Where do Babies come from???

[sligster]

One final note, are storks real?

yes. their sorta like Egrets.

[Silversnow]

I don't remember how I found out. I don't think I asked my parents about it. I always thought the stork thing was stupid, even as a gullible child. I think I didn't really care about where babies came from, just that my mom had something to do with it.
And then, at the age of 9, I watched a cartoon about it in school. It disgusted me, but I pretty much understood the basics.

[Facsimile]

Oddly, my god. Everything you say is at least moderately offensive.

Not to mention ****ing stupid.

[Rich]

The stork is the white bird that delivers babies. This is seen in the Disney movie "Dumbo" when the stork brings the baby Elephants.

[Reptile]

And then, at the age of 9, I watched a cartoon about it in school. It disgusted me, but I pretty much understood the basics.

Man that really churns your stomach when you see that. Ugh.

[Nate]

As usual, the Straight Dope holds the answers to all of life's mysteries. Why are storks associated with babies?

[Oddly Insane]

Not to mention ****ing stupid.

sorry dude life suckes right now.....my uncle broke his back..grampa broke his leg..we are moving....almost half my friends are moving ...and the only good thing is the EAGLES YEAH!!they kicked Vicks butt

[TheRaisin]

Sorry bout that, but the last time I checked stuff like that makes people irritable or depressed or something of the sort, not effing obscene morons.

I couldn't be bothered to read that thing. Anyone care to summarize it for me?

[Nate]

Okay, quick precis.

Midsummer's day was a pagan festival when couples traditionally got married. Nine months later, spring arrived and the storks returned just as the fruit of the new union were coming to term.

Storks also often mate with the same partner in successive years so gained a reputation for fidelity. They often stay with their chicks for quite some time until they are ready to strike out on their own. Thus they became a symbol of domesticity and good luck so people encouraged them to nest near their homes, which the storks don't mind. They often even nested on rooftops and/or on chimney stacks (warm air, donchaknow).

Thus an association with babies, good luck and chimneys all came together to create the myth.

[TheRaisin]

Fruit juice! That was interesting and highly informative! Thank you very much.