Spo-reflections on The little match girl

I was well under four feet when I first read “The little match girl” by Hans C. Anderson. At this time of year I think about the story and I often reread it as part of the ritual of New Year’s Eve.

Spoilers ahead!

For thems unfamiliar with the tale, it is a story of a young girl who freezes to death on New Year’s Eve. I’ve had a lifetime of reflections on the tale and I’ve had various reactions to it. Sometimes I thought it beautiful and other times I find it appalling. After all, it is a story of child abuse: a young girl is forced by a physically abusive father go out in freezing weather to sell matches while the world celebrates the holiday. What on earth was Mr. Anderson thinking? What is the point? We’re supposed to feel good that she is taken up into Heaven ‘where there is no sorrow or hunger or cold’ but later on in life I smelled a rat. Wouldn’t it be better if somebody did something about the situation, a little girl walking barefoot in the snow, rather than concluding she is just better off dead? The explanation given to me by a grown up was ‘The little match girl” story reminds us to be grateful for what we have. This is along the line of seeing homeless folks and feeling good you aren’t one of them.*

I don’t think I will read ‘The little match girl” tomorrow evening or ever again. If the gist of Mr. A’s tale is to get the reader proactive at preventing such monstrosities, I get the point. I can do more in 2026 than reading feel-good stories or buying matches. They don’t really make a difference. I hope I don’t reread this entry next New Year’s Eve having realized no action had happened.

*In “Hogfather” Terry Pratchett’s parody of Santa Claus, Death, who is playing the Santa Claus figure (it makes sense in context), comes across the little match girl and reverses the sand in her hourglass giving her the greatest gift of all: a future. He hands the newly revived girl over to the authorities and tells them to give her something to eat and find her some warm clothes. Good for him!