Grandma’s Tales: Town Musicians of Bremen

byIndira Rajagopal

If you ever visit the city of Bremen in Germany, you will see a bronze statue of a donkey, dog, cat and rooster stacked one on top of the other on the western side of the town hall. When tourists pass by the statue, they touch the front legs of the donkey. It is a popular belief that touching the donkey’s legs with both hands brings good luck. Read on to learn more about the four animals and the folk tale associated with them.

Grandma’s Tales: Town Musicians of Bremen

The statue in Bremen commemorates an old German folk tale, which was popularised by the Brothers Grimm in their book of fairy tales. The four animals are referred to as the ‘Town Musicians of Bremen’. One of the famous Hanseatic cities, Bremen has a rich heritage. People from all parts of German