Have you ever wondered why the stork is associated with babies? This legend has deeper roots than you might think. In the past, people avoided telling young children the plain truth about conception and birth. Instead, they crafted the story of the stork delivering babies. But where did this story come from?
Why Children Were Shielded from the Truth
Subjects like conception and childbirth were deemed unsuitable for children. To satisfy their curiosity, tales such as the one about the stork were invented. But why was the stork chosen as the baby-bringer?
How Fairy Tales Became Believable
Imagine going back a few centuries: Who else could have been a suitable messenger for babies? Exotic animals like elephants were unheard of in Europe, wolves and bears were seen as menacing, and smaller creatures didn’t seem convincing. The stork, however, was a familiar sight—large and strong enough to make this role believable.
Fertility Symbols: Frogs and Water
Storks are often found near water, hunting frogs. According to German folklorist Michael Simon, this is a key to understanding the legend. In old folklore, children’s souls were thought to reside in water, which symbolised new life—much like amniotic fluid in the womb.
Magical Children Emerging from Water
In many fairy tales, such as “The Frog Prince,” water plays a central role as a symbol of new life. This theme is also reflected in the story of Moses, who was drawn from the Nile as a baby (Book of Exodus, Chapter 2). Water represents the origin of life.
The Stork and Medieval Symbolism
In medieval times, the term “man’s stork” was a euphemism for the penis. This could explain the phrase that the stork “bit the mother’s leg,” linking the stork’s role as a baby-bringer with the source of life.
Adebar: A Name with Significance
The stork was once called Adebar, derived from Old High German “Auda,” meaning luck, and “bar,” meaning to carry. As a symbol of good fortune, the stork continues to represent joy and new life to this day.
Traditions Surrounding the Stork
Even now, it’s common in many parts of Germany to place a wooden stork in the garden or on the roof after a baby is born. This symbolises good luck and celebrates the arrival of the new family member.
The Myth of Storks and Birth Rates
A humorous observation: Between 1970 and 1985, both the stork population and the birth rate in Lower Saxony declined. This led to light-hearted speculation that fewer storks might mean fewer babies.
From the Stork to a Modern Platform
The German word “Klapperstorch” doesn’t exist in most other languages. That’s why we chose a literal translation: “rattling stork” or “Rattlestork.” Our platform takes its name from this legend and offers a modern solution for family planning and sperm donation.
