Our collection at The Cottage Shop contains several ornaments from our favorite nursery rhymes and fairy tales. As a member, you will receive notification as new styles arrive and have the opportunity to purchase them before becoming available to the public. If you are not a member, join today and receive $10.00 off your first purchase!
In 1812, Brothers Grimm published Rapunzel as part of their Children’s and Household Tales. This familiar tale tells a story of a girl locked in a tower by an enchantress. The only means to climb the tower is by Rapunzel’s long golden hair. A prince sees this, and uses the words “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair!”. The prince and her fall in love. One day, the enchantress finds out about the prince visiting. She cuts Rapunzel’s hair and sends her to the desert. When the prince comes for Rapunzel, the enchantress blinds him and he escapes with his life. He wanders for years until he approaches the desert. Rapunzel sees him and knows who he is. She weeps for him and her tears wetted his eyes and he could see again. They flee to his kingdom with their twins and live happily ever after.
Before the popular Brother’s Grimm version, this tale can be traced back to similar stories written in Italy and France. Italian poet, Giambattista Basile, published Petrosinella in his collection of fairy tales in 1634 which had the couple eloping without enduring years of suffering beforehand. In 1697, French novelist, Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force, published Persinette which is much like the Brother’s Grimm version but includes much more suffering after the couple are reunited.
After more recent adaptions, Rapunzel has become a favorite character for children. In 1997, Paul O. Zelinsky published a retelling of Rapunzel and received the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1998. In 2002, Owen Hurley directed the computer-animated film, Barbie as Rapunzel which received awards for Best Animated Character Performance and Best Original Score. In 2010, Bryon Howard and Nathan Greno directed the Disney computer animated musical adventure film, Tangled, which received 10 awards including an Oscar nominee in 2011.
The De Carlini Rapunzel Christmas Ornament is decorated in a beautiful pink dress with long blonde hair. This item adds to our growing fairy tale collection!
