29 Jan 2015

As happens with other legends, even for the famous "days of the blackbird" there is not a single story that gave rise to the myth that distinguishes the days considered, par excellence, the coldest of the year.

A first tale recounts that "the merla" was nothing more than a very heavy cannon that had to be taken across the Po, and that unable to do so while it flowed impetuously in its bed, they had to wait for these days so that, frozen by the great cold, it could be crossed.

Also on the frozen Po another story takes place, which however has as its protagonist a lady from Caravaggio belonging to the De Merli family; she waited for the river to freeze to cross it and thus reach her husband, who was on the other bank.

To us, lovers of the mountains and nature in general, we prefer the legend we have been told since we were children: that of a poor merla who, to shelter from the severe cold typical of these days, hid together with her young in a chimney to find some warmth. And at the end of winter, still all alive, they flew away but found themselves with black feathers because of the soot produced by the fireplace below. That black would then distinguish this particular species of bird.

Whatever the truth, the myth holds that these days are the coldest of the year and that they also indicate, based on the weather that will occur, what spring will be like: if they are cold and snowy, winter will last much longer and spring will be beautiful and dry; if, on the contrary, they are warm and humid, spring will be affected as well, bringing humidity and bad weather.

We hope for the first scenario, with lots of beautiful snow now and a spring that gives us sunny days to enjoy the season to the fullest!