How the Baltic Sea Became Salty - Polish Folktale

Baltic Sea, nestled in Northern Europe, is surrounded by nine countries. Its southern waters brush the shore of Northern Poland, where in the Gulf of Gdansk many ships drop their anchors. In the city of Gdansk, snuggled in the gulf, once lived a young girl with her family, which takes us to the story.

A very long time ago, one winter season, on a very cold December day a young girl by the name of Natalia was rushing home in the port town of Gdansk. Her parents owned a small inn and on this evening they were expecting some guests. Bundled in a warm long coat with a wool scarf covering her face against the big snowflakes and cold wind, she was about to enter a familiar gate, when she noticed a man lying on the ground. He was almost covered in snow. She didn’t hesitate for a moment and asked, “Can you get up and lean on me?”

Natalia was able to lead the man home. “He is almost frozen,” commented the mother as soon as the girl arrived. “Here, sit him next to the fire and brew warm herbs.” The mother warmed the man’s hands and feet meanwhile.

It took a few weeks before the stranger fully recuperated. During those weeks, he observed the girl. She was good-natured and helpful to her parents and others. One such day, while she was preparing food for supper, she realized that they were out of salt. “It’s gone again and it’s so expensive.” The man pondered upon her words.

The following day, he asked for a small piece of wood, not revealing what he needed it for. Upon receiving a block of wood, he became very busy.

“What is he doing?” whispered the owners of the inn.

The guest only smiled and continued his carving. In the evening, he handed a small windmill to Natalia saying, “Next time when you need salt, put the windmill on a clean cloth and say those words: Windmill, windmill, please move your wings and drop me some salt. When you have enough of salt say: Thank you my golden windmill, you’ve done enough work for today. But remember this gift is only for you and cannot be sold.”

The next day, the man fully recovered left the inn. Natalia put the windmill on a shelf, not believing in its magic.

It didn’t take long, when the need for salt presented the occasion to test the windmill for which she reached. Oh what a stoned face she had when upon her words the windmill produced salt.

From now on she produced plenty of salt for her family and all their friends and those in need.

One day, a small ship dropped its anchor in the port and its crew came to the inn for supper. There was plenty of food, and almost enough of salt, but toward the end of the evening a tiny bit would make a difference in the taste. Natalia quickly rushed to the kitchen, grabbed the windmill and spoke the words.

One of the sailors curious about Natalia’s rush, followed her to the kitchen. He peaked through the door and his mouth fell wide open, when he heard the girl saying the magic words and the white salt dropping on a tablecloth.

The girl with her back to the door did not notice the sailor, who left quickly and murmured to himself, “I have to have it.”

When the crew was ready to leave the inn, the man complained about stomachache. He asked the owners, if he could stay for the night instead of going back to the rocky boat.

“Of course, you may lay on the bench by the fire. I’ll get you some blankets,” responded the girl’s father. “And Natalia will brew you herbs to easy your ache.”

“We’re leaving at the break of dawn,” reminded one of the sailors before they left.

At midnight, when everybody was asleep, the sailor sneaked into the kitchen where he grabbed the windmill. “I’ll bring it back the next time we’re in Gdansk,” the sailor tried to make himself feel better, while sneaking out of the inn. “I need it to make enough salt to buy my own boat.”

As soon as the ship left the shores, the sailor took out the windmill and said the magic words: Windmill, windmill, please move your wings and drop me some salt.

A stream of white salt cascaded onto the boat’s floor. “It’s working,” announced the happy sailor. “Enough for now, until I am on land again.” But the white stream of salt continued to gush down. “Enough, enough!” panicked the sailor.

The windmill’s wings kept making circles. He tried to stop it with his hands, but to no avail. The pile of white salt was getting bigger and bigger. The boat was getting heavier and heavier, tilting to one side.

The sailors yelled at the man, “Throw it into the water or we will all sink!”

Hesitating for a moment, he threw it into the water.

The windmill made splash with its wings and the dissolving salt made the water saltier and saltier with each moment…

Note: Similar version of Strega Nona (March post) is where one character knows the magic words for making some kind of food and stopping its process, and another character who overhears just the first words for making the food, but not for stopping it. And a lesson has to be learned.