https://kolektiva.social/@RustyBertrand/113358578038471439 RustyBertrand@kolektiva.social - In 1421 AD, a flood swept through the Netherlands, submerging 72 villages and drowning between 2,000 & 10,000 people.

Survivors saw a piece of wood floating on the water, and a cat was jumping back and forth on it.

People wanted to save it, but they were surprised to find a child sleeping peacefully. The cat was alternately jumping on the edges of the bed to maintain its balance so that the child would not drown.

This story was very famous in the Netherlands, and 4 centuries later the event was immortalized in the painting “The Inundation of The Biesbosch in 1421” by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.

This story is the origin of the wording “the cat’s in the craddle”.

The baby was named Beatrijs / Beatrix when she was found, which means “the bringer of good luck / joy” but also “the lucky one”

Although nowadays it’s not a commonly known story in majority of The Netherlands anymore, it is known to those who grew up in the Biesbosch area.

Via Nicole Hartwood, #Folklore

#catsofmastodon