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#Post#: 4472--------------------------------------------------
"Hunger Stones"
By: Alharacas Date: August 3, 2018, 3:23 am
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As far as I can see, this wikipedia article only exists in
German:
HTML https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungerstein_(Gew%C3%A4ssergrund)
It's about stones in river beds which only appear in times of
severe drought, preceding a bad harvest followed by famine
(hence the name). Since low water levels were also bad for
boatmen, they often chiselled markers into these stones if and
when they appeared.
I'd be really interested to know whether you know of something
similar in your country - I can't imagine it's something
exclusively to be found within the borders of what's now
Germany.
#Post#: 4475--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: Aliph Date: August 3, 2018, 5:17 am
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No idea about similar expressions in my native languages.
Incredible expression! Very poetic and sad.
Where I grew up people used to migrate to greener pastures
during famine periods, America and the New World naturally were
the Eldorado.
#Post#: 4476--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: Aliph Date: August 3, 2018, 5:28 am
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In Italian there are some expressions like “fame da lupo “ (big
hunger like the one of the wolves), “lungo come la fame” (long
like hunger), “brutto come la fame” (ugly like hunger) but
nothing as picturesque as “hunger stones”.
German is such a creative language!
#Post#: 4481--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: Truman Overby Date: August 3, 2018, 6:25 am
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I could use some good stone soup about now.
#Post#: 4485--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: Aliph Date: August 3, 2018, 6:56 am
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[quote author=Truman Overby link=topic=364.msg4481#msg4481
date=1533295547]
I could use some good stone soup about now.
[/quote]
Bon appétit !
#Post#: 4486--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: NealC Date: August 3, 2018, 7:16 am
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Scicolone do you know the story of "Stone Soup"?
That might be a stupid question, I am pretty sure it is a
European story.
On the hunger stones that is really fascinating. I guess it
makes sense that certain rocks would be showing up only when
water levels get bad. I am sure people who spend a lifetime
working on or around a certain river might have similar
folklore, tho I have never heard of "Hunger Stones" before.
:-)
#Post#: 4494--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: Alharacas Date: August 3, 2018, 9:07 am
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Thanks, NealC, I was hoping you'd like it. :)
And yes, I'm familiar with the Stone Soup story. According to
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Soup
variations of the tale are told all over Europe as well as
Russia. Looking forward to hearing whether there's also an
Iranian and/or Japanese version.
#Post#: 4495--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: NealC Date: August 3, 2018, 9:18 am
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On stone soup, I like the Hungarian version :-)
From Wikipedia
"In the Hungarian version, a single starving soldier encounters
several hardships on his journey back to his homeland. At the
end of the story, he sells the rock to the villagers after
eating the soup."
#Post#: 4526--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: NealC Date: August 3, 2018, 5:27 pm
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I enjoy old stories like Stone Soup. :-)
I hate to free associate but that reminds me of a study done
after World War II. It seems that of all the Allies, American
troops did the worst in German POW camps, deteriorating more
than others in terms of weight loss, sickness, and general
spirit.
One of the theories postulated was the power of European
folklore! In the old stories of Europe even the poor and the
oppressed could come out on top through cleverness and
persistence. Contained within the stories were ways that even a
prisoner could still find value in life.
Americans had no such stories to console them. Without their
god of personal freedom, and the status conferred by job and
money, American prisoners found it harder to keep a bedrock of
common values and personal validation. Military discipline
would break down, soldiers would become withdrawn and stop
exercising or taking care of themselves.
Perhaps apocryphal itself, but also an interesting story!
#Post#: 4537--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Hunger Stones"
By: SHL Date: August 3, 2018, 8:03 pm
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I`m sure we have hunger stones in the US, with the drought and
climate change, the stuff NealC and Jerry will never admit. It`s
inevitable.
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