The theme of the 2022 PostEurop competition is "Myths and Stories". What could be more natural than to choose Melusina to defend the chances of the Luxembourg EUROPA stamp?
According to the legend, Melusina was the wife of Count Siegfried I, considered as the founder of Luxembourg. In 963, he built his castle on the Bock rock above the Alzette for his beautiful wife, who had set two conditions before agreeing to the marriage: she did not want to leave the Alzette valley and wanted to be alone every Saturday at noon without being disturbed. But Siegfried's curiosity led him to look at his wife through the keyhole one Saturday and discover that her legs were turning into fishtails. His scream betrayed him and Melusina disappeared into the Alzette.
And even today, it is said that she appears every seven years, that she adds a stitch to a shirt and that, as soon as this shirt is finished, the Alzette will overflow, the rocks will collapse and the city of Luxembourg will disappear.
Melusina, with her fish tail, is one of the most known symbols of Luxembourg. Her sculpture can be found on the banks of the Alzette and is a popular motif in a wide variety of illustrations.
The creator of the stamp,
Miriam Rosner, managed to approach the legend of Melusina with a fresh look and a very modern concept.
