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Romania joined the Schengen zone, and the first one to cross the newly open border between Romania and Hungary was a dog.

Everyone thinks this is a cute news story.

Except folklorists, who are looking like 🤨 😬

#folklore #folktales
what’s the interpretation from folklore?
Romania struck a deal with the devil: If he manages to open the border, the first soul to cross it will be his. In good tradition, Romania sent a dog to cross first. (Could have also been a sheep or a raven).
Yep! It's a pan-European legend motif that a newly built bridge or doorway is crossed by an animal first so the devil (which helped build them) can take it. :D

@juergen_hubert probably knows more
The most well-known examples of this are Aachen Cathedral (wolf) and Regensburg Bridge (dog).
Ooooh I did not know! Thanks for explaining!
I read this some hours ago and I'm still giggling.
"Aww such a cute tradition 🥰"
Haha made my day
Dieser Beitrag wurde bearbeitet. (3 Monate her)
I first encountered it in James Joyce's book for children, The Cat and the Devil... I hadn't seen it otherwise in far-western Europe.
Romania cheating the Devil, are they? (Although I guess that's usually a goat?)
Niche devil bridge humour :)