A mitten big enough for all those in need

“The Mitten” is a Ukrainian folktale translated into many languages and loved by kids around the world. I read the Japanese version of this picture book by Evgenii Mikhailovich Rachev.

In German, the story is known under the title of “Der Fausthandschuh” (The Mitten) and not “Der Handschuh” (The Glove) and there is a good reason for that.
In this story, a mitten that is lost in the middle of a snowy forest provides shelter for wild animals. A glove simply would not do the job.

At first, a mouse makes a home out of it. Then comes a frog, a rabbit, a fox and so on… even a bear finds refuge here in the end. Each animal in the story has its own distinctive size and character.

The physically impossible becomes possible in fairy tales. That is why children find them so fascinating. Above all, it is fun to read how casual and calm all of the animals are in accepting the newcomers every time (even when they seem too big for the mitten).

Why am I telling you this story?
Right at this moment, tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees are crossing borders in search of safety. The EU is now a big mitten offering a refuge for all those suddenly thrown into a battlefield.

Inhabitants of the big mitten will hopefully welcome people from Ukraine with the same generosity shown by the animals in the picture book.

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