The Three Fairies facts for kids

The Three Fairies is a classic Italian fairy tale. It was written by Giambattista Basile in his famous book, the Pentamerone, which came out in 1634. This story is known as Aarne-Thompson tale 480. It's a popular type of story about kind and unkind girls. Many other tales, like Diamonds and Toads and Mother Hulda, share a similar theme. In these stories, a hero or heroine often goes to another world. There, they face challenges that test their character.

The Story of Cicella and Grannizia

This tale begins with a mean widow named Caradonia. She had an unkind daughter named Grannizia. Caradonia married a rich landowner who had a sweet daughter named Cicella. The widow was very jealous of Cicella. She treated her stepdaughter badly, giving her old clothes and little food. Cicella was also made to work very hard.

Cicella's Journey and the Fairies

One day, Cicella was working near a cliff. She accidentally dropped her basket over the edge. Looking down, she saw a scary-looking ogre. Politely, she asked him for help to get her basket back. The ogre told her to climb down to get it herself. Cicella bravely climbed down the cliff. At the bottom, she found three beautiful fairies.

Cicella was very polite to the fairies. She helped them by combing their hair. As she did, she found pearls and rubies, along with some small insects. The fairies were pleased with her kindness. They invited her to their castle and showed her many treasures. Cicella admired everything but was not greedy.

Next, they showed her a room full of fancy clothes. They asked her to pick a dress. Cicella chose a simple, inexpensive one. Then, they asked how she wanted to leave. She humbly said the stable door was fine for her. Because of her good nature, the fairies gave her a beautiful gown. They styled her hair and led her to a golden door. They told her to look up as she walked through it. As she did, a bright star fell onto her forehead.

Grannizia's Unkindness

Caradonia, full of envy, sent her own daughter, Grannizia, to the same place. Grannizia was rude to the fairies. She complained about the insects in their hair. When they showed her the clothes, she grabbed the fanciest dress she could find. The fairies did not give it to her. Instead, they sent her out through the stable door.

A Royal Encounter and a Cruel Plan

Furious, Caradonia took Cicella's beautiful clothes. She gave them to Grannizia and sent Cicella to look after pigs. While Cicella was with the pigs, a kind nobleman named Cuosemo saw her. He was impressed by her beauty and asked her stepmother if he could marry her. Caradonia agreed to the marriage.

However, Caradonia had a terrible plan. She sealed Cicella inside a barrel. Then, she presented Grannizia as the bride instead. After the wedding night, Cuosemo returned to the house. A clever tabby cat told him that Cicella was hidden in the barrel. Cuosemo quickly freed Cicella. He then put Grannizia in Cicella's place in the barrel. Cuosemo and Cicella then ran away together.

Caradonia came back with wood to make a fire. She boiled water, intending to harm Cicella. She poured the hot water into the barrel. Caradonia's cruel plan went wrong, and Grannizia was accidentally harmed instead. When Caradonia opened the barrel, she saw her own daughter. Caradonia was so upset that she ended her own life in the well.