Today's blog on our Viking Rhine River Cruise takes us on a bus ride to the Black Forest. But before we get there, I'll fill you in on 2 locally famous things: Why storks are special (and a special stork and White Asparagus (I'm not a fan, BTW).
STORKS ARE ICONIC IN GERMANY - The stork, is an iconic emblem of Alsace (an historical region on the Rhine in northern France). . Ancient civilizations therefore saw the bird as a symbol of rebirth, birth and fertility. Alsatians have taken care of storks forever as they believe that they bring happiness and good luck to their houses. The core range of the White Stork in Germany is found in the wet river basins of eastern Germany.
HOW THE STORK/BABY STORY WORKS - If a stork is flying above your house, then a baby is on the way. If a baby has been born, that means a stork has flown to the underground lake where the souls of the dead have been reincarnated as babies.
WHO IS HANSIE THE STORK? - On the bus ride to the Black Forest, our tour guide pointed out a stork perched on a giant nest, high above the street on s church steeple. He explained that was Hansie of Heidelberg. He said that Hansie steals laundry and continually updates his/her nest. Storks generally live to 30 years, so Hansie has been around a while. (According to A-Z Animals: These birds molt as early as two years old, though the majority of white storks do not breed until they are four years old. The longest lifespan in the wild is 39 years, though there are some in captivity that has lived up to 35 years.).
(Image: Green Asparagus (left), White Asparagus (right))
WHITE ASPARAGUS - White-colored asparagus is a big crop in Germany heading to the Black Forest. Asparagus is “spargel” in German and the season is called “Spargelzeit”. White asparagus season in Germany is typically from around mid-April through to 24 June when the country celebrates the nativity of St. John the Baptist. Germans take white asparagus seriously.
HOW IS WHITE ASPARAGUS GROWN? - White asparagus, however, is grown completely under the soil or covered with plastic so it is never exposed to sunlight. This prevents photosynthesis, keeping the spears milky white. As they grow, more dirt is mounded up around them, keeping them covered until harvest.
WHY IS WHITE ASPARAGUS POPULAR IN GERMANY? - Many Germans prefer the white variety because it is thought to be more tender and less bitter. The stalks are generally thicker and longer than the green version, which has a tougher skin that makes it unpalatable.
WHO GROWS ASPARAGUS IN EUROPE? - While green asparagus is still found in the wild in addition to being cultivated, White asparagus is a purely cultivated product. It is predominantly grown in France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain and Greece. Peru is the main asparagus producer for the North American market.
NEXT: How Germany's Black Forest Got its Name
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