The Little Match Girl
1845 
Denmark Story
Once upon a time, on a bitterly cold New Year's Eve, a little girl walked barefoot through the snowy streets. She carried a bundle of matches that she was trying to sell, but all day long, no one had bought a single one. The snowflakes fell on her long golden hair, but she barely noticed the cold as she wandered on.
The little girl was afraid to go home. Her father would be angry that she hadn't sold any matches and had earned no money. So she huddled in a corner between two houses, trying to keep warm by curling up as small as she could.
Her hands were so cold and stiff that she could barely move them. "Perhaps just one little match would warm my fingers," she thought. She struck a match against the wall, and suddenly a wonderful thing happened.
The flame blazed up, and in its warm glow, the little girl saw a vision of a beautiful iron stove, warm and cozy. She stretched out her hands to warm them, but in an instant, the match burned out and the vision disappeared.
She struck another match. This time, she saw through a wall into a room where a magnificent feast was laid out on a table with a beautiful white cloth. A delicious roast goose, stuffed with apples and prunes, seemed to dance right toward her! But again, the match went out.
With the third match, she found herself sitting beneath the most beautiful Christmas tree she had ever seen, decorated with hundreds of candles and colorful pictures. She reached out her hands to touch it—and the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher until she saw they were the stars in the sky. One star fell, leaving a long trail of light.
"Someone is dying," thought the little girl, for her grandmother, the only person who had ever truly loved her, had told her that when a star falls, a soul goes up to heaven.
She struck another match, and there in the glow stood her grandmother, looking so kind and gentle. "Grandmother!" she cried. "Please take me with you! I know you will disappear when the match goes out." She quickly struck all the remaining matches to keep her grandmother near. And in the beautiful light, her grandmother picked her up in her arms, and together they flew away to a place where there was no cold, no hunger, and no sadness—only warmth, love, and happiness forever.
History and Meaning
"The Little Match Girl" was written by Hans Christian Andersen and first published in 1845. It is one of his most touching and emotionally powerful stories, written to raise awareness about the plight of poor children in 19th-century Europe.
Andersen was inspired to write this story after receiving a letter asking him to write a tale based on a specific illustration showing a poor girl selling matches. The story reflects the harsh realities faced by many children during Andersen's time.
While the original tale has a bittersweet ending, its message about compassion, the importance of caring for those less fortunate, and the power of hope and imagination has made it a beloved classic. The story reminds us to notice those in need around us and to share our warmth with others.
The tale has been adapted numerous times in film, television, and stage productions around the world. Many adaptations offer happier endings, but all preserve the story's core message about kindness and the transformative power of love.