The Dark Origins of Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel is one of the most famous fairy tales of the Western world, and contains one of the most notorious witches. The cannibal witch lives in an edible house in the woods, tricks children into her home, and keeps them prisoner. Add in some evil parents, a gingerbread house, and baking people in ovens and you’ve got herself a pretty scary story. What could possibly have prompted the creation of this twisted tale?

In this episode you’ll learn about witch trials in Germany, the role famine and poverty play in creating monsters, and how the Grimm brothers evolved oral folklore into legendary tales. The real story of Hansel and Gretel is even more scary than you think.

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