Who wouldn’t want them to come, the elves, to do the housework quietly and secretly at night?
The Cologne legend, which was written in 1826 by Cologne resident Ernst Weyden and written as a poem by August Kopisch in 1836, is based on a legend by the Brothers Grimm that was passed down orally in 1816.
It still fascinates young and old, as well as big and small, with its funny story about conscience and morality and has found a venerable monument in the form of the Elves Fountain, not far from Cologne Cathedral.
The Elves Fountain was built on this spot in 1899 to mark Kopisch’s 100th birthday.
High up on the double staircase stands the curious “tailor’s wife” who scared away the house spirits. Below, several reliefs depict the “elves” consisting of various craftsmen doing their work.
Everyone can derive their own moral from the story, I think: “You don’t have to use your curiosity to uncover every secret :-)”
Here you can read the Heinzelmännchen legend in poem form by August Kopisch.
With our next destination we are taking a huge leap forward in Cologne’s city history, we are going to the WDR.
