Myths related to Thanksgiving

Mythologies contribute to an integral portion of all cultures. The USA celebrates Thanksgiving, the festival of gratitude, every year on the fourth Thursday of November Having said that, there are a wide array of traditional mythological tales that have been drafted in our history. In addition to that, one generation passes these folktales to the next. The belief is that Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 for the first time in Massachusetts. Following that, there have been different folktales that have built a place in the hearts of enthusiastic Thanksgiving celebrants. 

Here are some legendary mythological tales that you can reminisce upon with your family and friends this Thanksgiving:

• The Pilgrims conducted the first Thanksgiving:

  

  Source: HolidaySmart

The Pilgrims celebrated the foremost Thanksgiving celebration. On the contrary, El Paso, Texas primarily commemorated this tradition, almost twenty-three years before the Pilgrims. It is believed that, The Pilgrims migrated from England in 1620 and sustained the tradition of Days of Fasting and the Days of Thanksgiving.

Another myth that can be traced along these lines is the claim that the first Thanksgiving dinner was celebrated in the state of Virginia in 1619. The habitants of Virginia believe that one should remember Margaret, the ship that brought the Englishmen to the plantation sites when celebrating Thanksgiving.

• Thanksgiving revolves around Family:

It is commonly understood by many that families celebrate Thanksgiving in gratitude for familial relationships. In fact, this festival is a communal event. These festivities are celebrated in the honor of the harvest that was cultivated throughout the year. Families thank the Lord for the food crops that were produced on their lands.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

• The Pilgrims ate turkey on their first Thanksgiving:

When one thinks about Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind is the delicious turkey. In addition to that, a delicious spread of mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. One might also believe this is what was consumed by the Pilgrims when they first sat down for dinner. Well surprisingly, they did not. The food that day consisted of deer meat. 

Now one might think, then how did turkey eating become a tradition? Well, that is because of how the Victorian inhabitants prepared Thanksgiving meals. To celebrate the fourth Thursday as Thanksgiving was their decision. Before this, the American population outside New England did not really know about the festivities of Thanksgiving.

• The Pilgrims arrived on the Plymouth Rock:

Historians noticed that this story about the Pilgrims’ arrival was nothing but a hoax. In addition to that, the stone was an addition to the folklore. The people of the town claimed that the Pilgrims arrived at this stone, for the purpose of tourist attraction. On the contrary, the Pilgrims landed in Provincetown. They arrived in their small ship called the Mayflower.

• The Black Friday myth:

  

  Source: Multichannel Merchant

No one knows how Black Friday came into existence. People believe that this day gets its name as the sale numbers in stores are in black color. The belief is that factory workers took a holiday as they called in sick the day after Thanksgiving. Another mythology related to this is the story of Philadelphia. Traffic police had to handle 12-hour shifts in the 1960s. They called this day Black Friday. 

In reality, Black Friday is the beginning of the shopping spree for Christmas. Families spend hours shopping for gifts for their friends and family members.

• Dressing of Pilgrims:

Families across the world have created folklore to tell their children. One such tale is about how the Pilgrims dressed. One comes to believe that they wore black clothes. In addition to that, they did not wear buckles on their shoes. On the contrary, Pilgrims dressed very richly. They wore colors like blue, violet, and even green. The Pilgrims also had humongous golden buckles on their shoes. They used ribbons and linen clothing to add flavor to their dressing sense. They were lively people with a great sense of style.

All these mythologies have formed the foundation of families since time immemorial. Thanksgiving is a time for all family members to come together and celebrate with joy. This festival marks the beginning of multiple upcoming festivities. In such times, members of families sit on long tables. Moreover, ample amount of food is prepared. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and curry is relished. In addition to that, mythologies and folklore only remind us of our history and what had happened decades ago. They add spice to the festivals. This Thanksgiving, do not only savor the delicious food items but also these nostalgic mythologies.

Read more on https://www.bragsocial.org/