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Text/The Secret History of Fusu
Editor/Fusu Secret History
01
Distribution and adaptability of buffalo in Europe
Buffalo is a kind of livestock widely distributed in Europe, its distribution area mainly includes Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Mediterranean coastal areas, buffalo adaptability to these areas is high, has become an important means of production and food source for local farmers.
The distribution in Europe is mainly divided into two regions: Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean coastal region. In Eastern Europe, buffalo are mainly found in countries such as Poland, Ukraine and Russia. In the Mediterranean coast, buffalo are mainly found in countries such as Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain.
Eastern Europe has more favourable climatic conditions for buffalo and is also a traditional buffalo breeding area, where buffalo are mainly used to produce dairy products and meat.
Poland is one of the largest producers of buffalo in Europe, according to statistics, Poland has more than 300,000 buffalo, and there are also many buffaloes in Ukraine and Russia, of which Ukraine has the largest number of buffalo, reaching about 600,000.
The climatic conditions of the Mediterranean coast are also suitable for the growth of buffalo, and farmers here have long relied on buffalo as a means of production and food source.
In Italy, buffalo are mainly used to produce dairy products such as mozarella and bifiro, but also for meat, and in Greece and Turkey, where farmers use buffalo for dairy and meat production.
The distribution of buffalo in Europe is relatively limited, mainly distributed in the Mediterranean coastal areas of southern Europe, such as Italy, Spain, Portugal and other countries, because the climate in southern Europe is warm and humid, the land is fertile, suitable for lush grass, so buffalo can survive and breed in these environments.
Compared with other livestock animals in Europe, buffalo are more adaptable, they can adapt to the high temperature and humidity environment in southern Europe, and they also have certain resistance to some diseases and diseases, and buffalo are also more adaptable to food, and can eat many plants, including some plants that are not easy to eat by other livestock animals.
Although the distribution of buffalo in Europe is limited, it is highly adaptable in southern Europe and plays an important role in local agricultural production and livestock development.
02
The symbolism of the buffalo in religious ceremonies
Buffalo were a livestock that was widely bred in medieval Europe, and their dairy products and meat were very important to the inhabitants of the time, but in addition, buffalo also played an important role in religious ceremonies, and buffalo were given various symbolic meanings in religious beliefs and ceremonies in medieval Europe.
In medieval Europe it was seen as a symbol of abundance and abundance. The breeding of buffalo in Europe is very successful because they are able to adapt to the local climate and environment. This made the buffalo an important asset for the people of Europe at that time.
Buffalo are used to symbolize a life of abundance and abundance, and they appear in many occasions related to religious beliefs and rituals.
During Christmas, a buffalo is dressed up and placed in a manger to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. The buffalo symbolizes abundance and abundance here, bringing joy and celebration to the people.
It is also seen as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection. In some religious ceremonies, the buffalo is seen as a sacred animal that can be reborn and revived. Under this belief, it is believed that buffalo can bring good luck and longevity.
In southern Italy, buffalo play an important role in traditional ceremonies in which they are decorated with flowers and streamers and led to the church doors, where they are blessed and considered sacred animals. Under this belief, it is believed that buffalo can bring the power of rebirth and resurrection.
Buffalo also play an important role in some Christian ceremonies, with some towns in southern Italy holding a traditional ceremony called "Ndocciata" during Christmas, in which participants hold ornately decorated wooden poles lit with torches in a procession that stretches for kilometers.
Dating back to the Roman Empire and traditionally celebrated the arrival of the winter solstice and New Year, this ceremony is now a ceremony commemorating the birth of Christ, in which some participants ride buffaloes, symbolizing the animals placed in the manger at the time of Christ's birth.
In addition to playing an important role in religious ceremonies, buffalo are also represented in the culture and art of some European countries. For example, in some parts of southern Italy, traditional music and dance such as buffalo elements such as playing the "zampogna" wind instruments played by herders and kicking dances.
Some artists have also created works based on buffalo themes, such as the oil painting "Le bufale del Gargano" by Italian painter Salvatore Fergola.
Buffalo played an important role in religion, rituals, culture and art in medieval Europe. As an animal adapted to the Mediterranean climate, the buffalo played an important role in agriculture and life in southern Europe and became part of local culture and art.
03
Buffalo herding and domestication in medieval Europe
Buffalo is an ancient livestock, its origin can be traced back to the South Asian subcontinent, and then spread in Southeast Asia and South Asia, medieval European buffalo is mainly distributed in the south and east of the region, such as Italy, the Balkans and Greece, buffalo in Europe at that time was widely used for agricultural production and breeding, became one of the important livestock at that time.
The herding and domestication of buffalo in medieval Europe was mainly influenced by local environmental and economic conditions. Since buffalo are animals in tropical and subtropical regions, they are not widely bred in regions with cold European climates, such as Northern Europe and the United Kingdom.
