Tonight, we’ll read the fairy tale “Felicia and the Pot of Pinks” written by Madame d’Aulnoy and found in the Blue Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang.

The “pot of pinks” in this story refers to a type of dianthus flower known as “garden pinks.” Its name is not due to the color pink but rather to the serrated edges of the petals, which look like they were cut with pinking shears. In fact, the color pink may be derived from this particular flower.

Madame d’Aulnoy was a 17th-century French writer credited with popularizing the term fairy tale, or conte de fées. Her stories often featured courtly settings, magical transformations, and heroines who relied on cleverness and kindness rather than brute strength. “Felicia and the Pot of Pinks” is a lovely example of her style, blending the domestic and the enchanted in a story that centers around a humble gift—a flowerpot—and the power it holds.

Andrew Lang, who compiled The Blue Fairy Book in the late 19th century, was a Scottish folklorist who brought together stories from all over the world, often adapting them for a Victorian audience. This particular tale, translated and preserved through his collection, reflects the enduring charm of early French fairy literature and the quiet wisdom often carried in its petals.

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