Here’s to all mothers. Happy Mother’s Day! And here’s a little bit of history that’s surely a testimony to Mothers and the womenfolk amidst us.
Happy Mother's Day!
This photo of a rose was taken in a little German town called Weinsberg in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg.
Statue commemorating the bravery and loyalty of Weinsberg's womenfolk.
Weinsberg means “wine” in German and this quaint and sleepy little town, which is noted for its wine, has only 11,800 inhabitants.
The family had detoured there to visit its castle ruins during our drive last year from Heilbronn to another scenic town called Schwäbisch Hall.
While we were having a picnic at Weinsberg, an ancient couple who lived in Weinsberg came over to chat with us.
They told us a very interesting and touching bit of history about the town and its castle, which is somewhat relevant today since it’s Mother’s Day.
Between our non-existent German and their English, this was what we understood, which we later corroborated on Wikipedia.
In 1140, the castle was besieged by Konrad III. Eventually, it had to surrender.
Apparently, the women of the castle were allowed to go free and to take whatever they could carry on their backs.
Guess what they carried?
Their men! In so doing, these gallant women saved the lives of their fathers, husbands, brothers and sons, since the king adhered to his word.
These women became known as treue Weiber (“loyal women”), and the castle (today’s ruin) is called Weibertreu due to this incident.
