Legends of the Albanian Lands

 

 

 Legend or folklore is a narrative or tale that is orally transmitted by the people. Usually, these legends are dedicated to specific individuals, events that have occurred in the past, or events that still happen today. All of these legends/folklore leave an indelible mark on human life and societies. All the stories, the events of specific individuals, or even their abilities, are presented as supernatural powers. All of this shows how people have always felt the impact of events and individuals. It is also worth mentioning that there is a distinction between legends/folklore and other stories: Legends do not have a specific time frame for the development of the event, a specific date for when a particular action occurred. While a narrative may have a specific time for when an action took place or when a general story was created.

Like all ancient peoples with popular legends/folklore, we Albanians also have a rich treasure of popular legends. From the beginning of the formation of the Albanian nation to the present day, there are thousands of legends dedicated to individuals who have lived and left a mark on our cultural and folk life. As one of the oldest peoples in the Balkans, our long history (cultural, socio-economic, and religious) has left an indelible mark on our multicultural life, including Legends/Folklore.

The Fountain of Good Spirits

 The Fountain of Good Spirits

Prizren, known as one of the oldest cities not only in Kosovo but also in the region, is renowned for its architectural style and historical significance. Besides its cultural sites, Prizren is also known for the fountains that were built over the centuries during the Ottoman Empire's rule here. Currently, there are 25 fountains in Prizren. Most of them are in good condition, while some have been destroyed for various reasons. One of the most famous fountains in Prizren is the "Fountain of Good Spirits." This fountain was built by a humanist as a sign of respect for the spirits of people who contributed to the national cause or other issues. According to oral tradition, it is not known exactly who built this fountain. However, based on various writings and oral accounts, it is believed that the builders of this fountain left a testament that the resources of these fountains should never be depleted. Haxhi Ymer Efendi, one of the descendants of these fountains, had left a testament to his neighbors that, in his name, a fountain of good water should be erected. It is believed that Haxhi Ymer himself had no children, but with the construction of this fountain, all citizens would have the opportunity to use it. According to some research and oral history, the water from this fountain was believed to have healing properties and was used by everyone.

The legend of Lake Ohrid

Photo in the early 10s of the last century near Lake Ohrid and Albanians resting

 The age of this Lake is millions of years. Created by the earth's movements, this lake extends across two states. This is best evidenced by the tectonic activities and movements, as well as the mountain with a height of 100 meters below the lake level. Filled with beauty and legends, Lake Ohrid remains one of the best attractions in the country. One legend about this Lake goes like this: When God created Lake Ohrid, He said, "I have created the most beautiful lake on Earth." However, the people here are very sinful. As a result of their sin, He will also create a monster. And so, God did. No one among the people knew what kind of monster God would create. Therefore, everyone was afraid to live near the lake. One day, a local boy named Struga decided to go to the lake. He dived into the water to confront the monster. A fierce battle began - to the death. In the end, the monster won the battle and devoured the young man. After this situation, the residents of this area decided to challenge the monster. They found the courage to build a village on the shores of the lake, and in honor of the young man's death, they named it Struga.

Furthermore, another legend about Lake Ohrid tells the story of the submersion of a city near the lake, inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of the Enkelejds. The legend states that a powerful earthquake, which occurred at the time, destroyed the entire city and submerged it underwater. The ruins of the city can be found beneath Lake Ohrid. Therefore, in addition to its historical, cultural, and religious significance, this lake also holds a mythological and legendary history. With its natural beauty and highly advantageous geopolitical position, it has become a place of special importance for tourism and culture in the country.

The Legend of the Mountain Girl

 In the northeastern part of the city of Elbasan, there is a mountain peak called Mali i Vashës. It's worth mentioning that it's very difficult to distinguish or separate a border between reality and the truth, especially when passing through many centuries. Regarding this legend, there are several opinions:

  Mali i Vashës, Elbasan, December, 2019

Some villagers believe that two young people were deeply in love. However, this love seemed to hinder their wedding. This happened for a reason: the young man was poor, humble, while the girl was quite wealthy and came from a noble family. As a result, both young people quietly endured the consequences of their love. To help these young people, the Elders of the Village decided to support them. However, all this support fell on the young man's shoulders, as it was believed he had reached the age of manhood. As a condition for the marriage, the village leadership made the decision that the young man should carry his beloved on his back to the mountaintop without any interruption. In such cases, the young man seemed to float with joy for the girl of his dreams. The young man accepted the challenge, declaring that he was ready to sacrifice everything for her. The entire village gathered to witness the fulfillment of the condition, determining their wedding day. However, this sacrifice did not last long. The entire situation was observed with concern by the village elders. Because the young man began to lose strength, but the cheers were, "Just a little more, you're almost there." After reaching the required point, the young man's heart stopped beating. He died from the immense exhaustion he had borne for his beloved. As for the girl, in order to remain faithful to her love, she never accepted another fate. Other than a joyful death, she had no other fate to meet. Thus, the girl threw herself from a 700-meter cliff. Even though this love was never realized, it remains as the most beautiful memory of a pure and everlasting love. This legend has inspired various songs, including "Mali i Vashës" by Isuf Myzyri.

THE SAINT THOMO'S BRIDGE

An unusual story took place in ancient times. The entire situation revolved around the construction of the Thorn Bridge in the Vratsa region in the northwestern part of Bulgaria. The legend goes like this:

A young executioner named THOMO had gone to watch the girls who were dancing in a village called Krivodol. However, in this state, the young man THOMO couldn't restrain himself, so he thought and began to execute the dance and the music himself. Everyone present there was amazed and astonished by the strange melodies he produced.

 The Saint Thomo's Bridge

One of the girls was particularly fond of Thomo and decided to gift him a bouquet of flowers. His reaction was positive, and he accepted the bouquet and liked it very much. This happened for a reason: the girl wanted to run away with Thomo and marry him secretly. The secret marriage would serve a specific purpose: the girl's father would never marry her (as they were wealthy and noble), to a poor musician. After everything was over, the two lovers left the village.

Upon hearing this, the girl's father sent people to follow the young couple. The youngsters had reached a river they couldn't cross. At that moment, Thomo started weaving a makeshift bridge. He managed to create a bridge to the other bank. First, Thomo crossed alone to test if the bridge was secure and reliable. However, at that time, the girl's father and his men managed to take his daughter back with them. Additionally, in this place, instead of a wooden bridge, the people built a stone bridge. So, after they built the bridge, they named it after the executioner, calling it "THE SAINT THOMO'S BRIDGE."