Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday that conjures up memories of football, family and enough turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy to put an elephant to sleep. At the same time, Thanksgiving is also a holiday historically misunderstood by the public. Here are five myths about Thanksgiving and its traditions, which are commonly misunderstood by Americans across the country.
Myth: Thanksgiving was first celebrated by Pilgrims in Massachusetts in November 1621 and the Wampanoag Native Americans were invited to join in the feast with them.
Truth: Historical records do not show for certain a feast of Thanksgiving took place in 1621. Many historians believe it is reasonable to assume the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a successful harvest, but there is not enough evidence to say it happened the way it is traditionally believed.
Myth: Thanksgiving has been an annual holiday since the Pilgrims and Native Americans gathered together for the first celebration in 1621.
Truth: Thanksgiving traditions developed in the 17th and 18th centuries throughout the colonies and states but did not become official until 1863. That year, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the fourth Thursday in November every year to be a day of Thanksgiving, and a national holiday was born.
Myth: Turkey has always been the traditional meal served on Thanksgiving.
Truth: Dating back to the first Thanksgivings celebrated in the 17th century there are accounts of feasts that feature all sorts of meats, but a large chunk of them do not mention turkey. In fact, an account of one of the earliest Thanksgiving celebrations mentions venison as the main dish, not turkey.
Myth: The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
Truth: Children are taught in elementary school that the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock when they arrived to the new world. William Bradford, governor of the colony, kept a detailed history of the colony, and never once does he mention landing by this now well-known landmark.
Myth: Eating turkey at Thanksgiving will cause sleepiness.
Truth: It is true that turkey contains tryptophan, a chemical that works with the body to create serotonin which causes drowsiness. The problem is for tryptophan to react with the body to create a significant amount of serotonin, the turkey must be eaten on an empty stomach. During a typical Thanksgiving meal you would not only eat turkey, but a whole host of other foods such as rolls, potatoes and pumpkin pies, thus making the effect of the tryptophan minimal on the body.