Maus Ketti statue in Burmerange;
Credit: John Chalmers/Chronicle.lu
Despite its compact size, Luxembourg has its fair share of fables, folktales, myths and legends, from a mermaid and a wild woman to a wolfman and an underwater bogeyman.
In this series of articles, Chronicle.lu will be delving into some of these tales and their lasting impact in Luxembourg.
Next up is Maus Ketti.
A well-known fable in Luxembourg is Auguste Liesch's D'Maus Ketti, a story (told in verse) based on Aesop's fable about the town mouse and the country mouse.
The Luxembourgish tale, published in 1936, depicts humble field mouse Ketti who receives a visit from her wealthy cousin Mim from Luxembourg-Clausen. After a simple homemade meal, Mim invites Ketti to join her in Luxembourg City, where the food is supposedly better. However, their urban adventure turns dangerous when they encounter a couple of house cats, and Ketti realises she prefers the simple life...
Burmerange, where Ketti's field was located, has a statue dedicated to its famous mouse resident. Sculptor Wil Lofy also created a fountain (pictured below) inspired by the fable in Mondorf-les-Bains, Auguste Liesch's birthplace.
