In “The Six Swans,” the sister must remain silent for six years to break the spell on her brothers.
The Brothers Grimm tale is KHM 49 and belongs to ATU 451, “The Maiden Who Seeks Her Brothers.” A stepmother transforms the six brothers into swans, and their sister learns that she can restore them only by avoiding speech while sewing six shirts from star-flowers.
The task is difficult because she cannot explain herself when she marries a foreign king and is falsely accused by her mother-in-law. Her silence appears suspicious, but she continues the work until the required six-year period ends and the spell can be broken.
Readers sometimes remember a different number because related international tales vary in the number of brothers, birds, garments, or years. “The Six Swans” is also easily blended with “The Seven Ravens,” “The Twelve Brothers,” and other ATU 451 variants, but the Grimm version consistently centers on six brothers and six years.