In the Black Forest of Germany, winters are long and cold and in the 1600s, clock-making started to occupy the time of several enterprising residents. Legend has it that around 1738, the first cuckoo clock was invented, which quickly became a symbol for the region. Using a pendulum and small bellows and cuckoo-bird-like whistles, the clocks were intricate, beautifully crafted, and quickly became sought after by many.Today the tradition of the Black Forest continues and cuckoo clocks remain a favorite collectible for people all over the world. Most regional clock makers still put the same amount of expert craftsmanship into their cuckoo clocks that their ancestors did.