The Crinkum Crankum Tree

Story

Once there grew a tiny sapling, who was cared for by a kind fairy who visited the tree once a year, in spring. During one long, cold winter, a local imp, called Oozle, decided to make some mischief with the sapling, persuading it to grow crooked. When the fairy saw her tree, she was shocked, and told the tree that it should grow straight, and grow glorious flowers. Unfortunately, when winter came around again, Oozle returned more bitter than ever, to wreak havoc on the tree, and so began a battle between the two over the sapling’s soul, as it grew bending and twisting this way and that…

Why we chose it

A beautiful story to tell and a favourite with our Story Guides who heard it told by storyteller Danyah Miller.

Where it came from

The story of The Crinkum Crankum Tree is a Finnish folktale, which has been retold by storyteller Danyah Miller.

Where it went next

There have been several literary adaptations of the story of The Crinkum, Crankum Tree, including Crinkum-Crankum (1983), a children’s book written by Margaret Mahy (1936 – 2012) and illustrated by Robyn Belton (b.1947), both from New Zealand. In this version of the story, it is a witch, rather than an imp, who curses the tree to become crooked. Belton took inspiration for her illustrations from a real tree, a bougainvillea vine, in the grounds of Nelson Central School. That tree is known as the crinkum-crankum tree to this day.