The Little Bird in the Clock

In the Black Forest in Germany, people make beautiful clocks out of wood. These are called cuckoo clocks. Skilled makers carve them by hand, with little leaves, birds, and houses cut into the dark wood. Each clock takes time and care, and no two are exactly the same. They hang on the wall and tick softly all day long.

I Schwarzwald i Tyskland laver folk smukke ure af træ. Disse kaldes gøgeure. Dygtige håndværkere skærer dem ud i hånden, med små blade, fugle og huse skåret ind i det mørke træ. Hvert ur tager tid og omhu, og ingen to er helt ens. De hænger på væggen og tikker stille hele dagen.

Then something special happens. Every hour, a tiny door near the top of the clock opens. A small wooden bird pops out and calls, cuckoo, cuckoo, two clear notes into the room. After the call, the little door shuts again, and the house grows quiet. The bird waits inside for the next hour to come.

Så sker der noget særligt. Hver time åbner en lille dør nær toppen af uret sig. En lille træfugl springer ud og kalder, kuk kuk, to klare toner ud i rummet. Efter kaldet lukker den lille dør sig igen, og huset bliver stille. Fuglen venter indeni til den næste time kommer.

Children love to watch and wait for the door to open. They sit very still, with their eyes on the clock, and when the bird appears they laugh with joy. In the Black Forest, this craft is old and well loved. Parents teach it to their children, and the skill of making these clocks is passed down from one generation to the next.

Børn elsker at se og vente på, at døren åbner sig. De sidder helt stille med øjnene på uret, og når fuglen dukker op, ler de af glæde. I Schwarzwald er dette håndværk gammelt og elsket. Forældre lærer det til deres børn, og kunsten at lave disse ure gives videre fra en generation til den næste.