Common Crane

Poster with a beautiful illustration of a crane drawn by the von Wright brothers. The illustration was published at the beginning of the 20th century in the book Svenska Fåglar Efter Naturen Och På Sten Ritad . In the picture we see, among other things, the text Grus Grus - Latin for the name of the species . The crane is Västergötland's landscape animal and landscape bird.

The crane is a large bird with a distinctive call that breeds in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and parts of China and Russia. It arrives in the spring, has a spectacular game and gathers in some places in large crowds. All this has led to the crane being an attention-grabbing bird and appearing in many myths, folklore stories and as a symbol.

In Aristotle's book Historia Animalium he describes that the bird inside its body carries a stone. If the crane vomits it up, the stone can turn things into gold, like the Philosopher's Stone. Even in China, the crane has been associated with a long life. It has been described as the prince of all birds and the animal that carries dead souls to heaven.

In northern Europe, the crane has been seen as the bringer of light in spring. In the Nordic countries, there have been countless traditions surrounding the arrival of the crane. For example, you were no longer allowed to light candles in the evening and in some places the crane's anokmst meant that after this you would get an extra meal between dinner and supper. In the Nordic countries, there are also stories that magical people could turn into cranes, and that the crane could also be Hin Onde's bird that could magically take revenge, which is why the bird was not allowed to be harmed

Artist: The von Wright brothers | Created: 1929.

Frame not included.

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