BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!

Subject: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Mudlark
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 05:00 PM

Today is Pied Piper Day. According to my Forgotten English calendar...

On this day in 1284 the legendary Pied Piper, who's name came from "pied" which means colorful--a reference to his attire--is said to have lead away and drowned the 130 children of Hamelin, Brunswick, in present-day Germany, in revenge for having been underpaid (underpied?) for ridding the village of rats.

"...and never was piping so sad, and never was piping so gay!"

Any truth to this old tale, I wonder?

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: GUEST,JB
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 05:10 PM

This page gives some interesting historical background on the legend.

JB

This has nothing to do with mudcat member 'Pied Piper' who is frankly a bit of a tosser.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: nutty
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 05:16 PM

The legend could also be linked to the story of the
Children's Crusade

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 06:17 PM

Well I have to say that that comment wasnt very nice Guest JB. I met Pied Piper at the gathering and thought he was nice.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Benjamin
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 04:40 AM

Don't think I ever heard the drowning part of the story! I use to love that story!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 10:29 AM

And never was piping so sad... is from O'Driscoll, Host of the Air - lovely poem!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Pied Piper
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 11:53 AM

Well Guest JB; I'd like to engage you in a battle of wits, but it would be bad form to fight an unarmed man. All the best PP.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 11:57 AM

Yesterday was National Chocolate Pudding Day, today is National Columnist Day, here in the US. Love those random holidays!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Mudlark
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 12:57 PM

LOL, Pied Piper...I'd follow you into the Weser any day!

Thanks, however, JB, for the link...lots of interesting reading...and was glad to be reminded of that wonderful (Canadian, I think) film, Sweet Hereafter...I'd forgotten that the PP tale was used in that.

Mrrzy...I love Host of the Air. First heard it on a Clancy Bros Album about 35 years ago, and it still gives me the shivers

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: Jacob B
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 03:47 PM

It's interesting that Browning got the date wrong, saying that it happened

On the Twenty-second of July,
Thirteen hundred and seventy-six

Until I read this thread, I thought July 22 was the Pied Piper's Day.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Pied Piper Day!
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 03:54 PM

I've seen three different dates for the occurence on three different web-sites -each in a different century - it *is* a legend, after all.