However, in medieval southern Europe, especially Italy and Greece, buffalo became one of the most important livestock due to the more favorable climate.
Buffalo were raised in Europe mainly to produce milk, meat and leather, and at that time, buffalo dairy products such as buffalo milk, cheese and butter were very popular and became one of the main foods of the locals.
Buffalo meat is also high in nutritional value and can provide a lot of protein and nutrients. At the same time, buffalo leather is also widely used to make clothing and other leather goods.
In medieval Europe, the domestication and breeding of buffalo has also been paid attention to and studied, because buffalo is a sensitive animal, requiring special care and management, so the breeders at that time studied a lot of domestication methods and feeding skills, in the feeding and management of buffalo, need to pay special attention to its diet and drinking problems, as well as disease and epidemic prevention and control.
The use of buffalo was crucial in the construction of cities, and the buildings of medieval European cities were often built of stone, so large quantities of stone were required.
Buffalo can be used to haul stones and other building materials, making construction works easier and more efficient. Buffalo can also be used to drive lifts for building materials, helping construction workers work at height.
In the city's garbage disposal, buffalo also play an important role, in medieval European cities, the streets are often filled with garbage and excrement, which brings great harm to the city's hygiene and health, in order to solve this problem, there are usually special scavengers in the city to use buffalo to clean up garbage and manure.
The buffalo's strong physique and excellent endurance allow them to work in hot summer months and harsh environments, helping to keep cities clean and hygienic.
In terms of urban transportation, buffalo also played an irreplaceable role, and in medieval Europe, most urban transportation mainly relied on traditional means of transportation such as horse-drawn carriages, mule carts and trolleys.
Because buffalo are stronger and more durable than horses and mules, they can drive on rough roads, so they are also widely used in urban transportation. Some cities also use buffalo to haul water and other necessities.
04
The economic value and social role of buffalo in medieval Europe
In medieval Europe, buffalo as one of the power sources of farming, widely used in agricultural production, compared to other livestock, buffalo strength and toughness makes them in a harsher environment can also be competent for heavy agricultural labor, because buffalo in the cultivation can withstand a large load, so can reduce the labor intensity of farmers, improve agricultural production efficiency.
Buffalo also played an important role in milk and meat production in medieval Europe, with more developed mammary glands and muscles than other livestock animals, so they could provide a greater supply of milk and meat, and because buffaloes were more adaptable in various environments, they also grew faster than other livestock animals, which made them more economically profitable.
Buffalo also played an important role in the diversification of agricultural production in medieval Europe, because they were able to adapt to different environmental and climatic conditions, so they could be widely used in different agricultural systems, buffalo could be raised on pastures in humid and steppe areas, and could also work on farmland in mountainous and arid areas.
Due to its large body and sufficient strength, the buffalo is an ideal tool for cultivating land. In some parts of Europe, buffalo have been used for hundreds of years to cultivate the land and once replaced horses.
In some areas, buffalo are even used to transport heavy materials such as wood and stone, while in others, buffalo are used to pull carts and carry out freight operations.
The economic value and social role of the buffalo in medieval Europe was very important, whether in agricultural production, food processing or transportation, the buffalo played an irreplaceable role, in European religious beliefs and ceremonies, the buffalo was also given a special symbolic meaning, became an important symbol of faith.
05
The artistic expression of the buffalo in medieval Europe
Buffalo are often depicted as part of a farmer's life and are found in natural environments such as rural fields, lakes, etc. In religious paintings, buffaloes are also often used as part of the background to provide a serene, harmonious backdrop for icons.
Some famous artists have also made buffalo the main subject of their artworks. For example, the Italian Renaissance painter Antonio Archimi Bordo, whose paintings often appear in buffalo, is regarded as a major feature of his works.
In medieval European sculpture, the buffalo was also a widely used subject. In the architecture of some churches and palaces, buffalo were often used as support columns or patterned decorations, adding a beautiful artistic effect to the building.
The image of a buffalo often appears in some stone carvings, such as a fine stone sculpture on the door leaf in front of the Notre Dame church in Paris, France, showing the image of a buffalo leisurely on the pasture.
In the architectural art of medieval Europe, the buffalo was also a common design element. In the architecture of some castles and palaces, buffalo were often used as decorative elements, adding a beautiful artistic effect to the architecture.
An ancient building in the Italian city of Venice, "Gabriel Bailey Palace", has a buffalo sculpture in front of its door, as a decorative element of the building, adding to the cultural connotation of the building.
In these decorations, the buffalo represents qualities such as obedience, patience, and strength that believers should have, as well as the strength and conviction of the Christian faith.
The buffalo played an important role in the art of medieval Europe, not only as it was used to decorate buildings and documents, but also as symbolic animal figures that embody the spirit and values of Christian culture.