Tuesday, November 8, 2011

History of the Wishbone

With Thanksgiving just weeks away, I keep coming across dinnerware and accessories featuring a wishbone. This got me thinking about the tradition of breaking the turkey wishbone on Thanksgiving and where the superstition came from. Here's what I found:


"The wishbone custom began with the Etruscans. They believed both the hen and the cock to be "soothsayers". The hen because her squawk foretold the laying of an egg; the cock because his crow heralded the dawn of a new day. When a sacred fowl was killed, the bird's collarbone was laid in the sun to dry. An Etruscan wishing to benefit from the powers of the oracle would pick up the bone and stroke (not break) it while making a wish; hence the name "wishbone." It was the Romans who brought the wishbone superstition to England. Breaking the dried clavicle of a chicken was well established as a British tradition by the time the Pilgrims reached the New World. Observing that the wild turkeys which populated the wooded northeastern shores of America have clavicles similar to those of chickens, the Pilgrims adapted the wishbone custom to the turkey, making it part of Thanksgiving festivities. Thus, an ancient Etruscan superstition has became part of an American celebration (by way of Rome and England). Etymologists claim that the expression "get a lucky break" initially applied to the person winning the larger half in a wishbone tug-of-war."(Info copied from here). Interesting how these superstitions make their way through history, isn't it?! What will you wish for on Thanksgiving? (you don't have to answer, because that's considered bad luck, right? ;)


[Wishbone chair via Decorpad]








11 comments:

  1. so cute! I really like the wishbone necklace from etsy - it would make a good christmas present!

    whitney
    seeshopeatdo.com

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  2. They look really wymsical don't they? And would make a very unique gift!

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  3. I thought all along that you'll break the bone and wish. The Estruscans were right!

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  4. That's a very interesting story..thanks for sharing! xx meenal

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  5. Interesting to hear more about the background and history of the wishbone. Thanks, Julie! xx

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  6. Cool post, Julie! Very educative:-)

    martinaness.com

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  7. How interesting !

    http://idehadasinteriorismo.blogspot.com

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  8. I had no idea-- thanks for sharing! I love that coral bracelet. I think I should get one to be appropriately decked out for the holiday:)

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  9. I use to have a wishbone necklace and lost it somewhere (someone else is wandering around with my luck now I guess) I love the idea of luck and magic!

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  10. Learn something new everyday...and I've been wanting that gold grand wishbone forever!

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  11. This is so interesting, I had no idea! Love these examples, I'd love the grand gold one! Swoon...

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate you stopping by :)