The Evolving History of Little Red Riding Hood

Most of us know the story or at least a modern version of Little Red Riding Hood.  However most of us don’t realize how much history lies behind this famously handed down fairytale.  A classic to be sure, the story of Little Red Riding Hood has been handed down generation to generation, country to country, since as early as the 14th century.

Beginning as a fable in France during the 1300’s, it is said that Little Red Riding Hood began as a simple tale to keep young women safe at the time.  While it may seem strange, the basis of the story was meant to show young girls the age old danger of both the unknown (the forest) and strange men (most notably in this story morphed into a wolf).  It is said that the original versions of the story of Little Red Riding Hood, were also passed onto early Italians.  In this case the story was also said to be used to warn young ladies against the potentially dangerous sexual aggressions of the male, once again the icon of the hungry wolf illustrates this potential hazard.  While of course in the story Little Red Riding Hood was eaten and not pursued by the wolf for more sensual exploits, the message is there under the surface: avoid strange men and their animal like passions.

The true story of Little Red Riding Hood has like most stories changed overtime.   While the main themes of the story persist, over time the story of Little Red Riding Hood has varied with retelling in new centuries, cultures, and countries.  The original story of Little Red Riding Hood begins with a young girl cloaked in a red cape or cloak (also in one early version by Grimm a simple red cap) who is walking to her grandmother’s home through the woods alone.  Little Red Riding Hood comes upon a wolf who asks her where she is going.  Not seeing the potential danger, Little Red Riding Hood tells the wolf she is off to her grandmother’s house.  The wolf suggests Little Red Riding Hood gather flowers for her grandmother before going, which she does.  The wolf then uses this time to go the grandmothers house himself, and eat her whole.  He then dons her clothing and enters her bed awaiting the visit from the unknowing Little Red Riding Hood.  When she arrives of course she notices changes to her dear old grandmother (aka the wolf) and the old lines such as “wow grandmother what large teeth you have” etc. are told.  In the original story the wolf then eats poor Little Red Riding Hood whole.  A hunter arrives at the home just after and disembowels the wolf while grandmother and Little Red Riding Hood come out alive and while after being eaten.

In many later versions the gruesomeness of the original story has oftentimes been changed.  In many a retelling the grandmother is simply locked in the closet and not eaten.  In other versions the hunter is said to arrive just in the nick of time to save Little Red Riding Hood before she is eaten.  Whatever the version, the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood lives on and will most likely be told for many generations to come.

Of course due to the popularity of this story many people often turn to Little Red Riding Hood for their Halloween Costumes.  Check out these links below for more little red riding hood costume ideas:

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