Legends of vine and wine
The symbol of the Moldovan vitiviniculture is a white stock, a cluster of white grape in its beak. People used to narrate legends about storks ever since remote times, as for example, the legends about Gorodesti and Soroca Fortresses. These legends are alike as two peas, yet the Moldovans believe that the story is authentic.
The first legend reads that Gorodesti Fortress. These legends are alike as two peas, yet the Moldovans believe that the story is authentic.
The first legend reads that Gorodesti Fortress was besieged by the Turkish army, when the defenders of the citadel experienced shortage of water and food. The forces were exhausted. The enemies started celebrating the victory, when the storks appeared in the skies.
There were so many birds, that the spread of their wings produced a strong wind for the janissary to bend down to earth. The storks brought clusters of grapes in their beaks that were thrown down to the besieged. The hungry and exhausted defenders of the fortress quickly restored their stamina: grapes provided for food, water and removed all weariness. The battle was won and the enemy defeated. Apropos, Moldova produces a brand of wine, which name includes the name of the legendary village- Horodiste.
The second legend is conected to another fortress, which has survived till nowadays upstanding onto the bank of the Nistru River in Soroca town. This fortification was besieged by numberless enemy troops. The enemy could not conquer the thick high walls and the firm gates of the fortress and therefore the siege lasted for several months. According to all thinkable and unthinkable rules, the besieged should have long ago died from thirst and hunger. Yet, when the fortress was liberated by the troops of thr Moldovan Voivode, they found the residents of the citadel safe and sound.
As it was discovered, the stocks with nestling were nesting in the fort and the parent-birds brought grape clusters to their young, and aditionnally fed the warriors.
People in Moldova believe that storks bring happiness and well- being!