GERMANY: Berlin zoo is showing off its new piglets, which are considered to bring good luck in the New Year
Record ID:
1526392
GERMANY: Berlin zoo is showing off its new piglets, which are considered to bring good luck in the New Year
- Title: GERMANY: Berlin zoo is showing off its new piglets, which are considered to bring good luck in the New Year
- Date: 6th January 2006
- Summary: (L!2) BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 30, 2005) (REUTERS) SCHWABIAN PIG PEN AT THE FRIEDRICHSFELDE ANIMAL PARK THE PIGLETS NUZZLING IN STRAW WIDE OF PIG AND PIGLETS NUZZLING IN STRAW VARIOUS OF PIGLETS NUZZLING IN SNOW PIG PEN IN SNOW (SOUNDBITE) (German) ANDREA KOWALL, DEPUTY ZOOKEEPER AT THE CHILDREN'S ZOO IN THE ANIMAL PARK, SAYING: "It's an old tradition which stems from the Middle Ages, at that time, if you got a pig or if your pig had piglets, then you were considered to have good luck the next year, as you could look after your family in the next year by eating the pig or selling it, and therefore were considered lucky." ADULT PIGS' SNOUT SNUFFLING A HAND THE PIGLETS IN THE SNOW CLOSE OF PIGLET IN THE SNOW CLOSE OF PIGLETS SNUFFLING PIGS AND PIGLETS IN PEN CLOSE OF PIGLETS SNUFFLING IN THE SNOW / MOTHER PIG PIGS EATING PIG PEN AT THE ANIMAL PARK
- Embargoed: 23rd January 2006 17:57
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Nature / Environment,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA52G79Y4Y4BYG6BZL6X8DMIUR4
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: There are many legends tying the idea of pigs and good luck, in Germany they use the expression "Schwein haben" (to have pig) when someone comes into good luck.
And that is what they are hoping will happen at the Friedrichsfelde Animal Park in Berlin, where they proudly presented their new born piglets on Friday (December 30), which are considered particularly lucky as they were born close to the New Year.
"It's an old tradition which stems from the Middle Ages, at that time, if you got a pig or if your pig had piglets, then you were considered to have good luck the next year, as you could look after your family in the next year by eating the pig or selling it, and therefore were considered lucky," Andrea Kowall, the deputy zookeeper at the children's zoo in the Animal Park, told Reuters, as the piglets snuffled around in the snow.
The Teutons had sacrificed pigs to the gods to ensure good luck, because the pig was a symbol of both fertility and wealth, a tradition which is continued today in the form of piggy banks.
Pigs breed well in captivity and are kept in zoos worldwide. In the Friedrichsfelde Animal Park they are part of the children's zoo which contains household pets or domestic animals. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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