cox, visit The Folklore Society, http://www.folklore-society.com/

Cinderella #108 Retold and Illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian (1981)

"When you are Queen, you won't need to walk anymore.
Cut off a bit of your heel."

Once upon a time, somewhere along the Rhine River, "there lived a nobleman and his wife and their beautiful daughter.  The wife had been ill for a long time, and when she knew she was dying, she called her daughter to her bedside."  Gently, she asked the little girl to be good.  Then she told her that, although the child would not be able to see her, the mother's spirit would always be watching over her.  "The maiden went to her mother's grave every day and wept.  When winter came, the snow spread a blanket over the grave, but when the sun of springtime uncovered it again, the nobleman found a new wife." The lady was not kind, and neither were her daughters.  They could not bear the fact that their new stepsister was kind and goodhearted, as well as beautiful.  As soon as they moved in they said,"We will not allow this goose in the parlor with us.  She's nothing better than a kitchen maid. If she wants bread, she must earn it."And from that moment on, she ceased to be considered a member of the family.  Instead, she was sent to the kitchens.  Her fine clothes were shared out among her new sisters, and in exchange for her fine house shoes, "a pair of old wooden clogs".  When her labors were done each day, the only place she had to lay her head was "among the cinders and the ashes.  And so they began to call her Cinderella."  She had to light the fires each day at dawn, carry the water, and wash the clothes.  Her stepsisters thought it was hilarious to make her pick her supper out of the dirt.  They "even shook bags of peas into the ashes to make her pick them out again." And so the sad months passed.  One day, Cinderella's father announced that he was off on a journey.  What would the girls like as souvenirs of his travels, he asked them.  His step daughters requested fine gowns and precious gems, but his own child asked for nothing more than a twig. "A fresh, green hazel twig, the first one you brush against on your way home." Soon he was back again, bearing dresses, jewelry — and a hazel twig.  Cinderella took it and went out to sit in the garden, near the place where her mother was buried.  As sad thoughts overwhelmed her, she planted the twig in the soft ground.  Her tears watered it, and it began to grow. Soon it was a young tree.  "Each day, a small white dove flew into the tree, and if Cinderella had a wish, there would be a rustling in the tree, and suddenly her wish would be granted." It happened one day that a festival was proclaimed by the King.  It would last for three days, and most especially invited were all of the young ladies of the kingdom: the Prince wanted to choose one for his bride. But when Cinderella, along with her stepsisters, jumped for joy, they scoffed in her face.  "You, Cinderella? You are covered with ashes and you haven't a thing to wear.  How can you possisbly go to the ball?" Yet the girl would not stop pestering to go. So her stepmother "decided to teach her a lesson. 'Very well,' she said, and she tossed a tubful of peas into the cinders. 'If you can pick out all the good ones in one hour, then you may go to the ball with us."  Now Cinderella went out to her little hazel tree. She had only to tell the dove what had happened, and before she knew it, "a flock of birds had flown into the house and peck, peck, peck, they gathered all the good peas into the tub and flew out again." Yet when the girl showed the tub of peas to her stepmother, the woman proved herself false.  Sneering that the girl couldn't go because she would be the laughing stock of the party, she swept away with her own two daughters.  Quickly, Cinderella washed her face and brushed her hair.  Then she ran to the hazel tree, wished for fine clothes, and held her breath.  "There was a rustling in the branches, and in a moment, Cinderella's rags turned into a gown that seemed to be made of the stars in the sky, and in place of wooden shoes, she was wearing silver slippers." She heard a whisper warn her to be back before twelve o'clock, and then she was off! When the Prince saw the girl in the dress like all the stars in the sky, he knew that he was in love. He danced with none other that night.  But when the clock began to toll the midnight hour, the girl dashed away.  When her family got home, she was sound asleep, and dirty as ever. The next night the festival continued. This time, Cinderella's wish brought her a gown "made completely of pearls, and on her feet were delicately embroidered slippers to match."   Once again the prince danced with her only, and once again, she slipped away from him.  Her stepsisters thought she looked funny, asleep as she seemed to be, amongst the ashes.  For the third night of the ball, "she looked like sunlight itself, her golden hair cascading over a gown of pure gold, and on her feet were two golden slippers." The night air was soft, and the music heavenly.  Before Cinderella knew it, the first chime of twelve was struck.  Now she ran,  but the clock rang faster.  As she reached home she was in her rags, and one shoe had fallen off.  The other she carefully wrapped in her apron pocket.  Another proclamation was sent out the following morning: that the Prince would marry the maiden who could wear a particular shoe which he had found. Now women came from all quarters.  "There were duchesses and princesses and all the ladies of the court, but the slipper was either too wide or too narrow, too long, or too short, and not one of them had a foot that was just right for the golden slipper." At last, the Prince went forth himself, bearing the slipper on a pillow, going from house to house.  At Cinderella's house the older stepsister demanded the first turn.  She and her mother took the shoe into the kitchen, "but the girl could not get her foot into the slipper.  Her big toe was too large.  Her mother brought her a knife, saying 'Cut off a piece of your toe; if you become Queen, you will no longer need to go by foot.' So the girl cut off a piece of her toe" and bandaged it, and put the slipper on.  So the Prince believed that she must be the girl he had danced with.  He helped her onto his horse, but just then "the small white dove flew along beside him," and drew his eyes down to the feet of his soon-to-be-bride.  That's when he "noticed blood trickling out of her slipper." So he brought her home, and gave her sister a chance. She too went out of the room, and tried the shoe on.  Her toes slid right in! But "her heel was too wide." So her mother said, "Cut a piece off of your heel.  When you are Queen, you will not need to do any walking."  And the girl did chop some off, and her mother wrapped it tightly, and she went out to the prince.  He saw the shoe on her foot, and believed that she must surely be the one he danced with.  Again he set off on his horse, a girl behind him in the saddle.  And there was the bird again! Now the Prince saw "blood dripping on the ground, and he knew this maiden had tricked him." He took this young lady home, and demanded to know if there were not one more? Now the father spoke up. "Cinderella is my daughter, but she could not possibly be the bride you seek." The Prince insisted on seeing her, and the stepmother cried," No! She is much too ragged and dirty to present to a Prince." The Prince silenced her, and Cinderella was called for. "She scrubbed her face and brushed the ashes from her hair." In rags, she entered the room.  She bowed to the Prince and extended her foot.  It slipped "easily onto her delicate foot. As she stood up and raised her head, the Prince recognized the beautiful maiden of the ball." And then she pulled out the other slipper, and put it on, too. He "carried Cinderella to his horse and rode away.  As they passed the hazel tree, the little white dove flew down and nestled on Cinderella's shoulder. Their marriage was celebrated with great festivities, and the two stepsisters were stricken blind as a punishment for their wickedness."

FromCINDERELLA. From the Brothers Grimm.

Notes: This is a nice retelling of the original Grimm, retaining the knife and chopping of the feet, and the blinded sisters, but it is not too gory! 

Montessori Connection: Geography/Europe/France and Germany as Neighbors

1. Read this story and notice the name of the river at the beginning.

2. Find the Rhine River i an atlas.

3. Find the countries that it runs through on a world map.

4. Learn more about the rivers of Europe:Cycling Along the Waterways of France (Bicycle Books) or Julie's Gift: Memories of London or Best Pictures of Paris: Top Tourist Attractions Including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre-Coeur Basilica, Arc de Triomphe, the Pantheon, Orsay Museum, City Hall and More.