# The Hazel-Branch explained — Household Tales

> Chapter companion for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm.

## What happens

The Christ-child falls asleep in his cradle, and his mother (Our Lady) goes to the woods to pick strawberries for him. While gathering them, she is threatened by an adder but hides behind a hazel-bush, which protects her. She declares that the hazel-branch shall henceforth protect others, explaining its traditional use as a safeguard against snakes and creeping things.

## Themes in this chapter

### Magic and the Supernatural

The hazel-branch is endowed with protective properties against snakes, reflecting a supernatural or magical folk belief.

## Character check-ins

### the Virgin Mary

The mother of the Christ-child, who goes to gather strawberries and is protected by a hazel-bush.

## Key lines

> As the hazel-bush has been my protection this time, it shall in future protect others also.

The hazel-bush saved me today, so from now on it will safeguard other people too.

_The Virgin Mary declares the hazel-branch a lasting protective charm._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-hazel-branch
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters