Ma'de'ella

Ma'd'ella
__Ellen Stadelman__ This legend gives explanation for both the name of a region, as well as its coat of arms. On the coat of arms of Maella, there is a woman’s hand which comes from a fifteenth century local legend. According to the story, the Count and Lord of Maella, who lived in the castle, used his power cruelly. The local people rose up in arms against him, tired of being abused by their feudal lord. The uprising failed and its leader was arrested, imprisoned and brought to trial. In desperation the young prisoner’s love went to the castle to beg for her lover’s freedom. The lord was bewitched by the girl’s beauty and, taking advantage of the situation, demanded her hand in exchange for her lover’s liberation. The girl agreed immediately, went home and, with admirable fortitude, cut off her hand and sent it to the Count on a silver platter. On seeing it the count exclaimed ¡Her hand! And, moved by such an act of love, he decided to keep his promise and free the young man. This is the story of Má d’ella, which in the Aragonese-Catalán dialect spoken in this area, means “her hand”.