1/ Since @BlumeEvolution was curious, I'd like to share a few German-language folk tales about glaciers and glaciation in the European Alps.
But first some context - most of these folk tales were written down in the 19th century near the tale end of the "Little Ice Age" of the North Atlantic region. Thus, back then the glaciers were still growing, which was seen as a threat by the alpine farmers and herders.
These days, of course, the glaciers are shrinking rapidly due to global warming - which is seen as a threat by the ski tourism industry of the European Alps, and who are spreading artificial snow in a desperate attempt to retain some of their tourist money. And, of course, the glaciers are a massively important water reservoir for much of Central Europe - and their shrinkage is part of the reason for the droughts we are getting in the region.
Thus, the former attitude of seeing glaciers as a threat cannot help but be seen with a certain amount of irony these days.
#Austria #Switzerland #glacier #folktale #folklore #GlobalWarming #ClimateChange
Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2000%2B_year_global_temperature_including_Medieval_Warm_Period_and_Little_Ice_Age_-_Ed_Hawkins.svg