Snow White (in German Schneewittchen) is the title character of a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm. The German version features elements such as the magic mirror and the seven dwarfs, who were first given individual names in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The story of Snow White and the dwarfs should not be confused with the story of Snow White and Rose Red (in German Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot), another fairy tale that was also collected by the Brothers Grimm.

In the Aarne-Thompson folklore classification, tales of this kind are grouped together as type 709, Snow White. Others of this kind include Bella Venezia, Myrsina, Nourie Hadig, The Young Slave and Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree. "The Jealous Sisters" is another Albanian fairytale.

In both fairytales the death is caused by a ring. In the many non-German versions, the dwarfs are generally robbers, while the magic mirror is a dialog with the sun or moon.[citation needed] In a version from Albania, collected by Johann George von Hahn and published in Griechische and albanesische Märchen. Gesammelt, übersetzt and erläutert (1864), the main character lives with 40 dragons.[citation needed] Her sleep is caused by a ring.

The beginning of the story has a twist, in that a teacher urges the heroine to kill her evil stepmother so that she would take her place. The origin of this tale is debated; it is likely no older than the Middle Ages. In fact there are possibly two Albanian versions of Snow White: one where her stepmother tries to kill her, and another where her two jealous sisters try to kill her.

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