In the grand palace, the Queen is preparing for the christening ceremony for Princess Aurora. Invited are fairies – led by the most powerful Lilac Fairy – who bestow gifts upon the child such as beauty, dance, song, courage, grace, and kindness. Just before the Lilac Fairy can bless Aurora with hers, the evil fairies arrive in a rage at being overlooked. They bestow a curse on Aurora: on her 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy – although unable to reverse the curse completely – weaves a counter spell: the Princess will not die but will fall into a deep sleep.
