Cinderella’s slipper was made of cabbage, and it healed her feet

Every Cinderella is about the slipper. That much is clear. There is always magic from the Fairy Godmother that turns the ugly slipper into something extraordinary. The original Cinderella story makes it hard for Cinderella retellings to give their own spin on the magical slipper. At least, it was hard for me when I set out to write my own Cinderella retelling.

Believe it or not, my mother came to my rescue. After I struggled with foot pain, she told me about a popular folk remedy: wrapping your feet in cabbage leaves. At first, I laughed at her, but she swore it would help, as it is good for reducing pain and swelling. So, I carefully wrapped my foot in a cabbage leaf. To my surprise, the very next day, the pain disappeared.

Being a writer, I thought this anecdote was perfect for Cinderella’s story. After all, Cinderella is hardworking all day – she cooks, cleans, scrubs and washes dishes. These chores would cause plenty of leg and foot pain. Some say that pain in the feet signals a lack of grounding. Cabbage is a root vegetable that grows close to the ground. For this reason, it made sense to me that it would have a stabilizing, steadying effect.

So, the main heroine in my novel, Pepelina, the Slavic Cinderella, has a very good ritual. Before bed every night, she wraps a cabbage leaf around her tired feet. In the morning, she wakes up without pain, ready to tackle all her household duties.

But the magic of the cabbage does not stop at healing. No. That is only the beginning. While the rest of the ladies in the Vineta kingdom polish their fancy shoes for the Kolyada ball, Pepelina’s feet stay wrapped in cabbage leaves. But one crucial moment in the story, meeting with Fairy Godmother, changes it all. One swish of the magical wand, and the cabbage wrap transforms into a gorgeous green slipper with white veins. It’s decorated with a carved white cabbage butterfly. Impressed yet? I hope so.

HOW TO WRAP YOUR FEET IN CABBAGE LIKE PEPELINA

Because if you struggle with leg and foot pain, why not try this simple folk remedy just like our ancestors once did? Here is how:

What you need:

• Fresh cabbage leaves — green or savoy work best
• A bandage or linen strip to secure them
• A comfortable pair of socks
• A cosy bed or chair to rest in

What to do:

1. Peel two or three large outer cabbage leaves
2. Gently roll them with a rolling pin to release the juice
3. Wrap them around your feet, ankles or knees
4. Secure with a linen bandage or soft cloth
5. Pull a pair of comfortable socks over the top to keep everything in place
6. Sleep with them on overnight like Pepelina (my mother’s secret tip!)

What to expect: Reduced swelling, and less pain. Perhaps, if you’re lucky, maybe even a visit from your own Fairy Godmother!

AN EXCERPT

From the pages of Pepelina

‘When Baba Jaga saw Pepelina’s blistered feet wrapped in cabbage and bandaged with linen, her mouth grew wide open. She quickly pointed her wand, and soon the wilted cabbage leaves became high heeled slippers. Crafted from ice, and coloured in green and white, the shoes glowed in the darkness. On the counters of the shoes, just above the heel, Baba Jaga placed shining cabbage seeds. For the top part of the shoes, she used ice and snow and made green and white butterflies.’