5 legends about Georgia that you definitely need to know before you go on a trip

From year to year, Georgia attracts millions of tourists from all over the world, because where, if not here, you can see so many majestic mountains, picturesque landscapes and ancient temples. However, delicious cuisine and beautiful nature are not the only things that distinguish Georgia from many other countries.

5 main Georgian legends will tell you why you should come here and what you need to know before that.

An oasis given by God

One of the main Georgian legends says that once the most beautiful lands on the planet were given to the locals by the Lord himself.

After the creation of the world, God distributed territories to the peoples, which they could later call their Homeland. When all the corners were already occupied, Georgians who were late for resettlement approached him.

Flattered by such admiration, God decided to give the Georgians an oasis that he had previously reserved for himself. So they got this picturesque corner of the planet. In return, people promised to always welcome guests on their lands with open arms and an open soul.

One shot — one target

Another popular legend refers to the capital of Georgia — Tbilisi. According to legend, the ruler of the ancient country was hunting in the vicinity of Mtskheta when he saw a wonderful pheasant in the distance. He wanted to catch the bird so much that he made one accurate shot, after which the falcon of the lord was sent for prey.Some time passed, but the falcon did not return, and hunters were sent to search for him. It turned out that both birds landed in a hot spring and died. However, for the ruler, this loss turned into a sudden joy: the place where the pheasant was hiding turned out to be so beautiful that it was decided to build a city here and make it a new capital in the future.

The Birthplace of Christianity

This beautiful country is replete with religious monuments and holy places, so it is not surprising that another Georgian legend is dedicated to them.

According to legend, many centuries ago, Saint Nina came here in search of the Lord's Robe. The Mother of God herself entrusted her with the goal of enlightening the inhabitants of ancient Georgia and gave her a cross made of a vine, which had to be installed at the highest point of this area.

So, on the hill above the Aragvi and Kura rivers, Christianity was born. Now this place is occupied by the Jvari Monastery, which is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Georgia.

The mystery of the two-horned Ushba Mountain

There are many mountain peaks in Georgia, and one of the most memorable is Mount Ushba, which is also considered the most dangerous. There is a legend that in ancient times the goddess of hunting Dali fell in love with a beautiful young man who lived in the Svaneti region. However, the guy did not reciprocate her, and then the insidious goddess lured him to her chambers and forced him to forget his home.

The story could have ended there, if one day a young hunter did not look down and saw the towers of his native village. The young man remembered everything and ran away from his abductor, returning home to the sweet bride.The goddess Dali could not forgive the hunter for his betrayal and once sent a huge tour to the foot of the mountain. Seeing such a rich prey, the young man immediately rushed after her and ran until he was at the very top of the mountain. It was then that he noticed that the ground beneath him had collapsed into the abyss, depriving him of the opportunity to return back. Not wanting to live without his beloved, he rushed down and crashed. Since then, the slopes of Ushba are painted in the color of his blood, and its glaciers turn white like bones.

Georgian wine is a drink of the gods

Georgian wine is famous all over the world, it is not surprising that many people call it the "drink of the gods". However, there is another version of the origin of this name.

Once upon a time, God took pity on people who were expelled from paradise, and created a drink specially for them, which calmed and brought bliss. As you may have guessed, it turned out to be Georgian wine.

This legend has a continuation, according to which God offered the resulting nectar to Angels and Demons to taste. Everyone was delighted with The creations of the Lord, however, the Devil did not want to give up the primacy and made chacha from wine. The drink was offered to God to taste. He drank, then another, and another — in total his cup was filled four times. Then he stopped and said:

That is why during the Georgian feast, the fourth stack of chacha is called "diabolical".

Such curious legends are dedicated to one of the most beautiful countries in the world. And what interesting things do you know about Georgia?