Every New Year’s Eve I reread “The Little Match-girl” by Hans Christian Anderson. If you haven’t read this remarkable folk tale I encourage you to do so. The Little Match girl
Or you can see a lovely film version here.
I must was very young when I first read it. The ending made me cry so hard I literally bawled. It remains one of the saddest and moving stories I have ever read. As a boy I was flabbergasted by its injustice. I believed good should be rewarded and bad should be punished. Why was a child forced to work? Why would her parents treat her so? Why did no one take pity and help her? It was incomprehensible to me – how could this happen?
I visited it every new year’s eve hoping I had somehow misread it. Alas, the story never varied; the outcome was always the same.
As I grew older I began to understand and appreciate the ending. She receives happiness – not in this world but elsewhere. I was just beginning to experience the hurts and injustices of Life and I saw little if any hope in it. Mr. Anderson’s story doesn’t make Life better, but it adds a coda of comfort.
So why do I reread “The Little Match Girl” every New Year’s Eve? I do so partially out of the nostalgia. I am visiting an old friend whom I see only once a year. Unlike me, she is unaltered and never grows old. Mostly I return to revisit Hope; there is more to Life than misery and indifference.
I still shed a tears when I read it, but they are tears of joy rather than sorrow. Another old year dies along with the Match girl. But in the joyful New Year there is something new and with Love.
12 comments
December 28, 2010 at 7:03 PM
James
I bawled my eyes out the first time I read that story too. Here in Brazil,we have a folk tale that’s similar to “The Little Match Girl” in theme/tone, which is the “Little Black Shepherd”, which dates back to the times of slavery here.
December 28, 2010 at 8:33 PM
Ron
To me the great mystery of life is the forces of good and evil. Sometimes I cannot bear to think of some of the evil that is done every day while the rest of us go on about our every day lives. But every now and then you read or see a good deed (and not the kind that is celebrated by Anderson Cooper on “Heroes”) but everyday, unsung heroes and you just know there is hope for humanity. Not to sound too goody two shoes, but I do believe that good will ultimately triumph over evil. Again, you have posted a thought provoking blog. That’s why I keep coming back Spo.
December 28, 2010 at 9:53 PM
jefferyrn
Such a sad little story. It makes me miss my own grandmother. I am sorry but I don’t buy into your more “grown-up” understanding of this tale. Someone should have done something. I don’t get a “coda of comfort” from dreaming of the hereafter. But certainly that is the message I was given as a Catholic school boy, “the lord works in mysterious ways”. What load that is to bare. I am pleased that you reread this and still have hope for a different ending. That is the kindness that is missing from Anderson’s story.
December 29, 2010 at 5:48 AM
Rick
I love the fact that you reread it every New Year’s eve…what a great tradition.
December 29, 2010 at 7:00 AM
Karen
Another story of a similar theme is “The Velveteen Rabbit”.
December 29, 2010 at 8:27 AM
Raven~
Cher Spo, first, note the new email address … we’ll be changing over in the next couple of months. Have you read George MacDonald’s Lilith?
That novel was a saving grace for me at one very troubled time. Still go back to it ….
December 29, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Ron
Thanks to Cubby, I fixed the link to my blog. My apologies for scaring anyone thinking they were going to a pishing website. Heck, I don’t even have ads (nor will I ever) on my blog. Thanks again Cubby. I appreciate your kindness.
December 29, 2010 at 9:31 AM
Laurent
Well today we have social agencies and all manners of services to provide for such waifs. What a cynic I am.
December 29, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Jay
You read? I cannot read your blog anymore. I didn’t realize you were like smart and stuff. Kidding, Boo.
December 29, 2010 at 2:27 PM
Urspo
I don’t read; nor do I write. I do like stuff however.
December 29, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Mark
Will watching the Youtube clip suffice, or must one actually read the book? 🙂 Just kidding. Happy new year, Dr. Spo!
December 30, 2010 at 3:45 AM
Lemuel
There is a very moving B&W film version of this story that I saw as a young child. I think it was made int the 1930’s. My mother who lived through the Depression could not bear to watch it.