The stork, a beloved emblem of Alsace
With its graceful wings and distinctive appearance, the sight of a white stork perched on a chimney or rooftop and cradling its chick in its beak is emblematic of Alsace!
This majestic migratory bird embarks on an extraordinary journey, departing for warmer climates in the autumn and returning only in the spring, heralding the renewal of nature after the long winter months.
Since time immemorial, the stork has been revered by ancient civilizations as a symbol of renewal, birth, and fertility. Alsatians, in particular, hold them in deep respect and consider them harbingers of happiness and prosperity.
To welcome and protect them, many Alsatians create small platforms on their roofs, thus offering the birds ideal nesting sites.
A protected species
The stork, an emblematic bird of Alsace, faced a precarious existence in the mid-20th century, as it became nearly extinct!
The massive use of pesticides to eradicate migratory locusts, the bird’s main food source in Africa, combined with recurring droughts and the risk of electrocution from overhead power lines, decimated its population.
In 1974, an alarming observation was made: only 9 pairs remained in Alsace! This critical situation called urgent action, leading to the stork being classified as a threatened species in 1976 and the rapid implementation of protection measures.
Fortunately, the concerted efforts paid off, as their numbers have steadily increased. There are now approximately 17,000 thriving pairs of storks in France!
A revered symbol of fertility and fidelity in ancient mythologies
During March and April, storks lay their eggs, which hatch between 30 and 34 days later. These birth dates coincide with those of human babies conceived around June of the previous year, a period of the year laden with symbolism in ancient societies.
The Summer Solstice, Midsummer, the pivotal moment when the sun reaches its zenith, indeed held great importance in pagan calendars. It was a time of celebration, honouring the benevolent gaze of the sun god upon the abundant harvests to come, and by extension, the themes of marriage and fertility.
In Greek mythology, storks were already symbolically linked to the world of newborns. The Greek goddess Hera (Roman goddess Juno) suffered the repeated infidelities of her husband, Zeus (Jupiter). Legend has it that one of Hera’s rivals, transformed into a stork, tried to steal her son.
The ancient Egyptians also revered the bird, and represented the human soul in this form in their hieroglyphs. According to their beliefs, the soul was reincarnated upon the stork’s return after winter.
Finally, in Norse mythology, the stork symbolised fidelity and monogamous union, reflecting its propensity for forming lasting partnerships, a symbol of loyalty.
Holda, Germanic Goddess of Birth and Death
In Germanic mythology, prevalent in eastern France, the legend of the stork delivering babies is linked to Holda, Goddess of Birth and Death.
Holda’s realm encompassed the passage between life and death. She welcomed the souls of the deceased and sent them back to the world of the living, where they were reincarnated as newborns.
According to the myth, these souls descended to earth with the raindrops, gathering in lakes and springs where they joyfully awaited their rebirth. Guided by Holda’s messengers, the elves, who traversed the celestial waters in their silver boats, the souls were carefully collected with golden threads and given to pregnant women.
In Germanic tradition, Holda was honored on December 24th, the winter solstice, another pivotal moment marking the transition from darkness to light, as the days began to lengthen.
Dressed in a magnificent red and white gown, adorned with a cape of goose feathers, Holda traversed the starry sky in her magical chariot on the eve of December 24th, spreading joy and blessings across the land. Holda was also known as the White Lady, due to her association with winter, a season characterized by its blanket of snow.
The Alsacian legend
The legend has evolved over the centuries, giving rise to numerous versions.
In Hans Christian Andersen‘s version, the stoke replaces the elves as the benevolent messenger of newborns, gathering them in joyful lakes and bringing them to eager families.
In Alsatian folklore, it was believed that babies were found in caves called Adeborsteines (stork stones), or in Kinderbrunnen (children’s wells).
According to this legend, nestled in the heart of Strasbourg, lay an underground lake hidden beneath the cathedral. It is there that unborn babies frolicked and played, awaiting their arrival into the world. Women longing to become mothers would lean over the well and whisper their wishes into the attentive ear of an elf. Touched by their heartfelt wishes, the elf boarded his silver boat, guided by a golden thread, to retrieve a precious baby from the depths. With infinite gentleness, he brought the newborn to the surface, where a stork awaited him. The bird, with grace and tenderness, carried the baby in a basket suspended from its beak and entrusted him to its family.
All these stories are, in fact, a wonderful way to celebrate the joy of a child’s birth!
By the way, störig is Alsatian for stork.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header by Adrienne-Elodie-Clemence Ball-Demont (1886-1935) Public Domain – Stork and baby in nest by Sergey Solomko Public Domain – New Year card by SMU Central University Libraries @ Flickr Commons No restrictions – Storks nesting on roof by SunflowerYuri CC BY-SA 4.0 – Storks nests by Robin Hoeks CC BY 2.0
