The people of the forest were friendly and welcoming to strangers, genuinely curious to know more about the visitors who came to explore their world. The Inns and guest houses were known for their cleanliness, good food, and great hospitality. They were farmers and loggers, as well as skilled wood carvers, world-renowned clock makers, glass blowers, and music box and hat makers. This did not seem to interfere with the daily lives of these hard-working, self-sufficient people. Except for the railroad, industry had not yet reached into the forest. In it, the author gives us unique insight into the culture of the Black Forest people during a time when the rest of the world was quickly changing. Lisbeth Seguin’s book, The Black Forest: Its People and Legends, was first published in 1879. The history of the Black Forest is fascinating, but its people hold the most interest. Of course, these stories have since evolved into the stories that are known today. The Grimm Brothers wrote Black Forest fairy tales like “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Snow White,” and “Rapunzel.” The brothers’ collection of folktales, published in 1812, contained graphic violence, premarital sex, incest, child abuse, anti-Semitism, and more adult content. The forest has inspired many legends and stories through the centuries. Often, fog rolls in like a blanket, covering the forest in mist, adding an aura of mystery and foreboding to its depths. The name Black Forest, or Schwarzwald, comes from the dense growth of conifer trees that block out much of the sunlight, giving the depths of the forest a dark, mysterious feeling.
The Black Forest is shrouded in legend and mystery. No matter which version of the story is believed, both speak of a strong and passionate people with deep loyalties to their forests. Still others believe that their allies, the Celts, were responsible for their name.The Celts called them “Germani,” which means “men of the forest.’ Some believed that the Romans bestowed the name of Germans or war-men to the “ blue-eyed, skin-clothed giants” because of their strength and aggressiveness. There are several beliefs as to the origin of the German name. This turbulent history through the centuries has made the people of the forest strong, stubborn and proud.
The forest and its people have experienced centuries of war and devastation, from the Roman Empire, European rulers, their own robber-knights, the Christian church and the black plague. Nestled in the southwestern tip of Germany, the Black Forest has been host to many migrant tribes through the centuries. It was wild, untamed, and known only to the ancient people who made this forest their home. This was the Black Forest of centuries ago. “Liberty, that lovely thing, was discovered in the wild forests of Germany”
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