Hansel and Gretel fairy tale story

Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children named Hansel and Gretel. Times were tough, and the family struggled to make ends meet. One day, during a famine, their stepmother convinced the woodcutter to abandon the children in the forest as they could no longer afford to feed them.

Heartbroken but fearing their stepmother’s wrath, Hansel and Gretel were led deep into the woods. Hansel, clever as he was, had scattered breadcrumbs along the way to find their way back, but the birds had eaten them, leaving the children lost.

As night fell, they stumbled upon a cottage made entirely of sweets, with candy windows and a roof of gingerbread. Hungry and tired, they began to eat the house, unaware that it belonged to a wicked witch.

The witch, luring them with kindness, trapped Hansel in a cage, planning to fatten him up before eating him. Gretel, however, outsmarted the witch, pretending not to know how to check the oven’s heat. When asked to demonstrate, Gretel pushed the witch into the oven, freeing her brother.

With the witch defeated, they discovered treasures in her house and made their way back home, guided by a friendly bird. Reuniting with their overjoyed father, they learned that their stepmother had passed away.

From then on, they lived happily, never again facing hunger or cruelty. The lessons of bravery, cleverness, and familial love stayed with them, ensuring they thrived despite life’s challenges.