The Maid of Brakel facts for kids

"The Maid of Brakel" is a classic German fairy tale. It was collected by the famous Brothers Grimm. This story is tale number 115 in their well-known collection, Grimms' Fairy Tales. The tale takes place in a town called Brakel, Germany.

What Happens in the Story?

The story begins in a small chapel. Inside this chapel, there was a statue. This statue showed Saint Anne with her young daughter, the Virgin Mary.

One day, a young woman who was not married came to the chapel. She knelt down and prayed to Saint Anne. She asked Saint Anne to help her find a husband.

A clerk was also in the chapel. He heard the woman's prayer. He then said, "You won't get him!" The woman thought the voice came from the statue of the child Mary. She got upset and scolded the statue. She told the child Mary not to talk when her mother, Saint Anne, was being spoken to.

Who is Saint Anne?

Saint Anne is a very important figure in some Christian traditions. She is known as the mother of the Virgin Mary. People often prayed to Saint Anne for help with many things.

She was especially seen as a helper for unmarried women. This was because of an old legend. The legend said that Saint Anne herself had been married three times. This made her a special patron for those hoping to find a partner.