Top Thanksgiving Myths and Legends
Holidays have their own individual sets of traditions. Keep in mind that holidays have their facts and myths. Thanksgiving Day is by no means an exception. Depending on where you look and who you ask, you will get many different myths and legends. Also, there are a few practical myths that one should know about when it comes to traveling during the Thanksgiving holidays. If you look at sources such asHistory News Network,National Geographic, and National Public Radio (NPR), you will get many interesting myths for the most part.
The first myth centers on the origins of Thanksgiving. It is believed that Thanksgiving was originally established by the Pilgrims that came to America. According to History News Network, Pilgrims did not invent Thanksgiving Day. HNN explains that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Texas. The first celebration took place in San Elizario in 1598. In this respect, the first Thanksgiving was a Mexican holiday. It would not be until the nineteenth century, shortly before the US Civil War, that Texas would be annexed to the United States. Most historians will tell you that Texas was part of Mexico.
According to ablogcalled “So Much Cooler Online,” there is the myth about Abraham Lincoln inventing Thanksgiving. While Lincoln did not invent the holiday, he did declare it a national holiday. Prior to the presidency of Lincoln, Thanksgiving was not really celebrated outside of New England.
Furthermore, HNN explains that the first Thanksgiving celebration in America took place in Virginia. It would take place two years before the arrival of the Pilgrims. This further debunks the myth that the Pilgrims were the creators of Thanksgiving.
The second myth, according to HNN, is that Thanksgiving was a family holiday. However, HNN explains that this is far from the truth. In reality, Thanksgiving was a community event in which different cultures came together.
The third myth is that Thanksgiving is a religious holiday. In this respect, you are not obligated to go to a religious function during the Thanksgiving holidays. This further means Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday. In this regard, you can celebrate Thanksgiving regardless of your religious faith. You can be Protestant, Muslim, Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, or an Atheist and still enjoy Thanksgiving.
The fourth myth, pointed out by HNN, is that turkey was not consumed by the pilgrims. It is unknown what the pilgrims actually ate during Thanksgiving. The “traditional” Thanksgiving meal that is usually served in households across the United States came from England during the Victorian era. According to National Geographic, possible food consumed during the celebration were deer, duck, geese, Indian corn, fish, lobster, clams, nuts, and so forth. Turkey, cranberry, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie were not part of the original Thanksgiving foods.
NPR has a small list of more useful myths that we can take advantage of during the Thanksgiving holidays. In an article dating back in November of 2010, Thanksgiving is not the busiest travel time of the year. While the article explains that travel does increase, it is not as hectic as it is during the summer season. In this respect, your fears of travel difficulties during Thanksgiving should be alleviated.
If you are worrying about gas prices, do not worry about it. NPR explains that gas prices should not play a factor in Thanksgiving holiday travel. The price of gas will not undergo a drastic change because of the increased travel during Thanksgiving. However, you still may be concerned with driving to someone's place for Thanksgiving because of the current gas prices.
For those that plan to fly for the holidays, NPR's article explains that you should not worry about getting delayed. However, it does not mean that it will be easy to fly during Thanksgiving. It is simply not as bad compared to flying during summer or Christmas holidays.
National Geographic debunks the myth of Canada not celebrating Thanksgiving. Canada has its own Thanksgiving which is celebrated the second Monday of October. If you have dual citizen in Canada and/or have relatives living there, you can find yourself celebrating the holiday twice.
Overall, these are some of the notable Thanksgiving myths that should pique the interest of many. Those listed by NPR may interest many of those that plan to travel.
