WARSAW MERMAID


picture: Sofia Berendt
Long ago Warsaw was a small village on the Vistula River, where mainly fishermen lived. Every day they sailed on the river to fish, because only this way they could earn for a living.
One day, when they were in the middle of the river, they heard a beautiful female voice that sang such delightful songs that it was impossible to resist. Fishermen had no idea who could sing so beautifully.

picture: Hanna Kmita
It turned out that it was a beautiful mermaid, or half-woman, half-fish, who came in these directions from the depths of the Baltic Sea. Some say that she was the sister of the Little Mermaid, known from the fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen.

picture: Hanna Kmita
At first, all fishermen liked the mermaid, above all for singing so beautifully. Over time, she began to disturb some because she saved small fishes. More and more often, fishermen had nothing to eat because when they returned home their nets were empty.

picture: Hanna Kmita
One of the fishermen came up with the idea to catch a mermaid and sell it to a rich merchant for a very high price. Others did not want to agree, but when hunger looked into their eyes, they began to think together how to do it.

picture: Igor Pawlik
They sailed out at night. In deep silence and darkness, waves could be heard breaking on the banks. The mermaid did not suspect anything and swam happily, here and there, laughing quietly so as not to wake anyone.

picture: Igor Pawlik
When she got tired, she sat down on a large stone to rest. Then the fishermen saw the mermaid and cast their nets.

picture: Hanna Kmita
They pulled the frightened creature ashore, and from there to one of the huts in the village, where she was supposed to stay until a merchant came for her. They told the youngest fisherman to watch her, and they went to sleep, because in the morning a day full of hard work was waiting for them again.

picture: Igor Pawlik
The imprisoned mermaid was very sad. She was still crying and singing such terribly sad songs. The young fisherman was heartbroken with regret. He couldn't stand it any longer and decided to release the mermaid back into the river.

picture: Sofia Berendt
As soon as they were in the water, the mermaid slipped from the young fisherman and fled into the depths as soon as possible.

picture: Hanna Kmita
The fishermen chased after her, but this time the mermaid could not be caught.

picture: Igor Pawlik
However, the mermaid was grateful to the young fisherman for not letting her be captured forever, which is why she promised that from now on she would defend the people of Warsaw.

picture: Sofia Berendt
Many centuries have passed. Warsaw from a small village turned into a big city and became the capital of Poland. Polish kings lived there, and today the Polish president and government.

picture: Igor Pawlik
To this day, the golden-haired Warsaw Mermaid with a sword and shield stands on the banks of the Vistula ready to defend Warsaw from every danger. The mermaid figure is today the coat of arms of the Polish capital and one of the most important symbols of Warsaw.

picture: Hanna Kmita
If you'll ever be in Warsaw, find a mermaid statue. There are several of them - one on the Old Town Square, the other on the historic bridge at Karowa Street. But the most famous stands proudly right on the banks of the Vistula.