"The Little Match Girl" (Danish:Den Lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne) is a fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a girl who dies selling matches on a wintry New Year's Eve.It was first published in 1845.The tale has been adapted to various media including animated film and television musical.
Plot summary
On a cold New Year’s Eve,a poor girl selling matches on the street takes shelter in a nook and lights the matches to warm herself.In their light,she sees several lovely visions including a Christmas tree and a holiday feast.The girl looks skyward,sees a shooting star,and remembers such stars mean someone is dying.As she lights her last match,she sees a vision of her deceased grandmother,the only person to have treated her with love and kindness.The child dies and her grandmother carries her soul to Heaven.The next morning,passers-by find the dead child in the nook.