Chitchat & Stuff +

Serenity · CC&S Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 4496

'Pied Piper' needed to lure rats from Hamelin

A modern-day pied piper is needed to repel a rodent invasion in Hamelin, more than 700 years after the town's rats were lured away by a travelling rat catcher's tunes.

According to legend, the Pied Piper led all the children of Hamelin into a cave Town officials have reported an "explosion" in the rat population of the north German town best known for its fairy tale about a mystery piper who once got rid of them all.

A makeshift rubbish dump on the town's fringes is blamed as being a "takeaway" food centre for the rats, as the invasion threatens to overshadow preparations for the town's 725th anniversary celebrations.
Thomas Wahmes, a town spokesman, said the land had become a "real refuge" for the unwanted rodents.

According to the famous legend, a colourful – or "pied" – rat catcher lured all the rats out of town in 1284 by playing his pipe. When the townspeople refused to pay him, he did the same with Hamelin's children. On St John's Day while the inhabitants were in church, he played his pipe, attracting the children of Hamelin.

One hundred and thirty boys and girls followed him out of the town, where they were lured into a cave and disappeared, never to be seen again. Although extensive research has been conducted no explanation for the event or whether it happened has been given.

****We could do with one round our way too! Has anyone else noticed any more about than usual?
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Brenda · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:28 am Post subject:

I didn't know that "Pied" means coloured or was it colourful? Whatever LOL.
Interesting facts. Although I know the story of the Pied Piper.
WE should have a section on "legends". Hubby and I were discussing Robin Hood and King Arthur of Camelot the other day. As far as I am aware, they have never found any actual evidence that either existed.

I would be interested to know any stories or facts members here may have.

Ohh edit! No sorry, no 4 legged vermin around here, plenty of 2 legged though, specially around closing time.
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Serenity · CC&S Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 4496

lmfaooo!!!

I never knew pied meant colourful either till I read that Wink

There is at the moment an explosion of rats, because of the mild winters we've had and they are breeding right through it. I've said before that we had a dike over our back fence that is riddled with them, and obviously they come into our garden. Because I have a patio door and spend most of my time in here I often see them around the boarders. As soon as I do though, I call in pest control to come and put bait boxes down. They do it free of charge, even though we are privately owned. I hate the bloody things grrrr
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If you see someone without a smile.....give them yours Smile